Posted on 12/28/2015 3:20:21 PM PST by VinL
One thing that frustrated even the most ardent supporters of George W. Bush's administration was his refusal to hit back hard at over the top, abominable personal attacks against him and his family, including his daughters, by those in the media and in the culture at large.
Bush revered the office of the president and, unlike his successor, held it to a higher standard than did gutter snipes such as Sean Penn or the New York Times. This is why Newt Gingrich drew cheers and praise during the 2012 election cycle when he hit back at the media for its open bias.
Who can forget that CNN's John King opened a primary debate by asking Gingrich questions about his ex wife (something to remember every time we're told Bill Clinton is off limits)?
This election cycle, the role of credible media tormentor has been notably filled not by Donald Trump but by Ted Cruz, and it's resonating more because Cruz has a clearer path to the nomination than Gingrich did in 2012.
What started out with Internet memes and social-media snickers at Cruz culminated last week in Ann Telnaesâs cartoon at the Washington Post in which she depicted Cruz's daughters as trained, leashed monkeys. The Post withdrew the illustration but did not apologize. Even primary competitor Marco Rubio, a father of young daughters himself, took a break from his fight with Cruz over immigration to defend the Texas senator.
Telnaes, whose Twitter wallpaper features a Charlie Hebdo cartoon, played the victim and censorship cards when criticized by Cruz and his supporters. What Telneas and our other brave truth tellers in media somehow donât understand is that we on the right donât care about the attack on Cruz as much as we care about the double standard of the media.
Telnaes has the courage to satirize Ted Cruzâs children but not Mohammed. Thatâs why sheâs not Charlie Hebdo. For my part, I wish the Washington Post had left the Cruz cartoon up. Cruzâs response to Telnaes may have caught some pundits off guard, but for those following him and his campaign, it was vintage Cruz.
He did not respond with bomb throwing tweets or statements that generate page clicks or mentions on cable news, and the Post's attempts to anger Cruz enough so heâd hulk out into The Incredible Trump failed. He responded simply by defending his daughters, then by posting a cartoon of his own that portrayed the Washington Post and the New York Times as Hillary Clintonâs leashed lapdogs.
It's perfect red meat for his supporters, and the media fall into their own trap. This has to be painfully frustrating for pundits and personalities who are attempting to goad Cruz into a fight that would prove he's not as culturally savvy as Buzzfeed and IJ.com are making him out to be. This is becoming a pattern for Cruz.
Whether he's halting the debate antics of an obnoxious moderator, responding to the incoherent Twitter rant of a pop star, or debating a Hollywood actress attempting to ambush him with cameras for her own show, Cruz is proving that he's a savvy professional with a deft ability to handle the media.
For those who are eager to see just how far they can push conservative candidates, how far they can go in attempting to Palinize conservatives out of mainstream culture altogether â Cruz must come as an unpleasant shock. (snip)
According to almost all of the polls since June 2015, they have.
America is a Constitutional Republic and We The People are Constitutionalists!
Cruz wrapping up Christmas Tour..Go Cruz Go!!!....
...”Such a contrast and yet, there are none so blind as those who WILL NOT see.”......
They will justify any action, explain away any contradiction, and dismiss any criticism BECAUSE they are so personally and emotionally invested in Trump......and those eyes cannot see.
Sad, but true.
BTW....Former VA AG Ken Cuccinelli Endorses Cruz!!!!
Yes, he does and that’s super!
I would like to invite you into the real world, we are no longer governed by the constitution, we are on the verge of social and economic collapse, the barbarians are not just at the gate, but inside in uncountable numbers. Take blinders off, and look at the danger we are in. Let Mr. Trump take his sledge hammer and tear this whole dreadful construct down, and then Senator Cruz, Senator Sessions, Governor Walker, and other great conservatives who believe in our constitution can take out their chisels and restore our Republic. At this time, your passion is misplaced. I suspect when you are my age, and you survey the ruins of country, living in an unrecognizable impoverished evil land, with no liberty and no hope, except that perhaps God will someday rescue us, you will wish you had supported Donald Trump, the populist bully who loves this country, beholden only to himself, and caring not for the niceties of language, rather than Cruz, who CAN NOT defeat the enemies of our country. Consider the possibility consider that God Himself called this “buffoon,” this elderly man who at this time of his life has earned the right to the quiet enjoyment of his wealth and his family, to stand in the gap and utterly change the dynamic of this election. Make no mistake, if somehow Trump is taken out, Cruz will not be the nominee, Jeb Bush will be. And if you do not think so, just take a look at the recent history of Republican primaries. Please, I beg yu, do not let the perfect be the enemy of the good!
Caww, you find the best pictures.
Fantastic!
I’m glad to hear that Cuccinelli endorsed Cruz. Ken is a solid guy; he knows the right guy when he sees him.
Ranging from the attacks on you and how you've handled them I'd have to give you an "A" if I were grading your performance.
Go get 'em "Kid."
Thanks much!
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.