Beto O'Rourke apologizes for jokes about wife and his troubling teenage fiction ...

Beto O'Rourke has apologized for joking that his wife raises their three children practically on her own, for his white privilege, and for his troubling teenage fantasy fiction about killing kids that has come back to haunt him. 

The former Texas Congressman addressed the fiery criticism thrown his way following his 2020 Democratic presidential bid announcement on Thursday, hoping to clear the air before heading on the campaign trail. 

Speaking on the podcast Political Party LIVE! in Cedar Rapids on Friday he admitted he was wrong for joking that his wife raised the family only 'sometimes with my help', which had sparked outrage among female politicians and activists. 

'Not only will I not say that again, but I'll 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,' the 46-year-old said. 

He acknowledged that the 'criticism is right on' and said his controversial statement was his 'ham-handed attempt to highlight the fact that Amy has the lion's share of the burden in our family'.

'She actually works but is the primary parent in our family, especially when I served in Congress, especially when I was on the campaign trail,' he said. 

He and Amy married in 2005 after meeting on a blind date and have two sons and a daughter tougher. 

Then he went on to apologize for his jarring poetry and fiction written as a teenager while he was a member of a group of activist computer hacking group Cult of the Dead Cow, which included fantasizing about killing young children and a suggestive ode to a cow.