Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, congressional Democrats to commemorate Mandela in South Africa

CNN.com ^ | December 9, 2013 | CNN Political Unit

[GIdget2004]

More than 20 members of the U.S. House, mostly Democrats, and Republican Sen. Ted Cruz will travel to South Africa to honor and commemorate former South African president and anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela.

House Speaker John Boehner tapped Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Illinois, to lead the official delegation of House members to South Africa for Tuesday's service. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including Chairwoman Marcia Fudge, will join the official congressional delegation.

The group of 24 members of the House of Representatives and Senate will leave early Monday morning for the service Tuesday in Johannesburg at FNB Stadium.

Here's a list, which is subject to change, of the other U.S. lawmakers who will join the delegation, according to a senior Democratic aide:

Rep. John Conyers, D-Michigan; Rep. Charles Rangel, D-New York; Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia; Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Washington; Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Democratic delegate from D.C.; Rep. Maxine Waters, D-California; Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Virginia; Rep. Melvin Watt, D-North Carolina; Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas; Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland; Rep. Donna Christensen, Democratic delegate from the Virgin Islands; Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-New York; Rep. Barbara Lee, D-California; Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-North Carolina; Rep. Al Green, D-Texas; Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wisconsin; Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-New York; Rep. Karen Bass, D-California; Rep. Terri Sewell D-Alabama; Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio; Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Florida.

[Hogblog]

Cruzing to Victory 2016

[PghBaldy]

Big difference with denouncing Mandela and jumping on the bandwagon to beatify him.

[DoodleDawg]

If that's the case, it sends a powerful message to the world about Cruz's place in the future.

And which is angering his supporters no end. Keep that up and Cruz has no place in the future.

[Irenic]

I have a question...are so many of our leaders supposed to gather together in one spot like this? South Africa isn’t the most stable place, is it?

[SharpRightTurn]

No thanks, Ted.

[kenmcg]

SHAME ON YOU TED!!

[GIdget2004]

“I’m guessing there will be other republicans going but they only want to mention Ted Cruz so the rabid idiots can scream about his ‘treason’”

Cruz is the only current Senator going, and Schock is the only other currently-serving Republican going.

GWBush and Laura are going, along with Jimmy Carter, Bill and Hillary and Barry and Michelle.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/12/08/bipartisan-congressional-delegation-to-attend-mandela-memorial-service-in-south/?intcmp=latestnews

[montag813]

Is he trying to appeal to the “Minority” here? What a goofy move.

He's trying to preempt Rand Paul's major outreach to Blacks. Both of them are being silly. Unless they plan to toss $100 bills off the roofs of public housing projects, they won't win even 1% more of the Black vote.

[central_va]

He should have kept silent and went about his business. Mistake.

[Count of Monte Fisto]

Ted, we hardly knew you.

Traveling thousands of miles to pay homage to a nation wrecking communist murderer of men, woman, children is inexcusable.

[Redmen4ever]

Ted Cruz relates to Nelson Mandella because his [Ted Cruz’] father was a political prisoner and was tortured. The others relate to Mandella because of skin color.

[quesera]

Good for Ted. It shows that he is running for president in 2016. If he had denounced Mandela, he would have had no chance of winning. He would have been labeled an extreme racist who is for apartheid. The press would be all over and have him figuratively dressed in sheet with a burning cross. Ted not only has the right stuff, he is making the right moves.

I’m voting Cruz in 2016!

Some of us recognize a smart political move when we see one!

Ted Cruz so far is the only potential candidate with the balls to take on the stench among both republicans and democrats that is spreading in Washington; there is no contrast any longer between the two. I am just fed up with it all and if we are going to win we all need to pull our heads out of our arses and stay cool.

If we start criticizing everything now whether it has merit or not then who is going to be left to take on the fight in the next Presidential election.

Those who are criticizing now just keep it up and we will end up with BHillary!

I'm with Ted Cruz all the way!

[Hostage]

Senator Cruz needs to show the world he can meet with those he opposes ideologically, but good luck on pushing Ted to bend to their will.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

I agree with you 100%.

Ted is making the right moves.

Go Ted.

[quesera]

You underestimate our armed forces and secret service.

[nikos1121]

We have people on this forum, who get every morning...slipp on thier slippers, drink their coffee and complain about things.

We need to win the Senate, guys. Ted Cruz is not going to get up there and spill venom on Mandela. It’s immaterial whether he is communist or leftist or if his wife burned people. Anyone coming out against Mandela will be the story, and that’s what Obama and company would love to see.

[nanetteclaret]

Then Sen Cruz should have just kept his mouth shut.

His going to the funeral is giving tacit approval to Mandela and his actions - which included being pro-abortion (among the other usual Communist beliefs).

[Irenic]

No, I don’t. I just thought that there was some rule about this sort of thing, that’s all. I am probably not recalling correctly.

[Stentor]

Even Ted Cruz. Well that does it for me. FU TED.

This is only the 2nd strike. The wife who's a member of the Goldman Sachs crime family is the first. Number 3 is inevitable.

[Venturer]

OK I will give you that —two strikes.