Cruz On Carson's 'Dirty Trick' Claim: I'm Not Gonna Scapegoat My Staff

TPM ^ | February 3, 2016 | CAITLIN MACNEAL

[GodGunsGuts]

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Wednesday said he would not discipline any campaign staffers for notifying Iowa caucusgoers that Ben Carson had plans to drop out of the race even though the retired neurosurgeon only had plans for a quick trip home to Florida.

Cruz said on "The Mike Gallagher Show" that members of his campaign were "passing on news reports."

"I don't make a practice of scapegoating staff members when it's politically convenient," Cruz added.

The Texas senator reiterated that he has apologized to Carson for his campaign's actions. In a Tuesday statement, Cruz said that while sharing news reports is "fair game," he was sorry his campaign did not send out an update clarifying that Carson would remain in the race. The Cruz campaign circulated a CNN story about Carson's plans to head to Florida following the Iowa caucus, and the campaign allegedly urged caucusgoers to vote for Cruz instead.

On Wednesday, Cruz told Gallagher that the media was reporting on Carson's claims and the Cruz campaign's actions in a "misleading way."

Shortly before Cruz's interview on "The Mike Gallagher Show," Donald Trump accused Cruz of "fraud" and called for "either a new election should take place or Cruz results nullified."

In response to Trump's accusations, Cruz spokesman Rick Tyler told CNN that Trump was merely trying to get attention.

"The reality hit the reality TV star in Iowa so nobody is talking about him now. So he's trying to regain some attention on Twitter," he said in a statement to CNN.

Tyler added that "there are Twitter addiction support groups, so he should seek out his local chapter."

[Jewbacca]

Guarantee you won't hear a peep from Faux.

[GodGunsGuts]

Plus, other campaigns watched the same story, came to the same conclusion, and acted on the information the exact same way.

Let’s face it, this latest twitter meltdown may be the beginning of the end for Donald Trump.

[1Old Pro]

Cruz is a liar as he apologized to Carson. Now he acts like he did Zip. What a piece of trash.

yep, terrible.

[Nifster]

His “staff’ is about as establishment and slimy as they come

so disappointed

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Cruz is a liar as he apologized to Carson. Now he acts like he did Zip. What a piece of trash.

Let’s say that there was a rumor floating around that Carson was going to quit the race ( regardless of where it came from (CNN was reporting it as well ) ).

I can’t believe that Iowa voters ( and Carson supporters ) are so DUMB that they would not double check to see if this story is true or not before casting their vote. I mean this isn’t the 19th century where there is no internet or cable news.

As a Cruz supporter, I know I’d double check first if I heard news floating around saying that Cruz had quit before casting my vote.

So, to say that Carson’s 4th place showing was CAUSED by the rumor is just that — BALONEY.

Carson just did not have enough supporters in Iowa, rumor or not. PERIOD.

[moehoward]

mmm hmm. Unflappable

I’m not going to scapegoat my staff but they did it...

[SeekAndFind]

Let’s say that there was a rumor floating around that Carson was going to quit the race ( regardless of where it came from (CNN was reporting it as well ) ).

I can’t believe that Iowa voters ( and Carson supporters ) are so DUMB that they would not double check to see if this story is true or not before casting their vote. I mean this isn’t the 19th century where there is no internet or cable news.

As a Cruz supporter, I know I’d double check first if I heard news floating around saying that Cruz had quit before casting my vote.

So, to say that Carson’s 4th place showing was CAUSED by the rumor is just that — BALONEY.

Carson just did not have enough supporters in Iowa, rumor or not. PERIOD.

[TXSearcher]

Anyone who isn’t holding Rubio accountable to the same standard as they are Cruz is a hypocrite with an agenda.

They don't care that Rubio did it, or that CNN instigated it. Cruz is the "danger" because his support is larger than any one in the media will report, so he has to be taken out NOW.

[beethoven]

Typical Ted Cruz..... Mr. Christian on Sunday, but the rest of the week he can be his usual self. He cannot be trusted.

[RummyChick]

“He hired people who specialize in misinformation campaigns”

Cruz people would have you believe that CIA Clandestine Service does no such thing. LOLOLOLOL.

Yet, look who Cruz hired as his Campaign Chairman.

[annieokie]

Twitter breakdown.........give that man 3 more IPhones please.

[Yashcheritsiy]

His “staff’ is about as establishment and slimy as they come

I've been saying this all along to make a more general point - the kind of folks that Ted Cruz really, really, really appeals to are the hard-core political junkies and hangers-on, the kind of folks who love quoting Robert's Rules of Order at county GOP meetings.

[CA Conservative]

Carson just did not have enough supporters in Iowa, rumor or not. PERIOD.

Carson's percentage of the vote total was close to what he had been polling for weeks, and was exactly what the entrance poll projected. Trump just can't handle being a loser, so he has to be a SORE loser.

[GodGunsGuts]

Other campaigns watched the CNN report, came to the same conclusion, and acted upon the information the exact same way. But we don’t hear about them. Indeed, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Trump campaign took the same course of action due to the CNN report as well. Wouldn’t that be funny!!!!

[annieokie]

rofl.......

[moehoward]

“Oh, I think Rubio is just as guilty. Looks like him and Cruz working together to take out Trump.”

Same puppet masters. Push Rubio, if he doesn’t catch on, push Cruz who is easily taken out later for Hillary. Taking Trump out is key.

[Flick Lives]

Raphael Milhous Cruz

[EQAndyBuzz]

“Scapegoating, look-over-there, I-didn’t-know, it’s McConnell’s fault, has been his go-to tool.”

Instead of the go to tool of, “Those bankruptcies weren’t mine, the economy tanked, Iowa voters are idiots, I’ll sue if I don’t win.”

Face it. Trump is acting exactly like Obama did for 8 years. If I don’t get my way, I’ll have a hissy fit until it changes. Only difference between the two is Obama has better hair.

[VanDeKoik]

Cruz seems to have a history of never knowing about his screw ups unto they come to light.

[zerosix]

Ohh, "rule follower" warning!!!!!!!

Quick, hide the children!