Donald Trump asks a Reno audience to weigh in on Ted Cruz’s eligibility

Washington Post ^ | 1/10/16 | Jenna Johnson

[randita]

RENO, Nev. -- After days of coyly raising questions about Ted Cruz's eligibility to be president, given that he was born in Canada to an American mother and a Cuban father, Donald Trump let his audience weigh in at a rally Sunday afternoon.

"Is he a natural-born citizen?" the Republican White House hopeful asked several thousand gathered in a Reno ballroom. Members of the crowd shouted back, "No!"

"I don't know," Trump said. "Honestly, we don't know. Who the hell knows." Cruz was Trump's No. 1 target during the 65-minute event, revealing just how much of a threat the Republican senator from Texas has become to the front-runner. Before the rally started, Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." blared, a new edition to Trump's playlist.

"So, Cruz is a problem," Trump said, beginning an attack that lasted about seven minutes. "And here's the problem: It's called uncertainly. It's called you just don't know."

Cruz has repeatedly said there is no question that he is eligible for the presidency, saying this weekend that "the Constitution and federal law are clear that the child of a U.S. citizen born abroad is a natural-born citizen." Cruz's campaign has yet to respond to Trump's latest comments.

But Trump said Sunday that "this is not a settled matter" and that he's not the only one raising questions. He said if Cruz becomes the Republican nominee, the Democrats could challenge his eligibility in lawsuits that could drag on for years.

"Does anyone know more about litigation than Trump?" Trump said of himself. "Okay? I know a lot. I'm like a PhD in litigation."

Trump compared Cruz running for president with this lingering question about Democrat Hillary Clinton running despite lingering questions about her use of a private email account during her time as secretary of state. Later Trump also compared the situation to a fighter being disqualified for not meeting the weight class.

[CatherineofAragon]

I agree. At some point, if you’re going to try and keep up the conservative meme, it just becomes a farce. Claiming conservatism for three years and doing a pivot in the fourth means little.

[House Atreides]

That’s how Hussein got elected. Idiots that think all they needed was a change...

Faux conservatives are ready to vote for a faux conservative because he acts like a loud mouth jerk.

You may get your wish, and realize soon thereafter you elected an arrogant leftist - a white Obama.
********************************************************************************
Yes another Obama-— yet another MAJOR LEAGUE NARCISSIST, temporarily blinding his would be “subjects” with his BRAGGADOCIOUS utterances & promises.

I’ve occasionally wondered how Rome ended up with a series of idiotic empirors leading Rome into decline and fall-—now I know.

[Norm Lenhart]

Especially when it’s a repeating 4 year pattern.

[libbylu]

So you trust a progressive who trashed Scalia to appointment judges including SCOTUS? Seriously?

[TBBT]

This is the same kind of smear tactic lying crap that you would expect from Democrats. Do you not expect Democrats to target that or anything else they could? Is it not true what Trump said, if Cruz became the Republican nominee the Democrats could challenge his eligibility in lawsuits that could drag on for years? I am not a legal scholar but this seems possible from what I understand. If true I would think the possibility of it causing chaos is real.

Should Cruz win the nomination, the Democrats are not going to go there. Say what you will about the DEM's, but they are not suicidal like the GOPe. Trying this tactic is more likely to blow up in their faces - and they'll know that.

Oh... Grayson is a circus clown. Other than for temporary amusement, he should be ignored.

[doug6352]

“Palin bowed out for one simple reason. The lack of strength and character of her base.”

Norm, in my opinion that is total nonsense.

In the fall of 2011 there were an army of conservative Republicans ready to march as soon as Sarah gave the word, and she bugged out on us. I pleaded with her to run on Facebook and was unfriended. As I recall she was desperately worried by stories she had once had a relationship with a Black basketball player. I certainly didn’t care, and even if it was true it might have gained her votes. But it wasn’t my decision to make, and Sarah Palin refused to run.

In my opinion Sarah Palin is a very smart woman with first rate political ideas. But in Harry Truman’s words, she couldn’t take the heat so she got out of the kitchen.

In my estimation Ted and Heidi Cruz can take the heat.

