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Cruz responds to Trump’s Iowa recount demands, blames media for Carson kerfuffle
SALON ^ | 02/03/2016 | SOPHIA TESFAYE

Posted on 02/03/2016 1:06:31 PM PST by SeekAndFind

The bromance has long ended and the bitter battle is only beginning to rage between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz as the Republican presidential primary devolves into a slugfest now that the crowded field is winnowing down to let the dominate contenders duke it out leading into the New Hampshire primary.

But first, the results of Monday's Iowa caucus continue to be a point of contention days after Cruz was declared the winner.

On Tuesday, Cruz was forced to apologize to Ben Carson's campaign for misleadingly suggesting to caucusing supporters that the retired neurosurgeon planned to drop out of the race in an apparent effort to corral additional voters to the Cruz camp. Carson actually only intended to return to Florida to change clothes before eventually returning to the campaign trail.

After initially shocking observers when he appeared to accept defeat with a modicum of graciousness Monday night, Trump decided to lash out at Cruz Wednesday, tweeting that a "either a new election should take place or Cruz results nullified"

Trump amplifying Carson's allegations of "dirty politics" played by the Cruz campaign surely wasn't what was expected when Cruz admitted fault while still defending his campaign's action as "fair game." After all, the Cruz campaign initially denied the allegations.

"For months, my campaign has survived the lies and dirty tricks from opponents who profess to to detest the games of the political class, but in reality are masters at it," Carson complained on Monday before citing various "political tricks" by the Cruz campaign.

During an interview with right wing radio host Mike Gallagher today, Cruz walked back much of his admission of guilt and shifted blame to the liberal media for turning Carson against him.

(Excerpt) Read more at salon.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; Politics/Elections; US: Iowa; US: New York; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 2cubans; bencarson; carson; cruz; cruzrubiotrick; cubancartel; iowa; newyork; salon; sophiatesfaye; tedcruz; texas; trump
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To: JudyinCanada

He will. Right now Rubio is behind, and he hasn’t attacked Trump. People call Trump stupid for tweeting about Iowa but what is the reality today? Cruz is off message and defending his campaign.


161 posted on 02/03/2016 4:42:54 PM PST by visualops (Why yes, I am on the #TrumpTrain. I'd like to win for a change.)
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To: caww

I am given to understand that Carson’s wife was at one of the caucus location and witnessed first hand what Cruz’ precinct captains were doing. She attempted to correct the false narrative that they were using to persuade Carson voter’s to switch their vote to Cruz ...

I do not know where Ben Carson was during all of this; but, why would that matter, and how does the location of Dr. Carson change the facts of what transpired at all the caucus sites by way of Cruz’ precinct captains?

Are you implying that Carson could have known about the thing beforehand? Or that he could have done anything about it as it was happening simultaneously in all or various caucus locations?

How does Carson’s location change the actions taken by the Cruz campaign?


162 posted on 02/03/2016 5:22:32 PM PST by WTFOVR (I find myself exclaiming that expression quite often these days!)
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To: WTFOVR

Cruz apologized they did not issue ‘a correction’ when Ben put out that he was STILL in the race... That was the issue, NOT that he was leaving for that was already out there by more than just the Cruz captains....so yes Carson needed to have all hands on deck to dispute that.....he didn’t.

Yes, I read his wife was attempting to stop it but really Bens staff should have been ‘all hands on deck and in a hurry’ once that news broke by CNN.......and not expect other candidates staff to do that for him. Bens staff was already breaking up before this and he had to drag them back......so his campaign had been in trouble since Dec...and we all read about that.

IMO Ben didn’t plan well his exit point...and no doubt we will see this in a couple weeks or so if not earlier.


163 posted on 02/03/2016 5:30:53 PM PST by caww
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To: 11th Commandment

NEWS FLASH, dumb-ass Donald!: Lying is LEGAL in politics! NO politician will EVER be convicted for lying to the voters! Thus, the issue with Cruz is MOOT!


164 posted on 02/03/2016 7:33:45 PM PST by 2harddrive
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To: caww

Cruz will be in fourth place after SC, then we will see who will be dropping out.

