Sen. Ted Cruz denounced the bombs that were sent to Democrats and CNN, a day after calling for his Senate race opponent Rep. Beto O’Rourke to be jailed.
Cruz tweeted:
Violence is never OK. Reports of bombs sent to the homes of Obama, Clinton, and Soros are deeply, deeply disturbing. America is better than this. Political disagreements are fine, even healthy, but we should always be civil and respect each other’s humanity.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 24, 2018
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Here is Cruz the day before calling for O’Rourke to share a jail cell with Hillary Clinton:
Ted Cruz says Beto O'Rourke can share jail cell with Hillary Clinton https://t.co/xpWB2qbrLz pic.twitter.com/tJ6GFqxWMO
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) October 24, 2018
Republicans can’t have it both ways
Republicans can’t use violent or criminalizing rhetoric even as a “joke,” but denounce the violence and culture that their rhetoric has inspired with their supporters. According to Ted Cruz, bombing news organizations and political opponents is crossing the line, but suggesting with no merit that political opponents are criminals is fine.
Here’s an idea. Don’t talk about the criminality of a person unless there is evidence or reason to do so. Donald Trump is an unindicted co-conspirator in several felonies. There are ample grounds for factually discussing his criminality. Beto O’Rourke and Hillary Clinton have not committed any crimes and there is no basis for jailing either of them.
Republican rhetoric and inspired and created this climate, so people like Ted Cruz don’t get to take the high ground and walk away.
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Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
