So Who's the Real Liar: Cruz, Trump or Rubio?

Daily Wire ^ | 2/17/2016 | Ben Shapiro

[conservativejoy]

The Republican candidates in South Carolina have spent the last week beating each other up over their supposed untrustworthiness. This has had particular impact on Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), who runs under the slogan "TrusTED" and talks ad infinitum about his consistently conservative record. Polls show that the charges against Cruz have slowed his ascent in South Carolina.

Meanwhile, Cruz slaps Republican frontrunner Donald Trump for his alleged lies on the campaign trail to conservative voters; Trump denounces those accusations and doubles down on the charge that Cruz is the true liar.

And then there's Marco Rubio, sniping at Cruz while attempting to avoid Trump's flailing fists of fury. He too says that Cruz is a liar; at the same time, Cruz calls Rubio a liar on immigration, Planned Parenthood, and same-sex marriage.

So, let's sort this thing out: of the three candidates, who is the biggest liar?

Donald Trump. Trump lies routinely and repeatedly. On Saturday night, Trump said that George W. Bush had lied America into war in Iraq; two days later, he told Mike Gallagher that he'd never said that. Both were lies. He called Ted Cruz a liar in debate after Cruz said Trump supported funding Planned Parenthood - but Trump does support funding Planned Parenthood's "non-abortion services," a completely nonsensical position. During the debate, Trump claimed that Cruz operatives were calling people to tell them that he was dropping out of the race; he's provided no evidence of that assertion. During the debate, Trump said that he had warned that an Iraq war would "destabilize" the Middle East - it never happened.

His latest: yesterday, he tweeted out a fake quote from former Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), which supposedly ripped Cruz as "without a doubt, one of the most dishonest people in DC." Coburn immediately responded by stating, "It's an absolute fabrication. I've never said that, period. It's unfortunate he would use my name to say something dishonest. It's a total fabrication." Trump eventually deleted the tweet.

Today, he continued calling Cruz the biggest liar he has ever met.

Ted Cruz. Trump and Rubio have been browbeating Cruz about his supposed dishonesty for weeks. Cruz, says Trump, is the most dishonest person he's ever met; he can't understand how Cruz calls himself a Christian. Rubio says Cruz is a liar, too. So, what has Cruz lied about? Trump says that Cruz lied about Ben Carson dropping out of the race in Iowa; we've dealt with the entire timeline here. Suffice it to say, that's nonsense. Carson gave indicators he was dropping out to CNN, which reported it, and the Cruz campaign told people about it. End of story. The "voter violation" mailer used by the Cruz campaign is a campaign mailer. End of story.

Now, on to Trump's accusations. Trump has called Cruz a liar for stating that Trump would appoint leftist judges (maybe, given that Trump said that he would appoint his own leftist sister to the Supreme Court, a position he now disowns); that Trump backs Obamacare (actually, Trump says he opposes Obamacare, but he supports a government-run universal healthcare system); that Trump wants to fund Planned Parenthood (true); that Trump is pro-choice (sort of, given that Trump says he supports "caveats" and doesn't consider abortion murder); that Trump’s Supreme Court appointee would get rid of gun rights (unclear, see above).

Rubio has called Cruz a liar for targeting his immigration record (Cruz's hit against Rubio's immigration record is perfectly legitimate, as discussed here); saying that Rubio didn't want to use Congress' "constitutional authority to defund Planned Parenthood" (sort of, given that Rubio didn't back attaching Planned Parenthood defunding to the appropriations process, while Cruz did, although Rubio is in favor defunding Planned Parenthood); that Rubio is insufficiently anti-same-sex marriage, and that Rubio believes same-sex marriage is “the settled law of the land and we must...surrender and move on" (Rubio said "we live in a republican and must abide by the law" and then suggested appointing judges to applying the Constitution properly while opposing a Constitutional amendment); that Rubio wasn't sufficiently anti-same-sex marriage to earn the backing of the National Organization for Marriage (false, says NOM, although they originally said that Rubio’s opposition to same-sex marriage was "lip service...if he can't even get behind a constitutional amendment that allows the People to decide the issue").

