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."
I’ll take Texas Values over New York Values any day.
I’LL TAKE TEXAS VALUES OVER NEW YORK VALUES ANYDAY !
The great state of Texas.
Yes, Texas, with Houston, with a Lesbian mayor.
Texas and New York both have big cities full of liberals, and rural areas with conservatives.
They don't defend anything. They just attack anyone who dares to point out how liberal he is.
The man is a pro gun control, abortion supporting, homosexual marriage, amnesty promoter who admits he used his money to buy politicians. Frankly, that qualifies him as one pathetic excuse human being much like the POS currently in the White House.
Free Republic would not survive without people’s donations.
Ohh no, a blond hair Sandy Burger lookalike.
Trump does seem rattled right now ... almost to the point of mania.
I used to like his bombast when it was directed at illegal aliens, ISIS, or Obama but now he seems to be thinking about Cruz a little too obsessively.
But that was before we got a look at the real Donald Trump... a lot of us have changed in the last few weeks.
The point is ... was it true in August and is it true now.
And policies, Agenda..
Conversely, if your logic means anything, why did Donald Trump buddy up with Ted Cruz until Ted Cruz started gaining on him.
Ted is still refusing to make personal attacks on Thu Donald.
But he could.
By the way, your term “Monster Lead” has new meaning to me now.
I’ll Spin it like Trump and his supporters did, so your calling all Texans homos ?
Oh, please ... not that barnyard refuse again. Or, is that all you got?
Trump has Ted Cruz derangement syndrome.
Well, Trump waited because he thought he was secure in his lead.
Ted waited because he didn’t need to attack Trump first. Especially since Trump has the national platform with all his words repeated.
Trump made a big mistake in attacking Cruz. Not only does it make him look mean and nasty but it has given Cruz a lot more national recognition.
It’s a two man fight now and everone knows it.
"Only two things come from Texas...."
Full Disclosure: I'm neutral between Cruz and Trump, and I see supporters of both acting like knuckleheads. I'm confident in the end the best man will prevail. There's a long way to go, and folks are getting caught up in meaningless dribble.
My comments hit the mark enough to irritate the trolls and bring them out of the woodwork. Good, now that I know what works I will keep it up. If it didn’t hit the mark you wouldn’t respond. Ha ha ha!
These are important questions that need to be answered....are they helping Cruz to bury Trump with dirt so Cruz comes out clean...watch what is posted on the threads the next while, Hillary is a evil, vile person and she will do anything to get to the White House...
Yes...
“Every conservative voted against that Hurricane Sandy pork fest. Every conservative was and is against redistribution of wealth.”
What you said.
That ship has sailed. Trump could not pick Cruz now. He’s said too much (as usual).
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