Krauthammer’s foresight was validated by the speech, but in an unexpected way-instead of rallying behind Trump and laying the groundwork within the delegation loyal to the Party and Trump-Cruz made a principled repudiation of the Trump campaign, grounded in the core tenets of conservatism. Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) controversial speech on Wednesday night, where he failed to endorse the Republican nominee and seemingly offered a nod to the “Never Trump” movement by telling voters to “vote their conscience” in November.
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Trump had repeatedly mocked Cruz throughout the campaign as “Lyin’ Ted”, disparaged the appearance of Cruz’s wife, Heidi, and insinuated that Cruz’s father had indirect links to John F. Kennedy’s assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald.
But speaking Thursday morning to the Texas delegation, Cruz said of the pledge: “The day that was abrogated was the day this became personal”.
When he finished making this point, he addressed a man in the back of the room who was mocking Cruz. “I will tell the truth!” winning back applause from backers.
“I will not malign, I will not insult, this is not a game. If we can’t make the case to the American people that voting for our party’s nominee is consistent with voting your conscious is consistent with defending freedom and being faithful to the Constitution then we are not going to win and we don’t deserve to win”, he told a frustrated and agitated crowd of supporters. A person she has always liked is Michelle Obama. The senator who is believed to be considering another presidential bid in 2020 drew heavy boos from Trump delegates and undermined the efforts of convention planners to project Republican unity in the wake of Trump’s primary victory.
“I have seen him fight for his family”. Donald Trump will claim the nomination after the most improbable, flamboyant, and divisive political campaign in modern times.
As the unrest grew, Donald Trump suddenly appeared high above the convention floor, and the booing turned to cheering.
I asked to put out this statement because I did not like seeing the way this was distracting from Mr. Trump’s historic campaign for president and Melania’s attractive message and presentation.
Sen. Cruz broke that pledge while standing before thousands of delegates and millions of television viewers.
“If a convention’s goal is to unite our behind one candidate, Senator Cruz didn’t get the memo”, fellow Texan and former Governor Rick Perry told CNN. “And I think he laid the groundwork to go after labor, to go after a whole host of people”. These groups, one a 501 (c) 3 and the other a 501 (c) 4, will be responsible for everything from championing Cruz’s legislative priorities to maintaining his donor database and coordinating his early-state travel. “I will note, sir, that you might have a similar view if someone was attacking your wife-in fact I hope you would”, Cruz said.
The speech was well-received by the crowd, who chanted “We Like Mike!” at several parts of the speech – an obvious reference to successful Republican presidential campaign decades ago.
“Senator Cruz, yes or no – you will support Donald Trump if he is the nominee”, asked moderate Bret Baier.
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“You come from a place like Charleston where imports and exports are absolutely vital and represent about a third of the American economy and you begin to talk about some of these things that are sort of quasi-protectionist in nature, it gives you pause”, he added. And I think my message is a good message.
