Ted Cruz was given a prime time speaking slot during the Republican National Convention this week, despite having lost a bitter primary battle against Donald Trump. To many, his remarks looked more like one of a sore loser rather than potential 2020 Republican frontrunner.
CLEVELAND — In the end, it was all about Ted Cruz.
Delivering an unvetted speech before the Republican National Convention on Wednesday night, Ted Cruz — as is always his custom — carefully calculated just how to do it so it would benefit himself the most. And it backfired.
He uttered the name of his party’s nominee — the man who invited him to speak — just once, only to congratulate him on the nomination. Quite pointedly, the senator from Texas refused to endorse Donald Trump.
As if to punctuate his own bitter whining over losing, Mr. Cruz actually told conventioneers that New York is different from Iowa, reviving the major theme of his losing campaign against Mr. Trump. And reminding folks that, yes, he won the Iowa caucuses and for a very brief moment was the Republican front-runner.
Cruz’s efforts to put himself before the party were made even apparent when, moments after he gave the speech, he used his non-endorsement as a fundraising pitch for his own 2018 Senate campaign.
Despite negative backlash from Chris Christie, Roger Stone, and many others, Cruz is trying to raise money off the controversy.
Cruz blastedout an email asking for people to chip in between $5 and $50 to his 2018 Senate campaign. Referring to his convention speech, he wrote:
“It was an honor to speak to the delegates at the Republican National Convention.
As our cause goes forward, I want to remind you about the stakes.
Americans are furious—rightly so—at a political establishment that cynically breaks its promises and ignores the will of the people.”
Cruz is right. Americans are furious at the establishment. Unfortunately, Cruz — a man who built his political career on being anti-establishment — has become a symbol of what made Americans so furious in the first place.
Here is Cruz’s statement on why he didn’t endorse Trump, as seen in the video below:
“I am not in the habit of supporting people who attack my wife and attack my father,” he said.“Neither he nor his campaign has taken back a word of what they said about my family,” Cruz added, his voice rising. He was referring to Trump floating rumors alleging his father was involved in the assassination of John F. Kennedy and retweeting a disparaging picture of Cruz’s wife, Heidi.Cruz on Wednesday night declined to endorse Trump, instead telling Republicans to “vote your conscience.” His speech drew massive boos from the audience.
“This isn’t just a team sport. … This is about standing for what we believe in,” Cruz told the crowd Thursday morning.“In that speech last night, I did not say a single negative word about Donald Trump. And I’ll tell you, this morning and going forward I don’t intend to say negative things about Donald Trump.”
Sources: Washington Times, Breitbart, The Hill
Cruz defends himself:
Cruz’s promise to endorse Trump:
It’s up to the people of Texas to make sure he never again sits in a seat of power.
Don’t blame him, but I do blame him for coming to this and starting it all over for attention, I will never vote for him on anything or Romney, traitors I think
Anyone remember who started the dogging of wives? It WAS CRUZ!
That was revenge…..lmao. Career suicide. Enjoy
his personal reason is pride to me at least. but you have to defend family. you should all look to Phil Robertson’s response to this matter.
Don’t. Want. To. Hear. It. BYE BYE
I just call people like him – JACKASSES.
He is a crybaby !!
Goaway Canadian
Then he should have refused the offer to speak if he felt his wife was insulted. Instead, he shows how sneaky an a conivin little rat he is. Obammas little$#%&!@*