Cruz Is Playing the Media Perfectly

NatRev ^ | 12/28/15 | S. Miller

[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 Telnaes’s 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 don’t understand is that we on the right don’t 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 Cruz’s children but not Mohammed. That’s why she’s not Charlie Hebdo. For my part, I wish the Washington Post had left the Cruz cartoon up. Cruz’s 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 he’d 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 Clinton’s 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 — Cruz must come as an unpleasant shock. (snip)

[caww]

The first thing he will learn , which he’s still learning, is what he can’t do what he thinks he can, should he win.....one of which is he will indeed be stifled by that desk and within the “compound” he will reside. He will have no choice....

Further the President swears an oath TO THE CONSTITUTION....which unfortunately Trump knows nor understands much of to use in a favorable way to accomplish what he wants..... His hand will be held throughout like a toddler learning to walk.

[erod]

Beautiful family! i hope to see them in the White House.

[ripnbang]

Ah, but then you assume status quo and conventionalism, both of which Trump has exhibited neither, hence his ascendancy. He is plowing the field allowing Cruz to ride his coat tails which is good for Cruz to have at least four years as Trump’s VP before taking the reins.

[caww]

This nation doesn't have 'the time' to screw around with Trump getting his footing as he continues even now to stumble around understanding how things work and don't work.........Cruz has his team and the ways and means to hit the ground running on day one...and in fact is prepared to do so.....now......Trumps bullheadedness will do nothing but cause even greater 'delays' in what needs to be done immediately....plus there's no guarantee he'll do what he says, and that's just a fact of his history.

I'll stick like glue to the guy who's been preparing and prepared to take the charge, and those with him, and that with everything set to go when he gets there on day one and thereafter...and at lightening speed!

[ripnbang]

Good. All new Vice Presidents need to be ready to roll and it’s good you’ll be sticking to the VP like glue. I’m sure he’ll, and President Trump l, will appreciate it.

[caww]

I’ not voting for Trump for any position in the administration.... so let’s get that out of the way.

I realize you and others might want both Cruz and Trump to be in office but I’m not interested in seeing Trump anywhere in Washington after observing him operate as he has in his campaign. No thank you.....though there was a time I thought he might do well on the international stage....he’s pretty much shown he’s inept on that note.

The guy needs to go back to celebrity entertainment and reality TV...where he belongs.....and what he is all about.

[ripnbang]

You will see him on reality TV soon....Inauguration Day, State of the Union address, etc. Ted Cruz will look great sitting behind him as the VP/Pres of the Senate.