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[RoninChaos]

http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/20/politics/ted-cruz-republican-convention-moment/index.html

Cleveland (CNN)Ted Cruz on Thursday strongly defended his refusal to endorse Donald Trump during his Republican National Convention speech, saying he's not "in the habit" of backing politicians who attack his family.

"I am not in the habit of supporting people who attack my wife and attack my father," Cruz said at a morning meeting where he faced sharp questions from the Texas delegation in Cleveland.

The Texas senator sensationally withheld an endorsement of Trump in his speech Wednesday, earning a chorus of boos from the floor while getting upstaged in a power play by the GOP nominee himself.

In a dramatic development, as Cruz wrapped up his speech, Trump suddenly appeared in the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. He walked to join his family in a VIP area and flashed a thumbs-up -- a gesture that transmitted clear anger at the Texas senator's behavior.

Cruz, his party's runner-up, uttered Trump's name just once -- to congratulate him -- and instead pitched the ideological brand of conservatism that endears him to the GOP's base.

"I congratulate Donald Trump on winning the nomination last night," Cruz said. "And like each of you, I want to see the principles that our party believes prevail in November."

But as it was clear Cruz was going to end his speech without endorsing Trump, delegates began to boo and some chanted "We want Trump!"
"Don't stay home in November," Cruz said toward the end of his otherwise very well-received speech. "Stand and speak and vote your conscience."

As delegates began to protest, Sen. Cruz's wife, Heidi Cruz, was heckled by Trump supporters shouting "Goldman Sachs!" and escorted out by security. Heidi Cruz, who is an employee of Goldman Sachs, declined to answer questions from reporters, saying, "I don't talk to the media, thanks."

The stunning political theater between the top two contenders in the Republican primary race blew open divisions in the party that the convention is designed to heal, and suggested Cruz believes Trump will lose in November.

Cruz's appearance at the Cleveland convention had been the subject of intense anticipation over his attitude toward Trump, after their intensely personal exchanges in the late stages of the primary race.

He got a prolonged standing ovation as he walked on stage for a speech that appeared to be an attempt to establish himself as the guardian of conservative values that some activists doubt Trump shares.

Trump, whose insults of Cruz were a constant on the campaign trail over the past year, tweeted that Cruz didn't honor the pledge GOP candidates had signed to back the eventual Republican nominee.

"Wow, Ted Cruz got booed off the stage, didn't honor the pledge! I saw his speech two hours early but let him speak anyway. No big deal!"

I'm FASCINATED by this. First off I think it's hilarious how Trump is trying to write this off "No big deal, I let him speak even though I knew what he was going to say". C'mon, son. Second, this is really the biggest thing I can think of in my life time that shows the schism in the Republican party. Republicans have always fallen in lock step with one another, even when they haven't wanted to. Cruz stepping out is a big deal. The big issue here is apparently a lot of politicians don't like him so I'm not sure how many will stand with him on not endorsing Trump. Paul Ryan came out and said he thought Trump was deplorable and is still voting for him.

I have to wonder when love of country will eventually "trump" party backing.

Anyway, the other part of this that's interesting to me is this pledge that people signed. Trump really does expect people to fall in line after everything he's said and done. It reminds me of Grover Norquist and his no tax pledge in that every person signing it is treated with contempt if they object. Cruz even says that the pledge is basically null and void after Donald made it personal. A guy even says "Hey it's just politics!" in the crowd.

I think Cruz is the scum of the earth, but he does have some back bone. The dude saying he should have endorsed Trump anyway because "It's just politics" strikes me as the type of person who's okay with our public discourse being as dysfunctional as it is. Like you can say and do whatever the fuck you want because it's just politics.

 

[DietRob]

I can't describe the level of shame I feel for having any semblance of respect for Cruz for not endorsing Trump.

 

[Plumbob]

I can't describe the level of shame I feel for having any semblance of respect for Cruz for not endorsing Trump.

*pat pat*

it's okay, have a spork

 

[lucebuce12]

I have to wonder when love of country will eventually "trump" party backing.

You have lost all credibility OP.

 

[Brannon]

I respect this one action, but the man is still a cunt.

 

[Futureman]

Is there like a compilation or Greatest Hits of things things Trump said about Cruz during the primary?

Also, did Trump really "let him speak"? I would think it's not up to Don. It's called the Republican National Convention, not the Donald Trump Show.

 

[Muffdraul]

I can't describe the level of shame I feel for having any semblance of respect for Cruz for not endorsing Trump.

You stole my post you son of a bitch.

 

[teiresias]

The video really is pretty amazing. The emotions it brings up are weird. One second you're happy with him for dragging Trump and having principles about why he's not endorsing or supporting, while at the same time screaming "hypocrite!!" in your head as he's saying things aren't personal given his views on minority groups throughout the country.

 

[Netherscourge]

I can't believe I'm feeling these....p, p, p, POSITIVE feelings about Ted Cruz right now.

Surely he'll make some hateful, bigoted comment by the end of the day to set things right.

Right?

 

[kaname-san]

That's not really popping off but whatever. it's still a great story.

