Ted Cruz’s first general election campaign ad is out against Dem challenger Robert “Beto” O’Rourke and it’s a musical number that takes issue with the fact that O’Rourke is going by “Beto” and not Robert, accusing him of changing it to fit in:
“Liberal Robert wanted to fit in. So he changed his name to Beto. And hid it with a grin.”
Listen here:
FIRST LISTEN: our new 60-second statewide radio ad introducing our liberal opponent, Congressman Robert O’Rourke, to Texas voters.
Help #KeepTexasRed: https://t.co/PVsiCtbbyL #CruzCrew #TXSen pic.twitter.com/OxK61gZ0ek
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 7, 2018
That’s right. Rafael “Ted” Cruz is mad at someone for using a nickname on the campaign trail to “fit in”?
A totally fair point. But this is an ad from a senator named Rafael at birth. https://t.co/CY0EiJCGVj
— Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) March 7, 2018
But it’s actually kind of catchy, no?
My favorite part is where the singer pronounces it "Tex-uns" so it rhymes with the line about @BetoORourke trying to take all their guns. https://t.co/j7gBEac3q9
— Mike Hixenbaugh (@Mike_Hixenbaugh) March 7, 2018
Rafael defended the ad on CNN this morning:
Chris Cuomo asks Sen. Ted Cruz why he’s criticizing his Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke for going by the childhood nickname ‘Beto’ when Cruz’s real name is actually Rafael: “You’re absolutely right. My name is Rafael Edward Cruz.” https://t.co/tkyhJy6DXk pic.twitter.com/l90lFsvNjf
— CNN (@CNN) March 7, 2018
O’Rourke is fighting back saying he’s been called “Beto” since he was born:
Cruz begins the general election accusing O’Rourke of changing his name from “Robert” to “Beto” to fit in. O’Rourke tells @ericbradner he’s been called “Beto” since he was born. https://t.co/Q4KspTf8vG
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) March 7, 2018
And Beto has proof!
Just asked @BetoORourke why he goes by "Beto" instead of "Robert."
“My parents have called me Beto from day one, and it’s just — it’s kind of a nickname for Robert in El Paso. It just stuck,” he said.
He has a baby picture of himself in a hand-stitched "Beto" sweater. #TXSen https://t.co/XDSycx462K
— Eric Bradner (@ericbradner) March 7, 2018
Exit question: How soon until Beto plays the Canada card?
Fun fact: "Ted" Cruz was born in CANADA—not Texas—as Rafael Edward Cruz (he had to change his name because he sounded too much like the immigrants he hates). Beto O'Rourke is a lifelong Texan, born in El Paso. https://t.co/PU3orjT77N
— William LeGate (@williamlegate) March 7, 2018
It worked for Trump…
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