Beto O’Rourke, Willie Nelson Rally Austin

by Tony Vindell/LFN

Senatorial candidate Beto Rourke is getting support from legendary country icon Willie Nelson.

On Saturday, Sept. 29, O’Rourke addressed a crowd of thousands at Lakeshores Auditorium in Austin and was followed by Nelson and his band. The group played some of Nelson’s oldest tunes such as “On The Road Again,” “Mammas Don’t Let You Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys,” and, in his own words, the latest song he wrote, “Vote ‘Em Out.”

Excerpts from the tune goes like this, “Vote ‘em Out! And when they’re gone we will sing and dance and shout. If you don’t who’s in there, vote ‘em out.”

“Thank you Beto,” Nelson, who was wearing a T-shirt with the candidate first name on it, said at the end of the free concert attended by thousands of diehard supporters of O’Rourke.

The senatorial hopeful, who is trying to unseat Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, used the occasion to attack the policies of the Trump administration and to ask for the people’s support in his quest to join the U.S. Senate.

O’Rourke said people should be defined by their ambitions and by their aspirations, not by building walls and by describing the press as enemy of the people.

His message was based on populism, touching gay, lesbian and women rights, health care, teachers pay raises, climate change and the political establishment among other things.

The three-hour long concert took place under threatening clouds as heavy showers fell over most of the city throughout the day.

The stage’s backdrop was Austin’s skyscrapers. Facing the band was a crowd of thousands many of whom were holding and waving a “Beto” sign distributed while other bands played before O’Rourke spoke.

Some in the crowd said they were there because they wanted to show support for O’Rourke while others said they wanted to enjoy the music and see the Red Headed Stranger as the smell of marijuana permeated throughout the night.