 

[RumblingRosco]

I agree with OP... I'm wondering if Ted's speech gets other Republicans to step up and say "piss off" to Trump. I'd love to see some go back on their initial support for Trump.

 

[HiredN00bs]

I still think Trump is a better choice than Cruz. But fuck both of them.

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

Kasich and Cruz should run as a spoiler candidate to exact revenge upon Trump.

 

[ColdPizza]

This is why Hillary got Bernie's endorsement before letting him speak on Monday.

 

[Stinkles]

Cruz doesn't have principles- he has an overwhelming selfish sense of entitlement. He's not doing this for any other reason than retaining his base for 2020.

He's a hateful and cynical demagogue who literally can't make any more enemies and therefore has nothing to lose.

Jesus himself would slap the smirk off that booger munching grease factory.

 

[johnsmith]

Supposedly they were expecting him to endorse. They don't call him Lyin Ted for nothing.

 

[G.ZZZ]

What a disgusting sociopath. When it's about others he has no shred of simpathy or respect, propose to set the world on fire because reasons, but suddendly it's about him and it's all about principles!!!?!?!!? Go fuck yourself you slime man hybrid.

 

[johnny956]

Supposedly they were expecting him to endorse. They don't call him Lyin Ted for nothing.

That's gold right there. What did he say instead of that part there?

 

[ACR0019]

What is happening in this thread? The most spineless public figure in a long time demeans a man's wife and father and some of you can't get past his hypocrisy. Unbelievable. Make up your mind, GAF. Republicans are vile, evil creatures created by Morgoth in the eyes of most of you. At least give Cruz credit for sticking it to Trump. Some men just want to watch the world burn I suppose.

 

[TheAbsolution]

That's gold right there. What did he say instead of that part there?

This is someone else's speech.

 

[Dram]

I wonder if this will hurt him politically when he runs for re-election?

 

[Vicetrailia]

What a disgusting sociopath. When it's about others he has no shred of simpathy or respect, propose to set the world on fire because reasons, but suddendly it's about him and it's all about principles!!!?!?!!? Go fuck yourself you slime man hybrid.

Actually, yeah you're right.

Also, at least he has some convictions left. Granted it's all about himself.

 

[Lys Skygge]

Ted Cruz is a piece of shit. But anything that contributes to the downfall of the republican party gets at least a shred of respect from me. Ted not only made republicans look bad, but he might have ended his own political career as well. Two birds with one stone.

 

[Extra Sauce]

Supposedly they were expecting him to endorse. They don't call him Lyin Ted for nothing.

And Trump is as much of a liar.

"I saw his speech early and I let him speak, no big deal"

 

[echoshifting]

That's gold right there. What did he say instead of that part there?

That's from the beginning of Newt's speech. He ad-libbed some fantastic mental gymnastics - (paraphrasing) "So you see, Ted Cruz really did endorse Donald Trump because Donald Trump is the only candidate who will defend the constitution" was the gist but it went on for awhile.

 

[O Canada Our Home and Native Land]

He's a calculating slimeball. If he was principled he would've starting swinging at Trump early in the primaries not until Trump cleared the field. He knows Trump is going to bomb one way or the other and is planting seeds for 2020 already. I think his speech was a bad move and associating with NeverTrump is dumb. He should've stayed out of it. He would have came out clean.

 

[echoshifting]

He's a calculating slimeball. If he was principled he would've starting swinging at Trump early in the primaries not until Trump cleared the field. He knows Trump is going to bomb one way or the other and is planting seeds for 2020 already. I think his speech was a bad move and associating with NeverTrump is dumb. He should've stayed out of it. He would have came out clean.

Yeah what he did seemed incredibly ballsy while I was watching it live but my opinion on it has been shifting. It's obvious he is preparing for 2020 (word is he will run even if Trump is the sitting president), and even as a purely strategic move this seems to have failed utterly. Very few conservatives are happy with what he did and I don't expect them to come around in four years regardless of what happens in November.

 

[Slayven]

 

[Xe4]

I can't describe the level of shame I feel for having any semblance of respect for Cruz for not endorsing Trump.

Lol exactly. He's a slimeball, and I know he's only doing it for himself, but I'm glad someone is standing up to Trump instead of just folding like the rest.

 

[Akuun]

And Trump is as much of a liar.

"I saw his speech early and I let him speak, no big deal"

I'm pretty sure it's easier to count the true things that Trump says rather than his lies. Pretty much everything he says is either a complete lie, or so vague you have no idea what he's trying to say anyway.

 

[Ekai]

It's been said in the other thread and by other people but it's fascinating to me that the GOP immediately interpreted "vote with your conscience" as a "don't vote for Drumpf" message. It's like they know he's a terrible candidate.

 

[Apharmd]

It's been said in the other thread and by other people but it's fascinating to me that the GOP immediately interpreted "vote with your conscience" as a "don't vote for Drumpf" message. It's like they know he's a terrible candidate.

Huh.

That strikes me as a remarkable move by Ted. He just yomi'd the rest of the Republicans. Why WOULD they interpret "voting with your conscience" as "don't vote for Drumpf" if it weren't as what you said?

