If I were Ted Cruz I think I would respond exactly the same way as he did today if my wife was attacked like Heidi Cruz was by Donald Trump.
Donald Trump should leave Heidi Cruz “the hell alone.” Matter of fact all wives and children of candidates should be left “the hell alone.”
In case you missed it. Here’s Trump’s tweet from last night:
"@Don_Vito_08: "A picture is worth a thousand words" @realDonaldTrump #LyingTed #NeverCruz @MELANIATRUMP pic.twitter.com/5bvVEwMVF8"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 24, 2016
In my lifetime I can not think of a time when a candidate, a candidate (!), would engage in behavior like this. Politics is a blood sport sure, but candidates, if not supporters, typically leave wives alone – especially when it is related to their appearance. Cruz gave a perfect response to Trump last night on Twitter.
Donald, real men don't attack women. Your wife is lovely, and Heidi is the love of my life. https://t.co/pprXhIMzUT
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 24, 2016
Cruz also had some biting words about Trump when he spoke to reporters while campaigning in Wisconsin.
“It is not easy to tick me off. I don’t get angry often, but if you mess with my wife, you mess with my kids that will do it every time. Donald you are a sniveling coward and leave Heidi the hell alone,” Cruz said when asked about Trump’s tweet.
He was then asked if he would still support Trump as the nominee.
“I am going to beat him for the nomination…. Donald Trump will not be the nominee,” Cruz answered.
Watch the entire press conference below.
What also blows me away is how Trump supporters are defending him over this.
Trump’s supporters and (Trump himself) has said… “well Cruz started it with the Facebook ad showing a racy photo of Malania Trump from a GQ shoot she did.”
No. He. Didn’t.
An anti-Trump Super PAC did. Liz Mair who started the Super PAC has never worked for Ted Cruz, is not affiliated with Cruz, and the only candidate she has worked for this election cycle is Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. She resigned from Walker’s campaign shortly after being hired after posting some controversial tweets.
I will say the Facebook ad approved by Mair is a horrible ad. It was inappropriate, and Melania Trump should be left alone.
Also apparently Donald Trump has ESP or something because “he knows” Cruz knew!
I didn't start the fight with Lyin'Ted Cruz over the GQ cover pic of Melania, he did. He knew the PAC was putting it out – hence, Lyin' Ted!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 24, 2016
Beyond not knowing how to spell lying, Trump also doesn’t understand campaign finance law. Super PACs can’t coordinate with candidates and vice versa. They certainly don’t run their ads by the campaigns, and like I mentioned above this PAC is in no way affiliated with Cruz.
Today Eric Branstad, son of Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Big Corn/Ethanol mouthpiece in Iowa who spent a lot of money bashing Cruz before the Iowa Caucus, defends Trump because *obviously* the group is affiliated with Cruz and OIL! He doesn’t like Cruz so *of course* Cruz must be behind the offensive Facebook ad of Melania Trump.
@shanevanderhart Everyone knows its a group with oil/Cruz ties. Don't fool yourself, misleading is something Cruz does not you
— Eric Branstad (@ebranstad) March 24, 2016
Later on Branstad tweeted:
@MrMosis @shanevanderhart @JoshPainter2154 @LizMair Perry, Fiorina, and Cruz = Liz Mair Awesome org
— Eric Branstad (@ebranstad) March 25, 2016
Branstad’s assertion doesn’t even make sense. Liz Mair never worked for Rick Perry, Carly Fiorina or Cruz. But somehow, if the Make America Awesome Super PAC has oil ties, then Cruz must be in on it.
Let’s say Cruz did know about the ad before it made the news, and he didn’t. He wouldn’t have even seen it in his Facebook since it targeted Mormon women… but let’s hypothetically say that he did.
Does that suddenly make what Trump did right?
No. Absolutely not.
What I haven’t seen is evidence that Cruz is linked to this Super PAC other than the fact they ran an ad encouraging people to vote for him because he was the best challenger to Trump in Utah. Frankly, a lot of people are engaging in what could be classified as libel if he weren’t a public figure.
This is something Trump of all people should be cognizant of.
Also some folks have said that he’s not distancing himself from the Facebook ad.
@shanevanderhart @realDonaldTrump @Don_Vito_08 @MELANIATRUMP Then he should disavow the ad. He hasn't.
— Abraham Whipple (@OldAbeWhipple) March 24, 2016
They must have missed this… from Sean Hannity who is a fan boy of Donald Trump.
Earlier I said a pro-Cruz PAC pushed the Melania ad. Incorrect, the group has no affiliation with Cruz & as I said, Cruz condemned it
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) March 24, 2016
Also then this.
.@TedCruz on the Melania Trump ad: "That ad was completely inappropriate. I had nothing to do with it."
— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) March 23, 2016
There is absolutely no excuse for what Donald Trump did and anyone who thinks otherwise should do some serious soul-searching. Is this what we want presidential politics to become? I don’t.
Leave the wives alone.
