Brandon

Friday, July 22, 2016

Considering Cruz Convention Controversy. Don't Forget Kasich and Bush!

He should have put aside personal grievance for larger public good. That's what a leader does!

Please scroll down to comment on Trump convention speech or click here. But I can't let the convention coverage go without commenting on Ted Cruz.

I endorsed Ted Cruz in the crucial South Carolina primary. I voted for Ted Cruz. Readers may recall I was not a supporter in the primaries of Donald Trump. However, I am disappointed that Ted Cruz choose to speak to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland and endorse Donald Trump.

About the closest Cruz came to an endorsement is when he said "I want to congratulate Donald Trump on winning the nomination last night. And, like each of you, I want to see the principles of our party prevail in November." [Transcript of Cruz speech here.] But that statement and what followed was so lukewarm that many delegates on the convention floor sought to boo him off the stage.

Meeting the next day with the Texas delegation Cruz was grilled by Trump supporters demanding to know why he failed to honor his pledge to back the eventual GOP nominee. He cited Trump insults to his wife and father as reasons why he failed to praise Trump.

Some are pointing to Ronald Reagan's speech at the 1976 GOP convention [text video]. This came after a bitter primary fight between Reagan and President Ford. Reagan was gracious and thankful. Cruz could have learned from that.

As it is, Cruz put his own personal feelings ahead of party unity. Perhaps it would have been better if he had not spoken at all like Jeb Bush or John Kasich (how odd is it that the Governor of Ohio didn't welcome delegates to his state?). Cruz may be banking on a Trump defeat which positions him for consideration in a 2020 nominating contest. But if he comes down to South Carolina, I and others will remind him he took the pledge to support the GOP nominee but in the end put himself first!

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