And afterward, there was more drama. According to someone who witnessed the scene, Washington State Republican Party chairman Susan Hutchison went “bananas” on Cruz outside the elevators near the bottom level suites in the arena after Cruz’s speech, calling him a traitor. According to the source, “security kind of stepped in. Cruz folks dragged him and Heidi into an elevator and security kind of pushed her the other way. Wasn’t like anyone got arrested, it was just really dramatic.”
Hutchison confirmed the incident to BuzzFeed News, saying she called Cruz a “traitor to the party.”
“I just told him I thought his speech was inexcusable, and I was so disappointed in him,” Hutchison said. Hutchison said she didn’t recall Cruz’s response. “I was angry, everybody was angry. You heard everybody booing him. We were astounded at what he did.” Hutchison said she did not think security got involved.
“Richard Black, a delegate from Virginia who chaired Cruz’s campaign, said after Cruz’s speech that it was “doubtful” he would support him again.”
Jonathan Barnett, a Republican national committeeman from Arkansas, walked off the floor after Cruz’s speech.
“He’s self-centered. It’s all about Ted Cruz. All he did is ruin his political career,” Barnett said. “I think he’s finished.”
Barnett said this is not the kind of grace one shows their party’s nominee: “Reagan wouldn’t have done that. He endorsed Ford.”
Michigan GOP Rep. Bill Huizenga, a former Marco Rubio supporter, called Cruz’ speech “a mistake.”
Huizenga said it was also a mistake for the Trump campaign to give Cruz a coveted prime-time speaking slot without some type of “pre-condition” that he would formally endorse Trump.
Blocked from Adelson suite
Cruz’s rebuke ignited a hot scene around the senator as soon as he left the stage. People averted their eyes from Cruz and his wife as they walked with their security detail on the skybox level of boisterous Republicans.
On the donor suite level, people approached Cruz and insulted him, a source told CNN’s Dana Bash. One state party chairman reacted so angrily that he had to be restrained.
Cruz, who has long sought the support of GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson, was turned away when he tried to enter Adelson’s suite.
Andy Abboud, a senior aide to the Las Vegas casino magnate, said Cruz was initially invited to come up to visit the Adelsons, but when he failed to endorse Trump the invitation was rescinded.
“When he didn’t endorse, they were stunned and disappointed,” Abboud told CNN.
“We could not allow Ted Cruz to use the Adelsons as a prop against Donald Trump,” he added. “The Adelsons support Donald Trump and made that clear. They like Ted Cruz, but there was no way the Adelsons were going to be the first stop after not endorsing. That would be disrespectful to our nominee.”
Trump did stop the suite, and Abboud tweeted out a picture of Trump with Sheldon and Dr. Miriam Adelson.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/20/politics/ted-cruz-republican-convention-moment/
For the first time in decades, I am proud of my Washington State Republican Party. Did not see this coming.