Posted on 10/28/2015 9:35:45 PM PDT by Isara
BOULDER, Colo. — In easily his most animated moment on the debate stage since he launched his presidential campaign, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz excoriated moderators of the third GOP presidential debate Wednesday night.
"This is not a cage match," the Texas Republican said. "And you look at the questions — 'Donald Trump, are you a comic-book villain?' 'Ben Carson, can you do math?' 'John Kasich, will you insult two people over here?' 'Marco Rubio, why don't you resign?' 'Jeb Bush, why have your numbers fallen?' How about talking about the substantive issues people care about?"
Cruz's media criticism drew loud applause at the University of Colorado Boulder, where the GOP field gathered for the CNBC-hosted event. It was an especially spirited moment compared to his first two debates, during which Cruz hit his talking points but stopped short of delivering breakout performances.
"Even without the mainstream media not wanting to get into positive economic ideas and substance, it was a terrific debate," Cruz told reporters in brief remarks afterward.
Cruz's allies were thrilled that he called out the moderators, with a number of surrogates telling reporters the senator "took control" of a debate veering into triviality. Cruz adviser Jason Miller said the senator played the "grown-up card," while Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, newly tapped Texas chairman of Cruz's campaign, said other candidates were probably thinking, "I should've said that," when Cruz intervened.
"He carried the debate on his shoulders when he took on those hosts," Patrick told reporters, likening Cruz to a quarterback carrying his team.
Minutes before the economy-focused debate started, the Wall Street Journal published an op-ed by Cruz outlining his tax plan, which calls for a 10 percent flat income tax. Cruz moved quickly early in the debate to tout the fairness of the proposals, saying that under the plan, "no hedge fund manager pays less than his secretary."
Between the tax plan rollout and moderator lashing, Cruz surrogates believe he struck the perfect balance of substance and style. Cruz campaign manager Jeff Roe called the debate a "great night for the campaign," suggesting it was poised for another surge in post-debate fundraising. Cruz's tangle with the moderators "blew up on money," Roe added.
Less than two hours after the debate ended, Cruz's campaign indicated he had already raised more than half a million dollars.
Cruz later patched things up with moderator John Harwood, who noted the two are "clearly not having that beer you mentioned." That was a reference to a Cruz's earlier admission that he may not be the candidate with which Americans want to grab a beer.
"I'll buy you a tequila or even some famous Colorado brownies," Cruz replied, drawing laughs at the mention of a state known for its legalization of marijuana.
I agree- income tax is Cruz’s only negative.
I have been hoping that Trump and Cruz would be on the ticket. In what order is for the primaries.
He fricasseed the MSNBC drones in that exchange
The best moment.
Luntz said that in 20 years of his focus groups, he’s never seen anything rate that high.
Now, Ted, follow it up by getting back to DC and fighting this budget deal on the floor. I assume Rand will want in on that too. (Let him talk when you need the men’s room.)
I agree. I’ve had my fill of former govs and neophyte socialists running the country to rack and ruin. I’m eager to see if a legitimate businessman and a bona fide firebrand constitutional lawyer can turn this sucker around.
Great job by T.C.
He took some of his finite time to mention his father’s born again experience.
This man has integrity. Even if he doesn’t win the nomination, he won a national audience moment for Christ.
Rand is leading the resistance.
I prefer Carson’s tax plan to both Trump’s and Cruz’s.
They let off those who make below $25K or $36K respectively.
No person should be exempt.
Rand Paul is filibustering the Budget deal starting tomorrow morning. Not Cruz.
There are Republican candidates who would make up quite a cabinet. Whoever becomes President would not have to go far.
Rand is leading maybe 10 followers. He’s done.
Sen. Cruz was hitting the US MSM far previous than DT getting in the race, point of fact.
Did you see the young girl in the focus group of the Fox guy with the dead rodent on his head? She said she was really interested in Cruz for the first time. She said that up until now she had written him off as a religious guy, but now she sees he can talk economics and she is giving him serious thought. I hope there were others like her watching.
Thank you.
The beauty is he prepared this answer in real-time, memorizing all the questions that were asked throughout the night. That showed great memory skill up against Trump who couldn’t even remember something from “his” position paper. I remember a Freeper wondering months ago why some of Trump’s wishy-washy statements seemed off-the-mark from some rock-ribbed conservative statements he had made in one of his books. Apparently both Trump’s position papers and books are ghost-written and he may not even read them himself.
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