Posted on 12/11/2015 6:27:01 PM PST by GIdget2004
After a week of tension between the two Republican presidential candidates, front-runner Donald Trump took a shot at Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Friday, saying that âoil companies pay him a lot of money.â
âWith ethanol [Cruz has] gotta come a long way,â Trump said in Des Moines, Iowa. "Heâs right now for the oil. But I understand if oil pays him a lot of money, heâs gotta be for oil. Right?â  âBut Iâm with you,â Trump told his supporters, noting he toured ethanol plants in Iowa last month.
"If Ted Cruz is against ethanol, how does he win in Iowa," Trump asked.
The billionaire businessman also slammed Cruz as a copycat.
âThe one guy that is doing pretty good with me in Iowa is Ted Cruz,â Trump said. "Everything I say, he agrees with me. No matter what I say.â
He later seemed to take a shot at Cruz's background.
âI do like Ted Cruz, but not a lot of evangelicals come out of Cuba,â Trump said. âBut I like him nonetheless.â
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
In a battle between them, I’m for Cruz.
This is not one of Trump’s better moves.
As for the issue at hand, Trump can claim to be above everyone else because he accepts no donations, but all he is saying is that he is out for himself. That is no better if one lacks character. Corrupt is corrupt. Bad character is bad character. Like guns. It is not about the THING; it’s about the person.
Beyond that I don’t really choose to participate in an ugly fight. If Trump engages, one, I’ll defend Cruz.
No. Cruz has not been a “copycat” anyway. How rude. Trump didn’t invent all his positions, and some positions Cruz differs on. One key issue was that Cruz supported Kim Davis and Trump did not. Cruz is MUCH better on social issues. I don’t need to rub it in, but it is a fact.
Maybe that will come later.
It is idiotic economic and social policy to support burning food for fuel. It's the epitome of cronyism, malinvestment, and inefficient government. Trump of all people should realize this.
Contributions by Industry for Ted Cruz
Oil & Gas
Total: $952,382
Individuals: $773,382
PACs: $179,000
He's taking almost a similar amount from Lawyers & Law Firms
However he is correct in that Cruz has taken almost $1 million from Oil & Gas and just over $938,000 from Lawyers and law firms.
Money = influence. It's why The Donald paid off both Dems and Repubs.
Sounds like the ethanol lobby dictates Trump’s policies.
Are they influencing him or happy that he is advocating for a level-playing field and they can work without bureaucrats breathing down their necks?
Might as well get used to it because it’s not going to get any better.
Or, do they want a place at the table when the next president is picking winners and losers?
Lots of room in “Big Oil’s” pockets these days...they don’t have any money!
lol
Awhile ago Cruz was asked about ethanol at a town-hall meeting in Iowa. He said something like “Well - I’m from Texas. We have lots of farms and crops down in Texas too. Corn ethanol is another resource farmers in Iowa and Texas can grow and make money from. So I’m for ethanol. But, and here’s where I might get your wrath - I’m not for the government subsidies that make ethanol worth it. Let the market decide what the farmer grows. Big government doesn’t need to be in the family farm. Heck - that’s what I’m campaigning against - our government is big enough and intrudes enough already!” He got a good round of applause.
What winners and losers? Cruz already said that no industry should be subsidized. Without subsidies and mandates, the ethanol industry would collapse. Oil can ompete without both, which is why they’re donating to Cruz.
Can he win?
Will the GOPe....deep six him...and Cruz?
We shall see...
I’m OK that Cruz takes donations from the Oil & Gas industry as energy is important to our economy. Most green energy schemes are bogus or will never reliably replace conventional carbon burning energy.
As for the lawyers, most go Democrat as the Dems are pro litigation to change our society v. the consensus of the electorate. If Cruz gets lawyer money, it’s conservatives or Republican donors. If you want Cruz to be pure, open your wallets as an individual, I have to a modest amount.
Senator Cruz is From Texas, which is a big oil and gas producing state. The fact that he supports “big oil” whatever the heck that is, I’m all for him.
I’m more concerned about who the candidates’ money goes to.
After campaign donations to 23 Democrats including Hillary Clinton and Rahm Emanuel, I wonder who influences Donald “Single-Payer Health Care” Trump?
Who knows? If you donate to that many Democrats, your principles are for sale.
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