Ted Cruz and the most cynical, despicable political stunt of the year

theweek ^

[chessplayer]

Aggressively supporting Israel is a political winner for conservatives. But when it comes at the expense of persecuted Christians who fear for their lives...

Since the second half of the 20th century, some of my fellow Christians have been the most persecuted religious group in the world. They still are. You probably are surprised to hear this. That's because most of these persecuted Christians don't live in the West. They are, as the awful phrase has it, too foreign for the right and too Christian for the left.

In recent weeks and months, however, the West has heard about the plight of at least one set of these persecuted Christians: those in the Middle East. These communities, many of which date back to the very beginning of Christianity, are now facing outright extinction. And it's happening at the hands of ISIS, the West's Public Enemy No. 1.

A summit was held this week in Washington, D.C., in support of Middle East Christians, and Cruz was supposed to be a keynote speaker. However, right in the second paragraph of his speech, he began exalting Israel. After a while, the assembly started to boo and heckle him. Cruz said, "If you will not stand with Israel and the Jews, then I will not stand with you," and left the podium.

Keep in mind that many Christians in the Middle East are ethnic Arabs who live under Israel's occupation of the West Bank, and therefore have negative feelings about Israel. Of course, there are also many Middle East Christians who are supporters of Israel (indeed, there are even Arab Christians who serve, with distinction, in the Israeli Defense Forces).

As the excellent coverage, transcript, and recording provided by The American Conservative's Jonathan Coppage shows, the audience in Washington applauded Cruz's first lines of support for Israel and the Jews. The crowd turned against him ONLY WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR that he was launching into a rah-rah pro-Israel stump speech that had NOTHING to do with what they were doing there.

Cruz tarred and attacked one of the most powerless and beleaguered minorities in the world, solely for personal political gain. He was strong against the weak.

In the end, what was most striking about Cruz's tirade was the last phrase: "If you will not stand with Israel and the Jews, then I will not stand with you." Cruz was literally standing in a room with his fellow Christians. In the Bible, the idea of the fellowship of Christian believers is a very important one, and to break fellowship is to put oneself outside the community. What Cruz was saying was that agreeing to his views on Israel was more important as a badge of fellowship than believing in Jesus Christ.

[re_nortex]

Thanks for the other piece from Breitbart. For those, including some who have outed themselves on this thread, who have the slightest of doubts about Senator Ted Cruz's intelligence, allow me to repost an message of mine from some time ago.

Chris Hayes, a communist commentator on MSLSD, had this to say about our outstanding Christian, Conservative Senator from here in Texas:

In October 2007, I sat in the media gallery of the United States Supreme Court and watched the Solicitor General of Texas [Ted Cruz] argue on behalf of the state that he should have the ability to put to death a Mexican national who had been convicted of raping and murdering two teenage girls in Houston. He won that argument and he was executed by Texas on August 5th, 2008, despite the objections of the United Nations and the International Court of Justice.

At the time, I had no idea who this man arguing on behalf of Texas was. but all I could think was holy c**p, this guy is good. It was one of his nine times arguing before the Supreme Court and he was witty, incredibly fast on his feet and clearly had a brilliant legal mind.

It is to this day one of the most impressive displays I have ever seen before the Court and I have had the good fortune to spend a lot of time there.

Again this comes from Chris Hayes, a host on the anti-American, anti-Israel MSNBC network. These comments clearly show the awe (and justified fear) that the left of has Ted Cruz. How anyone can imply that Senator Cruz is even tone deaf with his remarks to the conference is utterly incomprehensible. To the contrary, he's what America needs: a true statesman who cherishes the Biblical foundation of America.

[cynwoody]

He wants to piss in the face of Christians in the middle east, I say,,,eff off Ted!

Christians in the Middle East who are anti-Semites can go to Hell.

[chessplayer]

Did the author make cruz try to turn a meeting about the extermination of Christians into a meeting about Israel? Did the author make cruz turn his back on Christians facing extermination? Look at cruz’s actions!

[Norm Lenhart]

I think Orwell said something about the truth becoming a revolutionary act.

What he did was tell the truth. What you do is defend muslims practicing their usual propaganda tricks. They were nailed and you refuse to admit the shown facts.

[cynwoody]

There are only two possibilities here. TC foresaw the response that such comments would get from this audience and went ahead with them anyway, for some obscure reason. Or he didn’t, and that doesn’t say good things about his judgment.

Oh, it proves his judgement is far superior!

The sand nazi undercurrent in the audience (CAIR?) afforded Ted an opportunity to make a statement of principal!