Marco Rubio. Rubio has now unleashed ads claiming that Cruz wanted "mass legalization of illegal immigrants" (false, he voted against the Gang of Eight bill co-sponsored by Rubio, although he did propose an amendment that would have given legal work status to illegal immigrants; Cruz claims he proposed the amendment to show that the Gang of Eight wouldn't compromise on legal status without citizenship). The Cruz campaign has demanded the ads be withdrawn.

Yesterday, Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) suggested that the Cruz campaign was responsible for a Facebook page claiming that Gowdy had withdrawn his support for Rubio. Cruz forcefully denied the allegations, but that didn’t stop Gowdy from releasing a statement stating that the Cruz campaign "may not place the same value on waging a contest based on truth and facts…we have seen a systematic effort by Senator Cruz and his allies to spread false information and outright lies in the hopes of winning votes by appealing to our lowest common denominator." The Rubio campaign then cited a supposed list of Cruz lies: the Facebook post (denied by the Cruz campaign), the anti-Rubio immigration ads (the ads are essentially accurate), Cruz's Planned Parenthood accusations (see above), the NOM controversy (see above), utilization of South Carolina push polls (an oft-used political tool), the Carson accusations (again, false), and the what the Rubio campaign termed a "softcore porn ad" (a ridiculous accusation - see here for more).

So, in other words, the Rubio campaign is now calling Cruz a liar based on a series of prevarications by the Rubio campaign about Cruz.

So, here's the conclusion: both Rubio and Cruz are playing hard-nosed politics. They both nitpick each other's record in usual political fashion, exaggerating here and there for effect. There's nothing out of the ordinary going on in either campaign, although it's certainly ugly up close.' Then there's Trump.

Trump lives moment to moment, and he'll disown his own comments as though they never happened. He switches positions based on what's convenient, and he falsely accuses his opponents of lying about him.

If there's a Big Fat Liar in this campaign, there's little doubt who it is. And it isn't either Marco Rubio or Ted Cruz.

[samtheman]

slowed his ascent in South Carolina

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The mother of all euphemisms.

[Heartlander]

Trump Wrote Iraq WMDs Were Threat Year Before Bush Took Office:

Consider Iraq. After each pounding from U.S . warplanes, Iraq has dusted itself off and gone right back to work developing a nuclear arsenal. Six years of tough talk and U.S. fireworks in Baghdad have done little to slow Iraq's crash program to become a nuclear power. They've got missiles capable of flying nine hundred kilometers-more than enough to reach Tel Aviv. They've got enriched uranium. All they need is the material for nuclear fission to complete the job, and, according to the Rumsfeld report, we don't even know for sure if they've laid their hands on that yet. That's what our last aerial assault on Iraq in 1999 was about. Saddam Hussein wouldn't let UN weapons inspectors examine certain sites where that material might be stored. The result when our bombing was over? We still don't know what Iraq is up to or whether it has the material to build nuclear weapons. I'm no warmonger. But the fact is, if we decide a strike against Iraq is necessary, it is madness not to carry the mission to its conclusion. When we don't, we have the worst of all worlds: Iraq remains a threat, and now has more incentive than ever to attack us.
- Donald Trump, The America We Deserve

SEE ALSO - Trump's Dishonest Iraq War Revisionism

...The invasion of Iraq, [Trump] proposed, was based upon a "lie." Its advocates, he submitted, were engaged not in a mistake, but in a conspiracy. And, worst of all, George W. Bush was to blame for 9/11.

...Trump wants us to rig the game so he will always emerge as the winner. Irritated that Trump repeatedly gave money to the Democrats, including before the 2008 wave? Upset that Trump praised Nancy Pelosi as "terrific" when she picked up the gavel that would pass Obamacare? Annoyed that Trump called for an assault-weapons ban just as the right to keep and bear arms was being restored piece by piece? Angry that, just three years ago, he was slamming Mitt Romney for his harsh stance toward illegal immigration? Don't be. He "wasn't a politician" back then, and besides, "that's just what businessmen do." If, on the other hand, you are impressed that Trump isn't on record anywhere supporting the War in Iraq... well, that's because he has always had brilliant instincts and will make a top-notch commander in chief.

The Trump Tapes - Vol. 1
Guns - he supported an assault weapons ban and a longer waiting period to purchase a firearm.

