CNN's Avlon Mocks Cruz As Not 'Effective' or 'Charming,' Costello Laughs

NewsBusters ^ | February 11, 2016 | Brad Wilmouth

[SoConPubbie]

Appearing as a guest on Thursday morning's CNN Newsroom with Carol Costello, CNN political commentator and Daily Beast editor-in-chief John Avlon used praise for Ted Cruz's ads and social media campaign to take an underhanded swipe at the GOP presidential candidate by suggesting that, unlike the ads, he is not "effective" or "charming."

His jab at Cruz inspired laughter from host Costello as she mildly chided him for being "kind of harsh."

The exchange came at 10:21 a.m. ET during a discussion of a Cruz campaign ad using humor to attack Donald Trump over the issue of his past support for Democrats and his use of eminent domain. After fellow guest Tom Bevan of RealClearPolitics predicted that the ad would be ineffective, Avlon weighed in to disagree:

I just think the Cruz ad is enormously effective because it uses humor. Humor is one of the most underrated tools in politics, particularly in attack ads because it's disarming, because it speaks to a different truth, and it ends up getting a lot of earned media.

Avlon could not resist taking a shot at the Texas Republican as he added:

And I think that actually is an enormously effective ad. And Ted Cruz's ads and social media presence in this campaign have been a heck of a lot more effective and more charming than the candidate himself.

Laughing, Costello responded: "Wow, okay, that was kind of harsh, John Avlon."

[SoConPubbie]

	"If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton "We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan "A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792 "It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams "If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams " Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." - John Quincy Adams

[SoConPubbie]

    CRUZ or LOSE!

[heights]

And they are right, Cruz is very unappealing.

[teeman8r]

i do not want a president to appeal to the elites ruining our country.

GO TED!

[mountn man]

Not effective or charming.

Not effective...to people with a double digit IQ and can't grasp common sense.

Not charming...to the people who value style over substance.

[DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis]

Yeah, he’s definitely not “charming” the way Obama was....

[SubMareener]

You still don’t get it! None of what Ted Cruz has done has changed ANYTHING! Obama has implemented the Gang of Eight Bill through Executive Action! What is the difference between amnesty and simply not catching, prosecuting, or deporting anyone?

Stop looking at the shiny things the GOPee are putting up to distract you and get a reality check. We need someone who has a system for getting things done to turn this country around. We need Donald J. Trump!

And yes, Ted Cruz is a GOPee plant to distract the “consistent Conservatives.” Just look at who is funding his life!

[Robert DeLong]

If that were the extent of his lack of appeal, then all would be good. However, his lack of appeal runs much deeper than just that small segment of elites who are ruining our country. He squeaked out a victory in the Iowa caucuses. Got Trumped in New Hampshire, and looks like he will get Trumped again in South Carolina.

Besides that I contend he is not a natural born citizen, and thus does not meet the requirements to hold the office as President of the United States.

[Mase]

You choose style over substance. How principled of you .....in a walk through the ocean of most souls you will scarcely get your feet wet.

[teeman8r]

You still don’t get it! None of what Donald Trump has done has changed ANYTHING! Obama has implemented the Gang of Eight Bill through Executive Action! What is the difference between amnesty and simply not catching, prosecuting, or deporting anyone?

Stop looking at the shiny things the GOPee are putting up to distract you and get a reality check. We need someone who has a system for getting things done to turn this country around. We need Ted Cruz!

And yes, The Donald is a GOPee plant to distract the “consistent Conservatives.” Just look at who is funding his life!

[SubMareener]

Cute