[chessplayer]

“I dunno how to break this to you Ches(hire)”,

Up yours.

“And BTW, my ‘precious Ted’ has integrity.”

There is no such thing as a politician with integrity. It’s an oxy-moron.

“You were a vocal Romney supporter too right?”

Yeah. Between him and The One, he was less scummier. At least I didn’t want The One re-elected because Romney wasn’t “pure” enough.

“BTW2: I’m a Palinista.”

Now I really feel sorry for you.

[Norm Lenhart]

I knew it. Thanks for confirming it.

[chessplayer]

Buy another tinfoil hat.

[chessplayer]

I knew it. Thanks for confirming it.

---

Oh, oh! Now I’ve done it. I’m not “pure” enough for little Normy. What will I ever do?

[Norm Lenhart]

Buy a Bible to learn where christianity originated before casting comments about someone’s tinfoil. I mean being an admitted vocal Romneybot earns you a GOP “I participated” trophy and all but That was just beyond stupid.

[re_nortex]

You have tenure here and that means a lot here on FR. So, with all due respect to your seniority, are you really happy here with your Conservative colleagues here on this site? The boss has made it clear that he's on board with both Senator Cruz and Governor Palin. They represent the best hopes for America's future. Yet your sniping at FReeper stalwarts who steadfastly support those two Patriots makes me think you're maybe not in harmony with our gracious host.

Again, an opinion from just another small, insignificant voice and submitted respectfully for your consideration, chessplayer.

[Norm Lenhart]

Why give an open liberal any respect? He sure as hell doesn’t deserve it for attacking conservatives with muslim taqquya.

[re_nortex]

Why give an open liberal any respect? He sure as hell doesn’t deserve it for attacking conservatives with muslim taqquya.

Point well taken. My only defense is that those loyal FReepers who guided me early on here on Free Republic was to always check the "born on" date and show respect to those who had earlier sign on dates.

[Norm Lenhart]

I’m Class of 98 and if I screw up, I fully believe a 1 day newb has every right to call me on it and I should be called on it*. I’m not a huge fan of seniority, though I do understand it.

* That said having only been wrong twice in my life (Hey I was 5!) I wouldn’t realize if I were wrong...I mean it HAS been nearly 45 years ;)

[csivils]

Are you refering to the conference, or chessplayer? Both seem to be acting like tools for Obama.

[re_nortex]

I’m not a huge fan of seniority, though I do understand it.

I was rather surprised when a well-known and highly regarded FReeper stressed the importance of "born on" dates to me back in 2010. I had ruffled some feathers early on by objecting to what I perceived to be fawning over a sodomite performer on American Idol who had some followers here at one time. That individual was kind enough to send me a very nice and thorough FReepmail explaining the ropes, the traditions and such to ease my path here.

Tenure always struck me as a liberal concept since it's a big deal at leftwing universities. And seniority has always been a core "value" of union goons. I'm in my mid-70s and have seen a lot in my life but I don't use my age as weapon of one-upsmanship. There are a plenty of young people who can top me intellectually in spite of my "born on" date in the 1940s! :)

[Kaosinla]

Did the author make cruz try to turn a meeting about the extermination of Christians into a meeting about Israel? Did the author make cruz turn his back on Christians facing extermination? Look at cruz’s actions!

Let's take a look at the entire opening statement...

Good evening. Today we are gathered at a time of extraordinary challenge. Tonight we are all united in defense of Christians. Tonight we are all united in defense of Jews. Tonight we are all united in defense of people of good faith who are standing together against those who would persecute and murder those who dare to disagree with their religious teachings.

Who took offense to this? Why the islamofacists (Hezbollah) and sympathizers who funded and attended the event. TC was well aware of this hidden infection masquerading as Christians and defenders of Christianity. He walked into the parasites den and shone a light on their insideous and dishonest guise.

[wardaddy]

I’m ambivalent

Many Freepers....most actually....95% think the Israeli partition post WWII was perfect and no one should complain

Likewise few here realize that several of the early leaders of Fatah...PLO....Palestinian fighters and yes...terrorists...no question....were not Muslim Arabs but rather Catholic and Eastern Orthodox ...and Reds too BTW

Its not quite as neat and clean as Freepers customarily like their issues to be defined

I’m puzzled what Cruz was aiming for.....

The Christian population is about 40% of its original makeup of Israel since 1947-48 following the exodus or displacement of many

I actually know several who lived through all that....while they are obviously anti Jihad ....they are likewise not keen on being preached to by Cruz

Again....what was his purpose?

Its complicated....