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."
He can dig his way out of this hole! He represents the Cruz Party.
(Hat tip: "Black Cow" - Steely Dan, Aja, 1977)
Puppies are usually Cute. You are just an ordinary hack.
When Cruz decides to run for re-election, it would be great for President Trump to endorse his opponent!
“Cruz, added he would not be “a servile puppy dog” to the Trump campaign.”
He’ll be a servile puppy dog to the Clinton campaign.
Cruz is blaming Trump for the bad react to his tantrum. Cruzlims all over social media saying they can never support Trump because he orchestrated the booing. Unbelievable delusion.
Excellent
He’s a really sick puppy!
Sen. Cruz needs to leave Cleveland. IMMEDIATELY!
Not a chance. Cruz has always wanted a divisive convention about him. The only way to do that was go to Cleveland and drop his stink bomb.
He can’t stop digging because he is an immature ego maniac. Why is nobody mentioning what he did to Dr.Carson? Why was his attack on Melania and floating her ages old photographs never mentioned? The Media has certainly forgotten the slimy, dirt cheap attacks he made on the voters with his “WARNING” mailed to people to force them to vote,nor his continual multiple begging for money e- mails that were as many as seven a day. I am FED UP with Cruz. On top of it all he is NOT ELIGIBLE AND HE IS NOT A CONSERVATIVE! He should be kicked out of the party and shipped off to the nuthouse!
Small, petulant, whiney, stupid party!
Then you'll be its bitch.
Mark Levin hinted at waiting until the debates to endorse Trump. Cruz wants another primary, IMO. With him as the judge of Trump.
Cruz and his supporters are insane.
What about Ted’s underhanded attacks on Melania?
So Ted, everyone who supports Trump is a “servile puppy dog”? Really? I was a Cruz fan when he entered the race and I am very grateful this campaign showed me his true colors.
Liar Cruz’s whores began this and were exposed,
and those lies, Ashley Cruz fully knows.
Liar Cruz is Canadian because his Castro-Cuban daddy worked
with Lee Harvey Oswald and fled after the murder
to work with .... the Bushes.
His political career is over at the end of his term. I certainly will not vote for him again nor will any member of my extended family.
Hey, Lyin' Ted, Trump has had little to say about your speech. It's the MSM going nuts over it as a sign a division in the party, just as you knew would happen and intended to happen.
And, of course, you had to come out this morning and hold a televised event to stoke the flames even more.
someone on another thread this morning commented on his lack of Texas accent. Listening to him at the breakfast, it’s very obvious. He’s just like Hellary when she puts on her thick Southern drawl. He doesn’t have a Texas accent but every once in a while when he’s talking down and playing to the Texas delegates he starts out with an accent but two sentences in he loses it. Talk about a used car salesman.
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.