Posted on 07/21/2016 8:18:20 AM PDT by Drango
Less than 12 hours after he was booed for not endorsing GOP nominee Donald Trump during his late-night speech before the Republican National Convention, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz isn't backing down.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, the Republican vice presidential nominee, headlined Wednesday's event. But all eyes were on Ted Cruz earlier in the evening for his refusal to endorse Donald Trump. POLITICS Pence Makes The Case For Trump After Cruz Is Booed At an emotional event with the Texas RNC delegation Thursday morning, Cruz defended his decision to withhold his endorsement at a time when Republicans are trying to rally around their nominee ahead of the general election.
Sen. Ted Cruz leaves the stage after speaking during the Republican National Convention on Wednesday. POLITICS Trump-Cruz Feud Flares Anew On Third Night Of Convention "I am doing what millions of Americans are doing. I am watching and I am listening. The standard that I apply is, which candidate do I trust to defend the Constitution?" said Cruz.
"I can tell you I am not voting for Hillary," said Cruz, who also said he was "watching" other candidates.
As the GOP primary came down to the two candidates this spring, Trump and his surrogates attacked Cruz's family. That including tweeting an unflattering photo of Cruz's wife and alleging without any firm basis that Cruz's father, Rafael, was involved in the plot to assassinate President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
"I am not in the habit of supporting people who attack my wife and attack my family," said Cruz, who added he would not be "a servile puppy dog" to the Trump campaign.
Vanquished Republican presidential hopefuls, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, also addressed the convention's third night, delivering lukewarm endorsements of Trump.
Cruz said Trump should not have been surprised by the content of his Wednesday night address because the campaign "knew exactly what I was going to say." A preview copy of Cruz's remarks was released to reporters earlier in the evening.
He said it was "dismaying" that Trump supporters booed him from the floor when he encouraged Republicans to "vote their conscience" in November.
The first-term senator emphasized that he has no plans to campaign against Trump this fall. "I don't intend to say negative things about Donald Trump," said Cruz.
Meanwhile on Twitter, Trump criticized Cruz implying that he's encouraging people to vote for Democrats:
Follow Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump Ted Cruz talks about the Constitution but doesn't say that if the Dems win the Presidency, the new JUSTICES appointed will destroy us all! 8:12 AM - 21 Jul 2016 3,349 3,349 Retweets 9,324 9,324 likes Wednesday night Trump wasn't so harsh, tweeting that he let Cruz speak even after seeing his remarks and that it was "No big deal!"
Follow Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump Wow, Ted Cruz got booed off the stage, didn't honor the pledge! I saw his speech two hours early but let him speak anyway. No big deal! 9:45 PM - 20 Jul 2016 17,801 17,801 Retweets 50,522 50,522 likes Cruz is already positioning himself to run again for the White House in 2020 and discouraged supporters from casting a vote for him this fall. "I am not encouraging anyone to write my name in."
That’s obvious. He won’t be much of anything............................
What about the pledge you signed to support the nominee, Ted?
Slow learner.
He’s betting the house that Trimp loses.
Ahem, your ego is showing, Ted.
Jeez Ted...
You really are a sour grapes bad loser.
Emphasis on loser.
Put another way, he won’t be a team player - either for the good of the party or the good of the nation.
Maybe politics is the wrong career choice...?
Sen. Cruz needs to leave Cleveland. IMMEDIATELY!
Yeah, keep digging. Nobody expects him to be a servile puppy dog.
How about trying to be an adult, civil, patriot who understands that if hittlary is elected nothing matters much at all. To prevent that it is necessary to join the pull against her or just STFU and go sulk.
Cruz isn’t dead to me, yet. He is fading fast though.
Sore Loser Cruz.
“I don’t intend to say negative things about Donald Trump,”
That’s big of him. A true party loyalist.
Ted wants Hillary to appoint three Supreme Court justices because Trump picked on Heidi
If not sooner.
I think many republicans will remember the pledge he signed and ignored. Why would anyone believe a thing he says ever again?
No one asked or expected Cruz to kiss Trump’s azz. All we asked is for him be a man and keep his word (that he’d support the GOP nominee). And apparently, that was too much to ask of this slimeball.
F him.
Republican party, Band of Traitors.
All trying to elect Hillary.
Cruz won’t even be elected dog-catcher after this.
[He’s betting the house that Trimp loses.]
He could have been a shoe-in for 2020 if he had been graceful and supportive of Trump as the nominee, and calling off the NeverTrump movement. He would be seen as a unifier, and considering he was the runner up, could have had a strong chance to win the primary.
Instead, he doubles down on his snark and tantrums and makes himself look like a BIGGER idiot and loser than he was before yesterday.
Ted, you’re dead to me.
FOAD Cruz. FOAD.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.