By now you’ve heard about the ongoing spat between Republican front-runner Donald Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz, but in case you missed it, here’s a quick summary.
During an interview on Fox News Sunday, Trump called Cruz “a little bit of a maniac” — referring to Cruz’s actions fighting the establishment as a senator –and said he doesn’t have the “right temperament” to be president:
.@realDonaldTrump on @tedcruz: I don't think he has the right temperament…a little bit of a maniac. #FNS
— FoxNewsSunday (@FoxNewsSunday) December 13, 2015
Cruz answered back with this tweet and video from the 1983 movie “Flashdance”:
In honor of my friend @realDonaldTrump and good-hearted #Maniacs everywhere: https://t.co/KOPIi4XTVt
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) December 13, 2015
And then this one from this morning:
Getting ready for the debate tomorrow. Needed some inspiration: https://t.co/hcamfMEEOH #Maniac #TommyBoy
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) December 15, 2015
Ha!
Ted is a master troller. Love it. https://t.co/jdMPSxA9h1
— Tanner S. Salyers (@TannerSalyers) December 15, 2015
Whoever is running @tedcruz' twitter account is doing it right. https://t.co/kKBpmVBKqw
— Brent Cochran (@BrentCochran1) December 15, 2015
@TedCruz wins Twitter. We can all go home now.#CruzCrew #TedCruz #TedCruz2016 #tcot #DonaldTrump https://t.co/JBaT4nshiN
— Paula Smith (@smithpaulina) December 15, 2015
The troll game has been significantly elevated https://t.co/m8Dk0sUVnv
— Greg Brooks (@GregBrooksOH) December 15, 2015
Now there is some method to Cruz’s continued trolling of Trump over the “maniac” line. Both Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin have denounced Trump over it, for example:
Finally Rush Limbaugh Goes After Trump: "A Genuine Conservative Wouldn't Go After Cruz This Way" https://t.co/TrMPyFmMiE
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) December 14, 2015
Sorry, but he screwed up; lesson learned, I hope https://t.co/E3ORejJ8so
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) December 15, 2015
More from Mark Levin:
Levin cited three “reckless comments” made by Donald Trump.
First, Mr. Trump joined in with a leftist on CNN to dump on Justice Scalia, who’s comments during oral argument have been unfairly accused of being racist. Conservatives know better.
Second, Levin said that Mr. Trump’s insinuation that Ted Cruz is bought and paid for by Texas oil companies because he opposes ethanol was “stupid.” Ethanol subsidies are a “typical, big-government, Stalinist program” and conservatives know better than to criticize a candidate who opposes government waste. Announcing your support for ethanol subsidies because you’re campaigning in Iowa is pandering.
Thirdly, Levin declared that Mr. Trump sided with the Republican establishment when he called Sen. Cruz a “maniac” for refusing to go along with the Washington establishment in the Senate. Isn’t Mr. Trump himself running an anti-establishment campaign? Why would he adopt Establishment talking points to attack another conservative?
We’re sure to hear more about it at tonight’s debate, hosted by CNN and our parent company, Salem, that starts at 6:00 p.m. ET for the undercard and 8:30 p.m. ET for the main event.
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Related:
‘This will boggle a few minds’: Donald Trump criticizes Justice Scalia on affirmative action
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