Ted Cruz whined about defending the man he says he’ll vote for in November, Donald Trump.
Addressing a policy forum organized by The Texas Tribune, the Texas senator said Saturday it was “agonizing” making the decision to back Trump, whom he once called a “pathological liar” and “serial philanderer.” He denied he caved in to pressure from top Republicans nationally and in his home state, saying he would have faced an outcry no matter what.
“Any path we took, if I supported Donald, if I didn’t support Donald, the criticism was going to be there,” Cruz told a packed auditorium.
Cruz offered little defense of Trump’s past comments on Muslim-Americans. He also said his two young daughters, while campaigning with him in the primaries, had felt the sting of Trump’s comments about women. Asked whether he thought Russian President Vladimir Putin was a better leader than President Barack Obama, as Trump suggested, Cruz said, “I have no intention of defending everything Donald Trump says or does.”
Cruz rocked the Republican National Convention in Cleveland by avoiding an endorsement of the nominee and instead urging delegates to “vote your conscience.” He held out for several months afterward, even as some polls suggested his popularity was slipping nationally and in Texas, where he could face a Republican primary challenge for re-election to the Senate in 2018.
Trump angered Cruz in the primaries by insulting his wife and suggesting, without evidence, that his Cuban-born father could have been linked to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Cruz said Saturday that he spoke with Trump a day earlier, after announcing that he will vote for the nominee, and Trump “was very gracious” but didn’t apologize for what he said about his family.
Cruz said a key reason for changing his mind was Trump’s naming of a top Cruz ally, Utah Sen. Mike Lee, in his updated list of potential Supreme Court picks. Asked if he doubts Trump will keep his word about that or other promises, Cruz responded: “I don’t think it is productive for me to criticize the Republican nominee today.”
Cruz aides say the senator felt boxed in by his past positon on Trump because he had urged voters not to stay home in November but also didn’t think any third-party candidates were viable. And he didn’t want to be seen by conservatives as aiding Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Asked Saturday, “What happened to ‘vote your conscience?'” Cruz responded: “It’s a good question and it’s still what I would urge everyone to do.”
But he added that he is now backing Trump because, “By any measure, Hillary Clinton is manifestly unfit to be president.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
i wouldn’t vote or back the man especially after what he said about your family. What a shame you caved in….
Cruz is a disgrace to Texas. Trump did not insult his wife, only forwarded a picture of her up against his wife after Cruz had pictures posted of Melania posing nude in her modeling days. As for the father, an ex girl friend stated that was him in the picture with Lee Harvey Oswald. How did senior Cruz come to America with $100 dollars in his jacket and get admitted to the University of Texas at Austin when most other people could not? Do you think he might have had a little help, like maybe the CIA or another government agency? Where did he get the money to pay for the tuition and books? Tuition for non-residents is very high. The only reason Cruz says he will vote for Trump is because Rick Perry is going to run against him for senator and Cruz knows the people of Texas will elect Perry in a heartbeat, not a Canadian pretender. Fool me once, your fault. Fool me twice, my fault!
politicians always have another reason for whatever and they always will. follow the money
Well, he betrayed everyone who supported him. He left out one very important thing that he should do which is to resign as the Senator to Texas so that we can get a more principled and truly conservative Senator who is not full of deception like Cruz. We need a real man as Senator at this pivotal time when the Republican party, conservatism and America is under attack from the left by both candidates for POTUS. What Ted has done is to force Republicans to vote for Hillary for damage control. Otherwise, the party and conservatism will be destroyed by Trump from within. Cruz has betrayed us and is the Republican parties Benedict Arnold. Let us see if you have any manhood left and resign as the Senator from Texas and go away.
I feel like Cruz does excellent work in the senate but his morals in his debates and backing Trump are all wrong. He should have done it from the beginning and the only reason for it now is to try and secure his seat. Sad.
It’s become agonizing just to hear Teddies voice. Time to stop whining.
When a man gives his word…
He should keep it. No matter
What has happened or been said.
If cruz runs for senate ..alone ..i
Will vote for him…if he and perry run
For senate..i will vote for perry.
He should have punched trump..
Then said. ..okay I’ll support you
Here’s a little something for YOU TEDDY. YOUR side was the ones who STARTED the CRAP when you posted the pics of Mrs DON nearly naked and YOU PRETENDED to be SHOCKED. You knew AND you approved of it. You just got BEAT at YOUR OWN GAME and being the SNIVELING LITTLE BITCH that you are you got PISSED OFF because you got PISSED ON. And he didn’t say ANYTHING that wasn’t the TRUTH! UNLIKE YOU! Now SHUT UP, SIT BACK, and watch what a REAL Man of the PEOPLE acts like. Maybe they’ll let YOU be White House Butler and you can Shine His Shoes every day.
