Cruz: Vote a binary choice
Nowbacking Trump, senator dodges questions about his past put- downs
AUSTIN — U. S. Sen. Ted Cruz, aday after endorsing his former political nemes is Donald Trump for president, on Saturday repeatedly refused to say whether he thinks the flamboyant and controversial New York real estate tycoon is fit to serve in the nation’s highest office.
Appearing at the Texas Tribune Festival to deliver his first public explanation of Friday’s surprise endorsement, Cruz said his support of Trump is because the November election is a “binary choice” between Hillary Clinton and Trump— and that he thinks a Clinton presidency would be a disaster for America.
“Hillary Clinton is manifestly unfit to be president,” Cruz said.
Pressed whether he stands by earlier criticisms of Trump as “utterly immoral,” “a sniveling coward,” “a pathological liar,” “a serial philanderer” and “a bully,” Cruz wouldn’t say.
He told Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith, in an onstage
interview, that he does not think it would be “productive for me to criticize the Republican nominee.”
Cruz had withheld his support since Trump became the GOP nominee at the Republican National Convention in July, where Cruz was loudly booed for not endorsing him for president and instead suggesting that Republicans should vote their conscience. ‘It’s not about me’
At one point in the hourlong interview Saturday before a large Austin audience, Smith asked: “Do you consider Donald Trump to be fit to be president?” Cruz evaded the question and stuck to his message.
“We have one of two choices,” Cruz said, adding that he chose Trump because of his promise to support conservatives to the U.S. Supreme Court and to defend freedom and the U.S. Constitution.
In particular, Trump recently endeared himself to Cruz by floating his close ally, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, as a possibility for the nation’s top court.
Cruz declined to defend or explain several of Trump’s controversial proposals, including his call for a temporary moratorium on admitting Muslim refugees from terrorism-plagued countries to the United States.
He suggested only that Texans should vote their conscience when they go to the polls.
“I have no intention of defending everything Donald Trump says and does,” Cruz told the festival crowd. “I have been very clear that I have significant disagreements with him.”
So why did he endorse a candidate with whom he made clear that he still has major issues and disagreements with?
“At the end of the day, you’ve got to keep your word,” Cruz said, referring to his pledge during the Republican primary campaign to support the eventual GOP nominee. “At the end of the day, it’s not about me.”
Cruz’s refusal to say whether he thinks Trump is presidential material, and his dodging other questions, are not likely to settle the controversy that has dogged him since Trump became the GOP nominee in July.
In recent days, GOP leaders ranging from Republican National Chairman Reince Preibus to Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have publicly warned that GOP officials who withhold their support for Trump could face future consequences. Those threats are a thinly veiled message to former presidential contenders like Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich to get aboard the “Trump train.”
Kasich, in an Austin festival appearance on Friday, declined again to endorse Trump for president. And Cruz on Saturday insisted the prodding from party leaders played no role in his decision to support his former rival who famously referred to the senator from Texas as “Lyin’ Ted” during a televised GOP presidential primary debate. Standing by principles
Cruz’s comments on Saturday did not sit well with some in the large crowd at the University of Texas auditorium. Some of his comments drew boos, and at other times he received light applause when he detailed the conservative principles he stands by.
During the primary campaign, Trump criticized the looks of Cruz’s wife, Heidi, and repeated unsubstantiated and false speculation about whether Cruz’s Cuban-born father was involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Cruz angrily called out Trump at the time, and the venom between the two men was noticeably intense.
On Saturday, Cruz said he had discussed those comments with his wife and father. The three decided to forgive Trump, he said, even though Trump never has offered an apology.
Meanwhile, Cruz’s surprising endorsement for Trump on Friday was quickly criticized by some of his diehard supporters and praised by others — something Cruz acknowledged on Saturday.
“There was no option that would have resulted in no criticism,” he said. “I am trying to do the right thing. I am standing by my principles.”
While most of Cruz’s comments in Austin dealt with the presidential race, he also was questioned about continuing speculation that he could face a Republican primary challenger in his 2018 reelection campaign. Asked if he was afraid that U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, RAustin, might run against him, Cruz answered with one word: “No.”
McCaul, a Trump supporter, has been the most frequently mentioned possible challenger, though he has said he has no plans to run.
“I don’t think Texans want a senator who will just go to Washington to roll over and go along to get along,” Cruz said, declining to say if he was referring to McCaul. “They want a senator who will stand up to Washington.”