Posted on 01/18/2016 2:33:22 PM PST by Isara
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) blasted 2016 rival Donald Trump on Monday, questioning his ties to Democrats and previous support for liberal positions as the two battle for the top spot in Iowa.
"If he's giving checks to Democratic politicians and he supports their views... then it starts to suggest, 'gosh if he publicly supports their views if he finances their causes,'" Cruz told Boston radio station WRKO. "Then suddenly when he announces as a candidate for president, every single one of his views changes - listen if he has had a change of heart, I am thrilled."
Cruz, who is competing with Trump for the GOP nomination, added that if Republican voters want a nominee who will "cozy up to Chuck Schumer - by the way he's written checks to Chuck Schumer, I never have - then you ought to be backing him."
The Texas Republican's comments come after Trump told ABC's "This Week" that Cruz is a "nasty guy" and "nobody likes him. Nobody in Congress likes him."
The two candidates have been locked in an escalating rhetorical battle this month after Cruz said that Trump represents "New York values."
Trump, in return, hit Cruz over previously undisclosed loans he accepted from Goldman Sachs and Citibank to help finance his Senate run. Cruz, on Monday, suggested that Trump's criticism was hypocritical, calling it "more than a little rich."
"You want to assess who stands with Wall Street? Then look at the actual records of the candidates," he added. "Donald Trump vocally and enthusiastically supported TARP, the bailout of the big banks. He vocally and enthusiastically supported Barack Obama's stimulus plan."
Trump suggested that the loans underscored that the senator is controlled by the banks.
While Cruz had long been reluctant to take on Trump directly, the two have stepped up their rhetorical barbs as they head toward the Feb. 1 Iowa caucus.
Trump has led the Republican field in recent Iowa polling, but Cruz claimed the top spot in a Des Moines Register/Bloomberg poll released last week.
Trump is planning to campaign in Iowa this week with stops scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
While Cruz on Monday urged primary voters to study candidates' records, he sidestepped directly calling Trump a "fraud" or a "hypocrite."
"Those are your words," he told radio host Jeff Kuhner, adding, that he doesn't plan to get into a "food fight or personal insults."
However, he noted that "Donald seems very rattled right now. ...He's been launching an awful lot of attacks in the last couple of days."
BS you spam threads with anti-Cruz images, but you’re feelings get hurt when someone gives you a taste of your own medicine. Jeez, I can’t wait for Iowa.
No feelings hurt, I don't have any. I will respond in kind.
Enjoy your knee pads.
You don’t have feelings what are you a psychopath? LOL
Hey genius, Trump is stole Reagan’s campaign slogan from 1980....how original! If he wants a Reagan slogan for his campaign, “JUST SAY NO!” is more appropriate.
Well, duh! I support Trump. I thought you would have figured that out by now.
It was at this meeting where Ronald Reagan gave Trump permission to use the slogan.
It was a much later meeting where he got permission to use another presidents campaign strategy.
Don't recall Obama saying he wanted to keep muslims out. But, if that's how you remember it, it must have happened.
That pales in comparson to what happen to one of Trump’s casinos in Atlantic City that was charged for money laundering by the government.
Trumpy Boo Boo, all made for Prime time TV.
Donald Trump ( Democrat ) George Soros Incoprarated and George Soros buddy.
Donald Trump didn’t just get those loans for Free.
Also, Trump must have promised favors and influence to or from George Soros other than monetary repayment, don’t cha know ? It’s the art of the deal.
These deals just don’t happen all by them selves.
It sure is, it only reaches to the maturity level Trump supporters are capable of.
One of Trump’s Casinos in Atlantic City was charged for money laundering by the government, but of course the Trump supporters will have a excuse for that to... Like ? It’s was just doing business.
Interesting. So the casino didn't do enough of a good job being a rat for the government. Sounds legit.
Trump’s ties to the mob ? It’s just Art of the deal !! Don’t cha know... Sarcasm.
Noticed how the Trump supporters are not even defending that he is a conservative anymore as it was months ago ?
Or Trump is a flat out liar.
Nothing speaks Globalist - NWO - Sleaze, louder than George Soros, Donald Trump’s buddy.
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