Posted on 12/10/2013 2:50:57 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
The memorial service for Nelson Mandela is a big deal. "We're now on 91 Heads of State & Gov confirmed plus 10 former Heads of State, 86 Heads of delegations & 75 Eminent Persons," tweeted South African government spokesman Clayson Monyela on Monday. Among those leaders attending are the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, British Prime Minister David Cameron, and French President Francois Hollande -- plus, of course, President Obama and former Presidents Carter, Clinton, and George W. Bush. Dozens of lesser leaders, plus celebrities like Bono and Oprah Winfrey, will also be there.
From the United States Congress, House Speaker John Boehner appointed a 23-member delegation, led by Illinois Republican Rep. Aaron Schock and dominated by members of the Congressional Black Caucus, all Democrats. Their plane departed early Monday morning.
But what about the U.S. Senate? Senators could have joined the representatives on the congressional plane. But exactly one -- one -- senator will be at the Mandela memorial: Texas Republican Ted Cruz. No member of the majority Democratic or minority Republican leadership will attend. And not the Senate's only black Democrat, Cory Booker, or the Senate's only black Republican, Tim Scott.
Why such a poor turnout from the world's greatest deliberative body? "Remember, the presidential delegation didn't invite any members of Congress," says a Senate Republican aide. "The delegation the House put together only took shape over the weekend, so it was a scramble to even make it available to members in the first place (and to those who could get back to DC in time to make the flight). So I wouldn't read anything into that small attendance."
A winter storm across much of the country also had something to do with it. "The [congressional delegation] plane left before dawn, and a lot of members who wanted to go had their flights or trains canceled or delayed," says a Senate Democratic aide.
So how did Cruz make it? There's no doubt the freshman from Texas has shown a lot of energy in his 11 months in the Senate, and he did it again this time: He made the plane when others didn't. Says a spokesman: "Sen. Cruz believes that once-in-a-generation historical leaders, whatever their strengths/weaknesses, who accomplish extraordinary things, should be recognized and celebrated. And he personally wants to be part of demonstrating the recognition in American of the transforming power of the end of apartheid."
Cruz took some hits in the hours after Mandela's death when he posted a Facebook item saying Mandela "will live in history as an inspiration for defenders of liberty around the globe." Some of his followers criticized Cruz for praising Mandela, and some in the press picked up the story as an example of alleged Republican intolerance. But in the end, Cruz was unfazed -- and he made the plane.
Cruz is totally out as far as I’m concerned!
If he does, it’ll now be without my vote.
Bozo said how something or other it was that Mandela stepped down after one term. I yelled at him that we should have been so lucky!!!
did he say or do something?? I missed it...
get off the stage clown..”my own life”..there it is..me, me, me, me, me, meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Smug mr White Hut is speaking NOW. At the Mandela funeral. Had to turn off Fox News. Would rather watch an oxyclean infomercial than the POSOTUS
Bozo thinks it’s Cairo Part II..make him go away!!!
Yup as expected, Obama injecting himself into the narrative and its pure vomit.
There some of y’all go, writing off a fine candidate for one thing. No one’s perfect enough for some.
It puts him on center stage so that’s fine with me.
Trying to be relevant again..they love me here, me, me, me, Michelle, me, me, me, meeeeee
Typical Obama. Someone tell him he can’t run for a 3rd term.
What a rambling, nonsensical speech.
what’d he do???
He is using his Union rallying voice!
Mandela brought whites and blacks together..O’Shit-O has taken race relations back to the 50’s...
me, me, me, me, me...a better man, VOMIT!!!
YAY, he’s done...
Who would you prefer?
Christie?
Face it-the Republican bench is pretty much empty.
Palin will never run. Rand Paul’s wife says no to a run.
Who’s left to challenge Her Magnificence?
Palin starts a tv show in April..agreed she’ll never run.
To avoid visiting my wrath upon my nice tv, I changed the channel.
....he’s talks about suppressive governments around the world...NSA,IRS,AP,....mack daddy strikes again
Maybe Cruz wants to upstage odumbo.
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