Posted on 08/10/2015 8:07:54 PM PDT by VinL
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz on Monday warned that the Republican presidential candidates who are slamming Donald Trump do so at their political peril.
Cruzs remarks, which came during an interview with POLITICO as he swings through the South on a bus tour, are among the most detailed comments to date regarding his reluctance to criticize the real estate mogul, who is currently leading the polls in the GOP primary.
I would note that an awful lot of Republicans, including other Republican candidates, have gone out of their way to smack Donald Trump with a stick. Now I think thats just foolish, he said.
Asked why, Cruz paused and then replied, Donald Trump had a rally in Phoenix, Ariz. [to which] between 10 and 20 thousand people came out. When you attack and vilify the people at that rally as crazies, it does nothing to help Republicans win in 2016. Id like every single person at that rally to show up and vote in 2016, knock on doors with energy and passion, and turn this country around. If Washington politicians show contempt and condescension to those [voters,] that is a path to losing at the ballot box.
And when asked whether he wants those voters to eventually support him, he replied, It is my hope to earn the support of the supporters for every other candidate in 2016.
In contrast to most of the other Republican presidential contenders, Cruz has refrained from directly condemning Trump for making comments targeted at prisoners of war and at women, even as he has indicated he doesnt agree with the sentiments. He has said that he doesnt want to engage in Republican-on-Republican violence.
When a reporter noted that he is one of the most outspoken critics of Republican leadership in Congress, Cruz stressed that he has no problem highlighting policy differences, and may do so down the road with Trump.
There are no doubts that there are policy differences between me and Donald Trumps past policy positions, Cruz said.
For example, Trump drew fire from other Republicans though not from Cruz when during the first GOP presidential debate last week he appeared to take a favorable view of single-payer health care in other countries.
There may well come a time in this conversation where we discuss those differences more fully, he continued. No one is asking about tax policy. [The media] wants me to comment on the salacious back-and-forth, and Im not going to play that game.
Instead, he was quick to praise Trump for bringing the issue of illegal immigration to the forefront. Cruz, who takes a tough line on illegal immigration, may have crossover appeal to some of the same voters who are turning out for Trump, an anti-illegal immigration hardliner who has made highly controversial comments about undocumented immigrants.
I am grateful to Donald Trump for forcing the media to talk about illegal immigration, he said. Illegal immigration is a tremendously important challenge facing this country, and it is an issue where I have been leading the fight for many years.
Most candidates have a stump speech they repeat over and over until it gets tiring. Cruz does manage to change it up a little and add a few things and a few zingers - without being cruel. Not rhetoric - just truth. Trump on the other hand speaks from the seat of his pants and you never know what is going to come out of his mouth. Sometimes it is embarrassing.
Are you kidding? He doesn't comment on "every little thing." You are just parroting others who are "looking for a problem to have."
In my house, we have an inviolate rule: "You can tell me what to do, or ask me for help...you don't get to do both!"
They may be VinL. And Cruz voters may wind up voting for the Donald eventually. We just don’t know right now.
I think Cruz does himself a lot of credit when he talks like this. It also makes me think he might not have been thinking of Trump last week when he talked about pretenders.
Bush and a number of others may have been more his target.
Well, since I don’t live in your house - neither rule applies to me, does it? And, yes, he does comment on every thing others say about him. I’m not parroting anyone - I am one of the originals who brought this up. I was a huge supporter of Trump, but, once this name calling started - my support is fading. I’m still not all in for any candidate, although I have eliminated over half of them already. Trump is interesting, he’s bold, he’s brash and shows leadership, but, it is the name calling I object to. He is solid on many conservative issues, and needs to get out there and articulate them better.
Thank you Ted Cruz. I am now 100% in the Cruz/Trump or vice versa camp.
Sure it does. It's a good rule for life.
If you ask someone else to solve your problems, don't tell them how to do it.
If you want to have it done your way...take charge and run it yourself.
The DUmocrat-supporting media hoping that we eat our own and knock down all the conservatives early so they can save all their resources for any remaining RiNo.
Good move on Cruz’s part not playing into their hand while exposing their intentions.
Cruz and Trump will soon join forces.
Trump is clearing the way so Cruz doesn’t have to get beat up by the unscrupulous news media!
We have a true winning team working in tandem to out flank all that have ruined this great country!
May GOD have their six because most in this country would backstab them just to show they can!!!
Wow. Its like you know, for a fact, that Trump is going down. The question is, will you vote for Trump, even if Cruz is not the VP?
Condescend much? Will you vote for Trump if Cruz is not the VP?
Carly is more of the same say but do nothing GOPe
But they are foolish. Clueless too.
Wise, yes.
I still think Trump will do 3rd party and try to take the voters with him...notice he’s not stealing votes from Hillary...
Yes I do think this has been the plan.
Time for me to send another donation. I hope he has a great tour throughout the southeast this week.
This morning on CNN Trump said he was open to continuing Federal funding of PP.
We need to find out exactly where Trump stands on all the issues. We know very little.
At FR we like to hold one issue against a candidate despite their explaining their reasoning. (If I find a candidate who agrees with me on everything I probably would not vote for him. I would assume he was some kind of nut!)
For women’s healthcare, but not abortion. A little selective hearing, eh?
Smart move by Cruz.
Since 1976 PP has not been allowed to use federal funding for abortion. It is to be used for Women’s health issues. That’s very fuzzy, however, since keeping their doors open certainly helps them perform abortions.
Those wishing to refund PP are perfectly aware of this. Apparently Trump is not.
Go after Mitch McConnell, he is preventing the vote to defund PP.
Ya think?!!
Trump needs to spend less time fighting with M. Kelly and more time boning up on the issues.
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