What was heralded as a Town Hall meeting this past Sunday turned out to be a love fest campaign event for Ted Cruz, who is in the political fight of his life.
I decided to attend to ask Mr. Cruz about his blind devotion to the ex-President who insulted him, his father and his wife in 2016. I was going to remind him of his apt description of Donald back then. He called him a pathological liar, a serial adulterer, and a classic narcissist. Back then he warned us what a potential Trump presidency would mean to our teenage children.
Soon after Trump took office, Cruz had a miraculous conversion and decided to be Trump’s greatest ally during his four years in office. On January 6, 2001 Cruz and 150+ of his fellow Republicans voted against certifying Mr. Biden’s election which he had won with 7 million votes. He falsely claimed that there had been massive voter fraud that never existed. The moderator for Sunday’s event asked Cruz if he would accept a slot for the vice presidency along with Trump. He just grinned sheepishly and had no clear answer.
Cruz solemnly told his captive audience that Washington, DC was out of control regarding massive spending. This is the same Republican politician who has been there over a decade and has accomplished nothing, is hated by his own party, and is an embarrassment to all. This is the same person who filibustered against the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) by reading Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham” for several hours. He is despised by his fellow Senators, yet Texans keep sending him back to Washington just because he has an “R” after his name.
I was going to ask him three questions: Do you feel that Trump has changed for the better since you described him so well in 2016? Is he a different person today? Why did you change your opinion of this malignant psychopath suddenly? Unfortunately, I was never given the opportunity to ask these questions.
Several of my friends and colleagues who attended had several questions to pose to Cruz. The “non-partisan” moderator assured us at the start that he would take our questions and ask Cruz about his thoughts on each question dealing with serious concerns for Laredo and Webb County for over an hour. The panelists fielded “softball” questions from the moderator, attacking President Biden’s policies and asking about age limits for the President. Not one of the many questions we submitted was asked of Cruz. Not one member of the audience was given the opportunity to ask Cruz one question.
Our County Judge informed us that he did not consider himself a Democrat or a Republican, but was there to help all of Webb County. At least he was honest about his allegiance. For decades politicians in Webb County run as Democrats knowing they have no chance to be elected if they run as Republicans. Even worse some candidates prefer to run as Independents, preferring to sit on the fence hoping to be elected. Cruz claims to work very closely with Congressman Cuellar but refuses to work across the aisle in Washington or work on any legislation proposed by Democrats or President Biden. Cruz came to Laredo some years back to campaign for a Republican congressional candidate. Like most Republicans he could not stand the idea of a Democratic woman in a position of power. He shows nothing but love for the Christian Nationalist speaker Mike Johnson. He proudly took credit for a Ports to Plains project. He did not mention that he voted against funding for the same bill he co-sponsored. This Canadian-born politician hates immigration reform. He admires his Cuban-born dad who worked with Fidel Castro. How his dad was able to become a US citizen is questionable.
All in all it was a Republican rally for Cruz, but was advertised as a “public town hall meeting.” It was actually a MAGA red cap rally where every pronouncement by the moderator or county judge was met with wild applause. That was the hand-picked audience’s only function. Had the event organizer been truthful about what was going to transpire, I know at least 10 of the attendees would not have gone. Only the head of the Webb County Republican Party was recognized.
How any logical, intelligent adult can support this name-calling, Putin-supporting excuse for a human being is against my comprehension. He has shown us for the past 7 years that he is cruel, malicious, lacks compassion, lacks empathy, and has no understanding of the US Constitution. He orders his lawyers to file frivolous lawsuits and endless appeals, and claims total immunity from any prosecution because he used to be a US President. He cries “election interference” in every one of his criminal and civil trials when that is exactly what he tried to accomplish on January 6, 2001. He wanted his vice president Pence not to certify the 2020 election, which would have placed out country in a horrendous Constitutional crisis. This is the same man Senator Cruz wants back in power. Shame on you Ted!
