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."
What a punk!
If Cruz now tells any fellow politician, “I’ve got your back.”, most likely they tell him, “Thanks, but no thanks.”
>eyeroll<
Sore Cruzer.
No, just to RyAn, obama, and McDonnell.
My theory: The Bush-Koch-Goldman Sachs Establishment offered him a TON of money to hold out in Trump & try to humiliate him. He’s probably a very rich man now, but his political career is over. He probably can’t even win re-election in TX now. He took to money and ran...as did his buddies Levin & Beck.
Cruz’s performance last night was all about 2020. He stayed as long as he could in front of the cameras and lights all for the sake of 2020.
There are certain people I will automatically turn off when they appear on TV. Cruz is now one of them. I used to think maybe he was OK. But as of now, I can’t stand the guy, at least as far as his political aspirations or public persona goes. When he talks, his words sound tinny and hollow to me - nothing solid, no ring of authenticity. Last night was no exception.
I just read a short biography on Benedict Arnold. What came through was a fatal flaw that Arnold’s personal ambition was more important than the lofty goals he was supposed to be fighting for. That’s Ted Cruz. Cruz supposedly stands for constitutional freedom but he’s shown me he puts his own political ambition and future first. In that sense, Ted Cruz is a Benedict Arnold as far as I’m concerned.
Someone said Cruz thinks he’s Reagan in 1976. Apparently his dad and apparently Cruz himself, think that Cruz has some sort of Divine Right to become President. I think they’re both nut jobs.
Nor will I.
Not only did you put a shiv in Trump's back by giving the Hildabeast a talking point ('vote your conscience'), you just set yourself to be primaried for your TX Senate seat in 2018, which ensures an establishment RINO or even a 'Rat pickoff.
One thing for sure - you'll never become POTUS.
1976 Republican National Convention
After giving his acceptance speech, Ford asked Reagan to come and say a few words to the convention; Reagan proceeded to give an eloquent address which virtually overshadowed Ford's speech.
Ford 5,529,899 Reagan 4,760,222
As a Steely Dan fan, EXCELLENT!
btw, “Aja” was their masterpiece.
No. He will be the neurologically compromised runt of the litter, that lurches in circles, pissing on the floor. Eventually someone will disappear the runt.
To the trash heap of Utopian-minded ultra-conservatives. It’s a dream world that will never exist no matter how much we want it to.
I’m a Cruz’er who, since Cruz did not win, will vote Trump.
At this point, I would be most grateful if Cruz would stop digging the hole he is in, before he reaches China.
My advice to Cruz: “Shut up!”
Sounds plausible. The Bush-Rove wing of the GOP knew that as runner-up, Cruz was guaranteed a keynote speaker slot at the convention (any winner who doesn't allow the runner-up to do so is perceived as a "sore winner"), so they used him as a tool to humiliate and derail Trump.
Ironic that Cruz whines about not wanting to be Trump's "puppy dog," when he's all too eager to be the GOP establishment's attack dog against Trump. Hope they payed him well, since as you said his political career is now over, unless Ted wants to join Hillary's campaign and reinvent himself as a born-again Liberal.
“...All we asked is for him be a man and keep his word ...”
Bingo. Man up, find your pair, and do what’s best for the Country.
This isn’t about egos right now; it’s about preventing further damage.
Lyn’ Ted is NOT comparable to Reagan. Never has been, definitely not last night. Lyn’ Ted is more comparable to Hitler, Stalin, and others that will say whatever they want, lie and otherwise.
Marco Rubio , Ted Cruz, John Kasich Pledge to Support Donald Trump As The Republican Candidate
GOP RNC Republican National Convention Cleveland Jul-20-2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty1eETVIFMs
Let’s have “A Send Trump What We Can Day.” Imagine Trump being able to announce a great fundraising day after Cruz’s BS. It will kill Cruz.
I love my servile puppy dog.
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