1- Trump

2- Rubio

3- Carson

4- Rafael

just 2 1/2 weeks away...


165 posted on 02/03/2016 8:07:13 PM PST by free_life (If you ask Jesus to forgive you and to save you, He will.)
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To: free_life
Enjoy your fantasy while it lasts....


166 posted on 02/03/2016 8:36:14 PM PST by caww
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To: bray
So now you guys are trashing Ben Carson perhaps the nicest most gentle guys on the campaign? You really need to reexamine your life. Guess leadership is being reflected pretty well.

He is one of he nicest and most gentle guys. He just isn't presidential material, either in style or substance. He's a great man and I have nothing but respect for him, but you don't take time off and ship NH and SC if you want to win the Republican nomination.

His campaign has been heading in the wrong direction for months - really since the first debate, if my memory serves me - and it isn't going to turn around. He's a smart guy and I'm sure he knows that. I'm sorry you took what I said as trashing him, but his campaign is on life support and I will be surprised if he ever re-emerges as a serious candidate (and I don't mean just in 2016.)

Cruz as some issues too, but I think that he still could overcome them. I doubt the nominee will be anyone outside of the top 3 from Iowa. If we vote tomorrow, my vote would be for Cruz. If we wager tomorrow, my money is on Rubio.

167 posted on 02/03/2016 8:43:35 PM PST by Gil4 (And the trees are all kept equal by hatchet, ax and saw)
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To: Vic S

No. The tweet purportedly from the Cruz campaign came 33 seconds before 7pm, Iowa time. The screenshot of the CNN clip which showed on that tweet showed a 6:43 timestamp. CNN ran their story 17 minutes before 7pm and the purported Cruz tweet was at 33 seconds before 7pm. So it was about a 16-minute lapse.

Depending on how and when the Carson camp distributed their walk-back from what they had told CNN (that Carson wouldn’t be going to NH or SC) and whether the Cruz campaign actually saw or heard those walkbacks, Rove’s story could be all washed up. The Cruz campaign characterized the time they knew of CArson’s walkback as “later then evening” (presumably a type for “later in the evening”. But Rove claims that the CArson walkback was at 6:53. Nobody shows any documentation for the timeframe and nobody has mentioned how the walkback was distributed, or when CNN aired a correction.


168 posted on 02/03/2016 8:59:20 PM PST by butterdezillion
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To: caww

So Carson is at fault for not stopping their lies? This is just the final straw that he cannot be trusted under pressure. He completely shows he does not have the honor or integrity to hold the office yet.

If he will take the shortcut and lie in Iowa what will he do when Russia is breathing down his throat?


169 posted on 02/03/2016 9:10:43 PM PST by bray (Trump/Palin 2016)
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To: SeekAndFind

Exactly what was false about the information? Carson’s actions justified the conclusion that he was planning to suspend his campaign. Fact is that Carson’s whole campaign has been lacking in discipline.


170 posted on 02/03/2016 9:23:23 PM PST by RobbyS (quotes)
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To: bray

This whole thing...as usual...is being blown off the map....no thanks to Cnn putting it out there in the first place.....AFTER.... Ben announced to them he was returning to Florida. Ben mislead the press, though I doubt purposely, but he had nothing even on his site of visiting anywhere in NH as well.....

I personally don’t think Cruz’s team was responsible for all this mishap......Ben wants everybody to pay attention to his affairs when even his own staff was leaving......what would happen if his operating staff was walking out the door in the middle of surgery. He’d call a all hands on deck emergency.........so why didn;t he in this??? And instead say he was going to florida to change his clothes??? Come ON!

Ben lost control of the fact he wanted to make a graceful exit on his own terms......He left too many doors open in his campaign, both by what he said to CNN in his interview to begin with....and all that followed. Cruz’s team simply picked up on that news.....and you cannot hold him responsible for what was already out there...........at issue came ONLY when Ben Finally got the word out he was still in the race.....The Cruz team didn’t send THAT to their team and what Ted apologized for.

With Ben bouncing as he did about his plans....and as much lack of plans.....and with his campaign already in trouble in Dec......how could anyone “rescue” Carson from his own demise.


