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."
Naww...I love sseing those charts. Keep up the good work Isara
Hadn't heard that one. Hope Cruz researches further.
Can't argue that point, but is sure the heck is true.
No irony at all.
Cruz is saying this stuff about Trump.
Cruz is being shopped around as the smartest and more conservative person ever to run in history.
Yet this OBVIOUS leftist that he is only now saying has always been just that was the guy he teamed up with in order to what? Get him a monster lead in the race?
That was his plan?
Now can a Cruz supporter actually answer this?
I did not mean to post to you. Sorry. I meant to post to Isara. I hope Isara reads what I said.
Such a shame to see conservatives supporting a dreadful imposter. Guess they weren’t so much conservatives as they thought.
When gun rights are gone you all probably will cheer him again.
Donald Trump has signed the front of a lot of paychecks and provided employment for a lot of Americans. He is what made this country great, a CAPITALIST practicing CAPITALISM.
All Cruz has done, like a typical politician, is feed from the public trough and spend OUR money. We have enough of his type, there are a dime a dozen. Anyone can spend other peoples money.
Those that can do, those that can’t pass another law or make another worthless speech.
“Can’t handle the truth I see.”
So can you answer my question or not?
If you cant, then fine. Smary answers isn’t a substitute.
Next rally he will claim to have to have written 3 Corinthians
I’m just stating the obvious. Will it influence the soft minds of the RINOS who support lifelong liberal Donald Trump? Probably no more than the attacks on Ted Cruz, the only conservative in the race, will influence the conservatives who support him.
He’s at least 35 years old and an American citizen.
Unless the “True constitutional conservatives” have added some qualifications.
He's dang good in that area.
Well, you giving your best.
Good deal!
Man! You are on a tear! Good, funny and true stuff there!
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