You know that in politics it's easy to diagram sentences.
Any statement by a politician containing the word "but"...
The fig leaf, ***but*** then the real message.
Had Cruz meant what his supporters assert, he would have said, " Trump's rhetoric is irresponsible, ***but*** the responsibility lies with the rioters.
Then Cruz made a statement about how a candidate is the leader of his campaign and sets the tone of that campaign by his rhetoric and actions.
Did Cruz mention Trump while speaking about how the leader of a campaign sets the tone?
No. Maybe he couldn't remember Donald's name, just slipped his mine, ya think?
Seriously, Cruz can speak in generalities because he is articulating principles. Those don't change when the names do. So, no name need be said.
If you give it a moment's thought, the leader, the candidate, does control the tone of his campaign by the rhetoric he uses, no matter who that candidate is. What he said is true.
That Trump supporters took that to mean Trump speaks volumes, but that wasn't what Ted said, now was it.
If he had wanted to say "Donald should chill out.", he would have.
If he wanted to say "It is all Trumps fault that people are rioting in the streets", he would have just come out and said it.
The whole 'Cruz blamed riots on trump' attack on Cruz was just that, an attack. and lies.