You're asking a really tough question. Thought the same if given the circumstances, what one would do, spit it out or swallow? (No double entendre).
I would agree with you Reagan and even GHW would have done what you described. Since Bill C took over, it's really gone down hill.
Spitting it out or doing as Cruz did would be the likely outcome and them hoping no one saw them do it.
With cameras (phones, etc) all over, it's likely someone will capture you doing something embarrassing and make it go viral which is what happened to Cruz last night.
His ego is bruised, but he will be okay.
But it's funny!
It's life. Stuff happens. Using the current parlance, it should be known as a NOTHING BOOGER(burger).
It could have happened to anyone. It has nothing to do with the issues. It will hopefully be soon forgotten.
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That being said, had it been Trump, the Trump haters on here would be orgasming over it and posting gifs of it over and over and talking about how it made Trump A LOW CLASS SLOB. And yet, they would still not see the hypocrisy of their own words.