Cruz did not just attack “New York City’s liberal values.” He said “New York values.” He wants people to think negatively of all New York values, but Trump and anyone else has the right to also bring up the positive aspects of New York values, including the vigor, courage, and energy of the city to rapidly recover from 9/11 and most specifically the bravery of the NYFD, NYPD, and the Port Authority officers to die trying to save others. (Not to mention the dedication they showed when digging through the smoldering rubble for survivors and remains.)
Too many people have been making the illegitimate argument that Trump shouldn’t make this defense focusing on the positive response and spirit of New Yorkers to 9/11; Cruz should be allowed to only focus on the negative aspects of New York, apparently with no defense permitted. He could have phrased what he said much differently if he didn’t want to attack all New Yorkers—people that he supposedly wants to represent as their president. I would prefer a president not to have open contempt for millions of his people (I didn’t like it when Obama did it either with his attack on “bitter clingers”).