Healthcare - Trump said he was "very liberal when it comes to health care" and that he believes in "universal healthcare."

Abortion - he was pro-choice and for partial birth abortion.

Democrats - he said Hillary was a fantastic senator, praised Pelosi, and said Obama is a great President.

He was a Democrat 2001 - 2009:

[babble-on]

All of the above?

[dartuser]

All ...

[FES0844]

Go after Hillary. She’s a really BIG liar!

[20yearsofinternet]

Trump has called Cruz a liar for stating that Trump would appoint leftist judges (maybe, given that Trump said that he would appoint his own leftist sister to the Supreme Court, a position he now disowns

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I see Ben Shapiro has made his daily contribution to the Ted Cruz Pyrrhic victory fund.

The fact that Cruz and his fanboys are STILL repeating this blatantly untrue nonsense means that they are bald-faced, abject liars. In this “scary” interview with Trump, he paid his sister a compliment by joking about her on the Supreme Court, then immediately said “Let’s just rule that out now”.

Anyone who repeats this garbage as some kind of truth is a pathetic fraud and apparently, doesn’t even believe in hell, let alone exemplifies some “pure” form of Christianity.

The whole Cruz campaign and his paid media stooges are a completely disingenuous farce, not a model of conservatism to emulate. Screw them all.

[pgyanke]

Thank you for posting this. This has been my beef with the Trumpsters calling Cruz names and making unfounded accusations. If you’re a Trump supporter, Cruz should at least be a good second choice. Instead, they are pounding him out of the race on spurious grounds. If Trump falters after Cruz is destroyed, the only choice will be an establishment pick. Well done.

[Objective Scrutator]

Rube-o is the biggest liar of the three, and that’s indisputable to all but Leftist operatives.

[American in Israel]

No outright lies by Cruz, a half a dozen by Rubio, and a half a dozen a week by Trump

We need another Regan, Cruz or we all loose.

[American in Israel]

It would be far easier to count Hillery’s truths.

[Undecided 2012]

Obviously you don’t want to hear the truth about your idol.

And your tagline. You’ll be sadly let down when your idol either does not build the wall or through the back door a multi billion $ project, hmm, Trump Inc. does construction don’t they?

[American in Israel]

Sorry, your assertions are false. His sister is an advocate judge that over ruled the voters last year to assert partial birth abortions.

Not quite a conservative.

We need a Constitutionality Judge, not another black robed king.

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

“Question: “So Who’s the Real Liar: Cruz, Trump or Rubio?”

Answer: YES! ;-)

[20yearsofinternet]

Do you have reading comprehension problems? What you said has nothing at all to do with what I posted.

[American in Israel]

Trump has bragged about hiring illegals to save money, why would he want to really build that wall?

[Undecided 2012]

Your Trump tapes are real sweet.
When the bloviator turns hard left after the election I guess we’ll hear, “but look at all these great deals.”

[FreedomForce]

After months of soul searching and careful consideration, I’ve made the decision that I will not vote for Trump in the general election. I will not have a vote for such a vile person on my conscience. There are Republican candidates I could vote for, with varying degrees of approval. There are Republican candidates I could hold my nose and vote for. Trump falls so far below my minimum standard that even against Hillary or Sanders I will not bend so low. I will not bend to the gutter.

That makes 100% of my household a no Trump ballot in November. The votes won’t be going to a Democrat. That line will either be left blank or the votes will go to someone worthy even if they have no chance whatsoever.

[Undecided 2012]

Simply start a shell company, hire a subcontractor and hire all Mexicans. What a minute who did I hear did that before? No, no way.
I live in Texas’ I know who I see has taken over all the high rise, low rise and road projects, of which there is always construction going on here.

Building that wall will draw illegals from the south better than Obama sold guns.

[Spunky]

Interview of Donald Trump & Ivanka.

"Ivanka what do you have in common with your father?" Answer: "Real estate and golf"

"Trump, what do you have in common with Ivanka?" Answer: "SEX"

Paraphrase: If Ivanka wasn't my daughter I would probably be dating her.

There is no getting around this is just plain sick the things he says about his DAUGHTER.