[CatherineofAragon]

Every time.

Then there are those who say there’s no such thing as conservatism, we need an emperor, who cares about conservatism vs. liberalism, etc.

[dragnet2]

Don’t believe that for a second. They would use this or anything else.

[Norm Lenhart]

It’s every Americans’ God given right to hold unsupportable opinions. And I am glad to see you freely exercising that right. It’s what makes America great.

The history of the Palin years show however, my post reflects exactly what happened. Both here on FR and out in the real world of politics.

[CatherineofAragon]

"Be very careful, Catherine. You might get schlonged by Trump."

Well, I'm sure there are FR fangirls dreaming of just that, but personally, the idea of getting "schlonged" by that tomato-faced, funnel-mouthed old man makes me want to sick up my supper.

Project on, though.

[CrosscutSaw]

It’s scary to think the GOP may nominate a candidate for president that would replace Obamacare with Hillarycare. Trump is for federally funded single payer universal health care.

[Norm Lenhart]

Well he did say “Sorry Conservatives’...

[Leto]

Tribe is a left wing scumbag who said Obama was eligible why would Cruz care about what a communist Harvard prof thinks?

Why is Trump touting the opinions of a commie prof?

[ElainaVer]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder . . and it is apparent that you and I don’t agree, aesthetically speaking. I have read so many childish degradations of Mr. Trump’s outward appearance on this thread and, frankly, I am a tad bit shocked. Y’all are sounding more like Democrat Underground than Free Republic.

[ElainaVer]

“why would Cruz care about what a communist Harvard prof thinks?”

Maybe Professor Tribe isn’t Canadian enough for Cruz.

[Norm Lenhart]

I see people call Ted Cruz ‘evil’ on a regular basis. Calling a conservative ‘evil’ is about as “DU’ as it can possibly get. I mean that practically defines membership over there. Leftists believe conservatives are evil. But some people call Cruz evil here and I have yet to see a single pro Trump poster stand up and call bullshit on it.

[ElainaVer]

“I see people call Ted Cruz ‘evil’ on a regular basis”

Maybe so, Norm, but not many Freepers have posted about Cruz’ looks as incessantly as Trump’s looks are mentioned and degraded. It is that childishness that I find ill-suited for Free Republic’s high intellect. I haven’t noticed post after post about Cruz looking like Grandpa Munster from the Trump supporters. For that matter, I haven’t noticed many calling him ‘evil’ on a regular basis either. I think most Trump supporters put Cruz second behind Trump. I know I do . . or at least I did until reading this thread and realizing Cruz’ supporters on this thread are not good representatives for him. Not at all.

[GBA]

Yes, I know and agree. She was offered something before she was ready for it and her ego just couldn't say "no, not now, but maybe later."

As a scheme, it's a little twisted, like leaving a loaded gun in the hands of a 5 year old or giving a 15 year old who's never driven a car a brand new Z-28 with 500 hp, but the end result is the same.

Had she waited until she had finished her term and had more time and success on the job, she would have been extremely formidable. Not good for the PTBs. Her charisma was potent!

I think "they" used her ego against her by offering her something her ego couldn't refuse before she was ready for it and she's wired in such a way she could NOT pass that up when she should have.

The rest of her story is history and so seemingly is she in American politics.

To me, I get the sense that a similar ploy is being used against young Mr. Cruz.

[CatherineofAragon]

Oh, so you ARE one of the fangirls, LOL.

You know, Ann Coulter has a lot of issues, but she once said something I've never forgotten. She remarked that it's a characteristic of liberal women to elevate ugly politicians---Obama, Clinton, Gore---into sex symbols.

But now our side is doing it. Or what professes to be our side, anyway.

Tell you what...don't post to me about "getting schlonged" and then whine and play victim. Understand? I've always found Trump physically repulsive and I don't apologize for it.

If this is your idea of hot, well, then...

[TBBT]

Don't believe that for a second. They would use this or anything else.

If they do then - so what? Who cares?

So you going the let your vote be swayed based on the possibility that the Democrats might look at you and say "BOO!"?