Amen!
A lyin whiner for sure.
Will not vote for him for president in future!
“the Texas senator said Saturday it was “agonizing” making the decision to back Trump, whom he once called a “pathological liar”
Quite the statement coming from “LYING” LOSER CRUZER…
And since the Primaries….There is some proof that his Dad was linked to the JFK Assassination….
This election is a choice between two candidates. Sometimes people don’t like their options, but they have to make a choice anyways. On election day either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump is going to be elected the next president. It’s up to us to decide which we want.
This “endorsement” may help Ted Cruz out some, but I still question whether he meets the natural born citizen requirement. Maybe Ted should hope Donald Trump nominates him for a judgeship.
And the name calling goes on.
I have a friend, who usually votes her conscience, and says she liked Cruz, would never vote for Trump. Her family are rabid, like the people here, and have told her if she cannot vote for Trump, she should stay home. No thought of down ticket races. My friend said that as an American, she has the right to her vote and her vote is a secret between her and the ballot box. I say typical of Trump supporters, bullies just like their hero.
I agree with you Helen. Most of the supporters of trump are of the bullying nature. I am a member of a number of Outdoor Related Forums and these folks are afraid that Hillary will take their guns. Obama would have already done it by Executive Order if he could. I feel that the second amendment is safe. I think that a Senator Dodd from Connecticut posed a bill many years ago to do some kind of gun control. It was voted down in Washington. They favor trump because they think he is for them. He panders to whom ever he thinks will support him. When the NRA announced their support the only one in the picture smiling was trump. The others looked like they were just going along. I may not renew my NRA membership next time.
All hat and no cattle, some cowboy, he needs to be schooled again. I am sure the citizens of Texas will do that when he comes up for re-election. Thankfully the bank rehired his wife to pay off his campaign loans. I’m sure Canada will hire him as a lobbyist for his true home country. He could take a few lessons still from Donald on what it means to truly love your country.
Cruz does not have a backbone, he does not stand by his word. How foolish, when the whole world saw him lift his had to support the GOP nominee. How red would anyone’s face be – but alas, this man is not a man.
Ole teddie wants to get re elected. During and after the primaries it was found both his parents were Canadian citizens at the time of his birth. That means cruz is a true and true Canadian citizen, or at least he was one until May 2014 when he renounced his Canadian citizenship to run for the office of president. My question still remains are you ted cruz a US citizen? Nope he won’t show his citizenship and had his records sealed because he knows the answer and still is trying to fool the people. His father WAS one of castro’s henchmen and it was cruz father pictured with oswald. Whether he was involved, is unknown but isn’t there something to say about the company you keep? Then there is the horrible argument his wife had with his VP pick fiorini in a public restroom in a public restaurant. His wife found out that fiorini and him were having an affair right under her nose. If I am not mistaken that evening his wife made a derogatory comment about him and then two days later he conceded. Then there are those five women who came forward and admitted to having a fling with him. It must have been the power thing, I don’t know.
I have followed Ted Cruz all the way thru the process and he is the only truly Principalled person in the race. His cohorts don’t like him because he tries to hold them to their supposed Conservative beliefs.
Donald Trump was my last choice but I will vote for him in the hope that he will do what he says he will do and put some needed BALLS back in the Republican party. Sorely missing nowadays.
As for the Democratic Party – They are the Nastiest, Lyingest bunch of self centered power hungry people I could ever imagine and Hillary is the epitome of what is wrong with the Government.
Hopefully Trump is the path back to a government Of the People, By the People and For the People.
I think that Ted Cruz sacrificed himself for his country. He knew that he would be chastised either way. He could have held on to his hurt feeling and thought of himself but he put himself aside for his country. He knows that America will be worse off is H C becomes President. He is taking the heat because he thinks that Trump would be best for the country. I will not vote for Trump, but I guess that I hope he wins..
Freedom Supporter, if you stay home, that is a vote for HRC. Don’t be so “highly principled” that you will sell our nation out to the dems. Trump is an unknown- better to give him the benefit of the doubt rather than HRC, who we know will continue BHO’s plot to destroy our nation. If you want to obliterate our country for your children/grandchildren, fine; but you’ll be hurting my family too. The truth is, there are 2 choices. Required viewing is “Hillary’s America.”