Beto O'Rourke Recognizes He's Enjoyed 'Privileges' As 'A White Man'

Former Rep. Beto ORourke of Texas acknowledged that hes benefited from privileges, as he responded to a question about being a white, male candidate in a diverse, crowded field of Democrats running for president in 2020.

As a white man who has had privileges that others could not depend on, or take for granted, Ive clearly had advantages over the course of my life, ORourke told NBCs Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd during a campaign stop in Iowa on Saturday.

He said a big part of his campaign is recognizing that and understanding that others have not (and) doing everything I can to ensure that there is opportunity and the possibility for advancement and advantage for everyone.

WATCH: @chucktodd talks with @BetoORourke in Iowa about being a white male candidate in a diverse, crowded field of Democrats #MTP

\"As a white man who has had privileges that others could not depend on or take for granted, Ive clearly had advantages over the course of my life.\" pic.twitter.com/p79wl0jm62

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WATCH: @chucktodd talks with @BetoORourke in Iowa about being a white male candidate in a diverse, crowded field of Democrats #MTP

"As a white man who has had privileges that others could not depend on or take for granted, Ive clearly had advantages over the course of my life." pic.twitter.com/p79wl0jm62
Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) March 17, 2019

ORourke, who rose to national prominence with a strong but ultimately unsuccessful challenge to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in the 2018 elections, has faced some criticism about comments he made since announcing his White House candidacy last week on issues of race, gender and double standards especially with an unprecedented number of women vying for the Democratic presidential nomination.

On Friday, for example, he apologized for joking that his wife has been raising their three children sometimes with my help.

Not only will I not say that again, but Ill be more thoughtful going forward in the way that I talk about our marriage, and also the way in which I acknowledge the truth of the criticism that I have enjoyed white privilege, he said during a podcast taping in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

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Other comments from ORourke, like those in an interview with Vanity Fair published last week in which he said he was born to run for president, raised questions about how a woman candidate would be treated if she had made similar remarks.

I wasnt born to run. But I am running, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), another presidential candidate, said Sunday on Meet the Press when asked about ORourkes comments.

ORourke spent the weekend campaigning in Iowa his first visit ever to the early caucus state in the aftermath of formally announcing his campaign in a video posted to his Twitter account. When asked by NBC on Saturday what makes him stand out from the rest of the pack, he spotlighted his experience in Congress representing a border district

I also happen to be the only (presidential) candidate from the United States/Mexico border at a time that dominates so much of our national conversation and legislative efforts and the things that the president talks about, ORourke said, neglecting to mention two other Democratic contenders who hail from border states Sen. Kamala Harris of California and Julian Castro, a fellow Texan whos the former mayor of San Antonio.

ORourke, a native of El Paso whose father was a prominent local political figure there, touted himself as the one candidate who can talk about the profoundly positive impact that immigrants have had on our safety and our security, as well as our success and our strength as a nation.