 

[FStop7]

I don't care what Cruz has said in the past, on the issue of Trump he is the only one who is showing any kind of spine. Chris Christie and Paul Ryan take eternal Ls for their cowardice.

 

[Parshias7]

And Trump is as much of a liar.

"I saw his speech early and I let him speak, no big deal"

He probably had an intern skim through it for any mentions of his tiny hands before he gave it the world's smallest thumbs up.

 

[Fury451]

Trump has all the decency and brainpower of the schoolyard bully. I would never vote for either one of them, but I do respect Cruz for the position he takes on this and not bending and forgetting all of the terrible things that happen during the campaign based on some sort of pie-in-the-sky notion of hollow party unification.

 

[Paskil]

I wouldn't personally insult Ted Cruz or question his motives. People are pretty dumb and must want to end up in the crosshairs of the Zodiac Killer.

 

[Bleepey]

I can't describe the level of shame I feel for having any semblance of respect for Cruz for not endorsing Trump.

Don't. Cruz is serving himself. He expect Trump to crash and burn and in 2020 to paint himself as a principled conservative. He's a cunt

 

[Abstrusity]

I wouldn't personally insult Ted Cruz or question his motives. People are pretty dumb and must want to end up in the crosshairs of the Zodiac Killer.

One could only hope.

This whole debacle is why democracy is a mistake.

These people, and I hesitate to use the term, don't deserve it.

 

[Ray Wonder]

I mean can you blame him. Trump embarrassed this man. I would be pissed too.

 

[Ekai]

I wouldn't personally insult Ted Cruz or question his motives. People are pretty dumb and must want to end up in the crosshairs of the Zodiac Killer.

Does this mean Drumpf is in his crosshairs?

 

[Ogodei]

Don't. Cruz is serving himself. He expect Trump to crash and burn and in 2020 to paint himself as a principled conservative. He's a cunt

He's torching every bridge to get there, though. The Establishment turned to him as their never-Trump alternative, but when it was inevitable the Establishment solidified because at the end of the day they care about a party victory. Cruz has a history of working against his teammates and this only adds to it. He'd hardly be the only person in position to say "i told you so" when Trump gets trounced in November, so it's not like he's this unique voice in the darkness where Republicans will point back to this and say "Ted Cruz was right."

The only group he stays in good with is his core, the Christian Dominionists. The Plutocrats dislike him, the alt-right mocks him, and Beltway veterans despise him. Even Texan Republicans as a whole barely liked him more than Trump.

 

[notworksafe]

You don't want your family attacked? Then don't cart them out on the campaign trail every chance you get. What a dunce.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

You don't want your family attacked? Then don't cart them out on the campaign trail every chance you get. What a dunce.

Eh, not really how it works. Family is, theoretically, supposed to be off-limits. Practically, we know that they aren't, because a shady deal or a son-in-law with a criminal past can be a scandal.

But you don't attack someone's wife for not being attractive. That is beyond all standards of modern politics.

 

[Interfectum]

You don't want your family attacked? Then don't cart them out on the campaign trail every chance you get. What a dunce.

That's bullshit. Just because they are there doesn't mean they are fair game and open to Trump style insults nor does Cruz need to take it and support Trump regardless.

 

[notworksafe]

I find it hard to have sympathy for anyone involved in this mess. Sorry that your husband is a piece of shit that attracts insults to himself and everyone around him, Heidi. Sorry that you didn't get an endorsement from a piece of shit, Trump.

 

[~Devil Trigger~]

I can't describe the level of shame I feel for having any semblance of respect for Cruz for not endorsing Trump.

this lol

Integrity !!!!

 

[Varjis]

Cruz doesn't have principles- he has an overwhelming selfish sense of entitlement. He's not doing this for any other reason than retaining his base for 2020.

He's a hateful and cynical demagogue who literally can't make any more enemies and therefore has nothing to lose.

Jesus himself would slap the smirk off that booger munching grease factory.

This 100%. Cruz is playing the long game of shitting on Trump and hoping he loses so he can get all the adulation for not supporting him. It also makes him a hypocrite for spending so much time nagging Trump in the beginning to pledge to not run as a third party candidate if he didn't receive the nomination and to support the nominee yet here he is not doing that.

 

[Interfectum]

I find it hard to have sympathy for anyone involved in this mess. Sorry that your husband is a piece of shit that attracts insults to himself and everyone around him, Heidi. Sorry that you didn't get an endorsement from a piece of shit, Trump.

I don't have sympathy for god awful Ted Cruz. But I do agree that he doesn't have to support someone who attacks his family like that. Whether he's playing the long game or truly has some integrity in his lizard body, I have a tiny ounce of respect for him after this whole thing.

I'll be drinking a few tonight to wash out that ounce.

 

[Aurongel]

You don't want your family attacked? Then don't cart them out on the campaign trail every chance you get. What a dunce.

That's not justification for shit and you know it.

 

[SaviourMK2]

A spark of respect for Cruz appeared in me.... have I failed as a human?