171 posted on 02/03/2016 9:27:36 PM PST by caww
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To: caww

Whatever makes you sleep at night.
It is obvious what happened. The largest group of turnable supporters were Carson’s. They likely told their supporters to go after them before the opportunity arose and when they found an opening they lied about him quitting and got his supporters.

He is obviously a liar and if you are fine with that it only proves that moral relativism is alive and well in the Cruz campaign.

He said it himself that he would do what it takes to win after the spy envelope fiasco. He is not qualified to be President and I wanted him as VP two weeks ago. Do we really want someone we cannot trust in the WH?


172 posted on 02/03/2016 9:33:23 PM PST by bray (Trump/Palin 2016)
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To: bray

I suppose it simply depends on what “story” line is out there now as it’s a far cry from the happening to begin with. As usual the facts and spins begin almost immediately and even when any attempts are made to sit it straight it always goes off into left field.

If I was under the impression...which they were indeed .....that a candidate was quitting I would have done the same thing as I have manned the polls myself with the idea of getting people to vote for my candidate.

I think it’s taking it way to far by saying they lied or that Cruz lied....they didn’t.... it was already out there by CNN and this from Bens own admission. He knew the news was taking this as him quitting .....which IMO he was going to do but wanted it on his terms....Journalists are crafty people and if you look at the manuscript of that Interview you can see they were pressing for an answer which Ben was dodging.

His own staff confirmed he was going back to Florida.......also confirmed it was to change clothes...I don’t believe that for a minute. I do think he was preparing to leave the race but as said wanted it on his own terms.

When you are in the middle of a horse race and decide your not going to finish the race it isn’t always possible to slow the horse down without observers noting this even if the jockeys can’t see it happening...... CNN knew something was up and why he was being interviewed in the first place.

Well at any rate.....I do not determine my vote for a President from how they, or their staff, run their campaigns. When I support a candidate I give them plenty of room to wiggle because it’s a race.....I will especially do so with TEd Cruz for his record and history are solid.....


173 posted on 02/03/2016 10:04:09 PM PST by caww
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To: caww

No it is not. His flaws are becoming more and more obvious. He does not have the integrity to be President. We now know he is a bold face liar. What else is he lying about?


174 posted on 02/03/2016 10:19:22 PM PST by bray (Trump/Palin 2016)
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To: bray

Well I choose to think otherwise bray...as you are to think as you do. I will continue to support Ted Cruz.... and those reasons for doing so are as solid as the issues he stands on.


175 posted on 02/03/2016 10:21:46 PM PST by caww
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To: caww

I thought the same thing a month ago. Not anymore, he proved his word is worthless. What else is he lying about? Maybe you will figure it out someday.


176 posted on 02/03/2016 10:37:27 PM PST by bray (Trump/Palin 2016)
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To: bray
Not anymore, he proved his word is worthless. What else is he lying about?

What else? I'm still waiting for the first lie. Do you have any statement from Ted Cruz on this that is demonstrably false? I have yet to see one. I keep hearing this charge of 'Ted Cruz lied' being tossed out repeatedly by several people here. But missing from all of this is the lie itself.

177 posted on 02/03/2016 10:42:59 PM PST by Hoodat (Article 4, Section 4)
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To: caww

We can chat after NH and SC...watch.

BTW it will be Trump vs Sanders, been saying that for 5 months.


178 posted on 02/03/2016 11:21:49 PM PST by free_life (If you ask Jesus to forgive you and to save you, He will.)
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To: Hoodat

The lie was that Carson was quitting the race and to get people to switch to him. The statement that there was an announcement coming was a total fabricated lie.

Carson’s wife confronted them and told them they were not quitting and he did not send that out and stop his troops. He had 12,000 people spreading his lie and did not stop it. His word is worthless.


179 posted on 02/04/2016 4:40:18 AM PST by bray (Trump/Palin 2016)
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To: bray

Quote to me Ted Cruz’s “lie”. To be a lie it has to be factually incorrect and he had to know it was factually incorrect.

If you cannot give me a quote where Cruz lied on this, that documents that you know he did not lie and if you continue to say that he lied about this then you are documented as lying.


180 posted on 02/04/2016 4:41:27 AM PST by butterdezillion
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