Ted Cruz’s Bad Moment
Marco Rubio’s bad moment got the most attention at the New Hampshire debate but there was another moment we may see again.
When Ted Cruz was asked why his campaign had told Ben Carson’s supporters in Iowa that Carson was dropping out of the race, Cruz looked into the camera and explained how he respected Ben as a good and honorable man then, turning to face Carson, said solemnly, Ben, I apologize.
Cruz then straightened, lips pursed, and leaning forward over the podium, looking straight into the camera, continued.
“Let me tell you the facts for those who are interested to know. On Monday night [in Iowa], at about 6:30, CNN reported that Ben was not going from Iowa to New Hampshire or South Carolina – rather, he was, quote, ‘Taking a break from campaigning.’ They reported that on television. CNN’s political anchors, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash and Wolf Blitzer, said it was highly unusual and highly significant. My political team saw CNN’s report breaking news and they forwarded that news to our volunteers.”
CNN, Cruz went on to explain, didn’t correct its misleading story until 9:15 that night – three hours later.
It sounded reasonable. CNN had made a mistake. Cruz’s campaign had repeated it. And Cruz had apologized.
But, then, Ben Carson said softly, “In fact, the timeline indicates that initial tweet from CNN was followed by another one within one minute that clarified that I was not dropping out.”
Ben Carson had caught Ted Cruz red-handed. But he stopped there – and didn’t try to nail Cruz the way Chris Christie nailed Marco Rubio. He didn’t say, Ted, you intentionally left out that fact for one reason: You just tried to fool people in New Hampshire, the same way you tried to fool them last Monday night in Iowa.
Ted Cruz’s Bad Moment
Marco Rubio’s bad moment got the most attention at the New Hampshire debate but there was another moment we may see again.
When Ted Cruz was asked why his campaign had told Ben Carson’s supporters in Iowa that Carson was dropping out of the race, Cruz looked into the camera and explained how he respected Ben as a good and honorable man then, turning to face Carson, said solemnly, Ben, I apologize.
Cruz then straightened, lips pursed, and leaning forward over the podium, looking straight into the camera, continued.
“Let me tell you the facts for those who are interested to know. On Monday night [in Iowa], at about 6:30, CNN reported that Ben was not going from Iowa to New Hampshire or South Carolina – rather, he was, quote, ‘Taking a break from campaigning.’ They reported that on television. CNN’s political anchors, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash and Wolf Blitzer, said it was highly unusual and highly significant. My political team saw CNN’s report breaking news and they forwarded that news to our volunteers.”
CNN, Cruz went on to explain, didn’t correct its misleading story until 9:15 that night – three hours later.
It sounded reasonable. CNN had made a mistake. Cruz’s campaign had repeated it. And Cruz had apologized.
But, then, Ben Carson said softly, “In fact, the timeline indicates that initial tweet from CNN was followed by another one within one minute that clarified that I was not dropping out.”
Ben Carson had caught Ted Cruz red-handed. But he stopped there – and didn’t try to nail Cruz the way Chris Christie nailed Marco Rubio. He didn’t say, Ted, you intentionally left out that fact for one reason: You just tried to fool people in New Hampshire, the same way you tried to fool them last Monday night in Iowa.