Donald Trump Dares Ted Cruz To Criticize Him In Public

TPM ^ | 12/11/15 | Caithlin MacNeil

[VinL]

One day after a report that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) questioned Donald Trump's "judgement" in a private event, Trump called out Cruz for criticizing him behind close doors but refraining from negative comments in public.

Looks like @tedcruz is getting ready to attack. I am leading by so much he must. I hope so, he will fall like all others. Will be easy!

.@tedcruz should not make statements behind closed doors to his bosses, he should bring them out into the open - more fun that way!

Cruz has so far refrained from bashing Trump in public. After Trump announced his proposal to ban Muslims from coming to the United States, Cruz disagreed but stopped short of condemning Trump's remarks.

But the Texas senator spoke about Trump and Ben Carson during a Manhattan fundraiser on Wednesday, according to the New York Times.

"Who am I comfortable having their finger on the button? Now that’s a question of strength, but it’s also a question of judgment. And I think that is a question that is a challenging question for both of them," Cruz said of Trump and Carson.

Cruz has started gaining on Trump in the key primary state of Iowa, which may be making Trump uneasy. The real estate mogul has a habit of attacking his Republican rivals when they rise in the polls, as both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal noted this week. Trump may have released his proposal to ban Muslims from entering the country in an attempt to boost his support with evangelical voters in Iowa.

[ScottinVA]

Trump would be wise not to get into a pissing contest with Cruz in a debate setting. Cruz will rip him a new one.

[Dr. Sivana]

I didn’t see the context of Cruz’ commenst on Trump’s and Carson’s judgement. I assumed he was speaking as a general proposition, and not over a particular issue.

[mmichaels1970]

Mind you they seemingly never have the ability to deliver the state to the red side for some reason, but they will demand that you kiss their ring every 4 years.

Great synopsis of Iowa. Don't forget the ethanol subsidies. I'll never understand why these people in IA and NH are put on such a pedestal.

If I had carte blanche, I'd take the results from the previous general election and let the state that delivers the highest percentage of my party's votes go first and then move backwards. Maybe tier the states into groups of 10 and hold five "super Tuesdays".

If IA and NH don't like it, then they should deliver the votes.

[djstex]

Cruz bragging more experience in private and Trump calling him out on it and say it to his face. There. They both want to WIN the presidency. Now let’s see how this goes. Who gets a bump or a big thumping?

[pollywog]

What you said is what I fear about Trump...
GO TED GO...

[Responsibility2nd]

Cruz says Trump is unfit to be CIC because of his “poor judgement”. Man up Cruz, say it in public.

________________________________________

1. Cruz did not use the word ‘unfit”.
2. Cruz didn’t question Trump’s “poor” judgment. Just his judgment.
3. You were asked to proved quotes. Instead you made stuff up.
4. You lie.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Trump to McCain.

Pass the strawberries...

[ripnbang]

Cruz is really smart and, as we’ve seen many times, very good on his feet. Its not in his nature but Trump would be well advised to avoid poking a wily and formidable “badger” like Cruz.
============================================+============

With all due respect, seriously?? After what Trump has withstood?

[dforest]

Do you have a link to that?

[ichabod1]

In Texas an evangelical is a hard right gun owner who drives a pick up truck. In Iowa an evangelical is a left winger who joined the movement about 15-20 years ago to create a left wing group that could claim to be evangelical while pushing the Marxist agenda. Electorally, I don’t like Iowa very much.

[jjotto]

I must have missed the part were Iowa and New Hampshire have armed representatives force the RNC and the DNC to allow them to go first.

[ichabod1]

I’m liking the Don a lot these days but... it could be a very good question, his judgment. He seems completely incapable of not responding to every real or perceived slight. He could get ugly with foreign leaders and create a real mell of a hess.

[tanknetter]

Actually, they’d both be wise to stay away from each other.

They have very different debating styles that appeal to people in different ways. As a team those styles compliment each other. But used in conflict against each other you have a very nasty fight that only results in damage inflicted on both.

[pollywog]

I disagree!!! Ted is the real deal... Ever listen to Rush Limbaugh??
GO TED GO!!!

[mmichaels1970]

Cruz made a pretty innocuous statement and Trump just had to blow it up into internicine war.

.@tedcruz should not make statements behind closed doors to his bosses, he should bring them out into the open - more fun that way!

Aw c'mon. That's a more of a spitball than a war.

[Louis Foxwell]

bizarre.

[jpsb]

Who is prepared to be a commander in chief? Who understands the threats we face? Who am I comfortable having their finger on the button? Now that's a question of strength, but it's also a question of judgment. And I think that is a question that is a challenging question for both of them.

There is the quote for you stupid one. "Judgement challenged" = "poor judgement" stupid one.

[SamAdams76]

Cruz does not play well nationally or with women. Trump will do extremely well with all demos in the general.

I notice the same. My wife, who is very conservative, probably even more than myself, is not a fan of Cruz. Same with other female members in my family, they all prefer Trump over Cruz (or anybody else). My wife specifically stated that Cruz oozes that "politician speak" during the debates while Trump comes across as unrehearsed and sincere.

I had thought that Trump's multiple marriages would hurt him with women. However, the fact that Trump is on his third wife doesn't seem to bother them.

Hey, I can't explain it any better than I can explain women!

[mac_truck]

Cruz's campaign dismissed the story as "misleading," but Cruz himself said he would not comment on something he "may or may not have said at a private fundraiser."

This type of evasion isn't going to work...

[RetSignman]

I believe, Cruz, in the past, always fought the establishment tooth and nail and long before Trump came along, unfortunately, he jumped on the media bandwagon screaming about the unrelenting attack about Trump’s ‘temporary’ halting of possible terrorists entering to our country.

Bad judgement but I still respect him.