Cruz On Carson's 'Dirty Trick' Claim: I'm Not Gonna Scapegoat My Staff

TPM ^ | February 3, 2016 | CAITLIN MACNEAL

[GodGunsGuts]

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Wednesday said he would not discipline any campaign staffers for notifying Iowa caucusgoers that Ben Carson had plans to drop out of the race even though the retired neurosurgeon only had plans for a quick trip home to Florida.

Cruz said on "The Mike Gallagher Show" that members of his campaign were "passing on news reports."

"I don't make a practice of scapegoating staff members when it's politically convenient," Cruz added.

The Texas senator reiterated that he has apologized to Carson for his campaign's actions. In a Tuesday statement, Cruz said that while sharing news reports is "fair game," he was sorry his campaign did not send out an update clarifying that Carson would remain in the race. The Cruz campaign circulated a CNN story about Carson's plans to head to Florida following the Iowa caucus, and the campaign allegedly urged caucusgoers to vote for Cruz instead.

On Wednesday, Cruz told Gallagher that the media was reporting on Carson's claims and the Cruz campaign's actions in a "misleading way."

Shortly before Cruz's interview on "The Mike Gallagher Show," Donald Trump accused Cruz of "fraud" and called for "either a new election should take place or Cruz results nullified."

In response to Trump's accusations, Cruz spokesman Rick Tyler told CNN that Trump was merely trying to get attention.

"The reality hit the reality TV star in Iowa so nobody is talking about him now. So he's trying to regain some attention on Twitter," he said in a statement to CNN.

Tyler added that "there are Twitter addiction support groups, so he should seek out his local chapter."

[editor-surveyor]

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Run from it all you want.

You post nothing but bitter, stupid lies.

[firebrand]

Yes, it’s like one of Trump’s jokes, when he says he’s not going to mention something but by saying that he mentions it. Except Trump is joking.

[don-o]

What is that - 12th spam of the day?

[moehoward]

"Trump will take himself out if he wants to. But I listened carefully to the liar Rubio in Iowa and he was pushing 100% Trump themes. So all Rubio did really was lie and steal some of Trump's anger votes."

Agreed. And you're spot on about Rubio. He knows Trump has the message, so just like Hillary stealing Sanders platform in her Iowa speech, he does likewise. Anyone thinking that's a coincidence isn't paying attention.

[magglepuss]

I do not think that Cruz is the outsider that I once thought he was.

[moehoward]

“You post nothing but bitter, stupid lies.”

Is there a mirror in your house. Find it, and repeat your garbage.
Thank God your supporting Cruz.

[Will88]

Anyone who isnt holding Rubio accountable to the same standard as they are Cruz is a hypocrite with an agenda.

Is there evidence that the Rubio campaign disseminated the false information to the caucus sites in an effort to swing votes from Carson to Rubio?

[skeeter]

The same kind of evidence there is to convict Cruz, minus the apology.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Just keep your eyes tightly closed, plug your ears and say “la la la la la la la” over and over again. Cruz has put together a team of experts that specialize in lying and manipulating.

Am I supposed to ignore this report about CNN?

CNN Announced Ben Carson Taking a ‘Break’ from 2016 — Then the Doctor Spoke Up

http://www.ijreview.com/2016/02/527814-cnn-just-announced-ben-carson-is-taking-a-break-from-the-2016-race-to-go-home-to-florida/

Again, are you telling me that Carson’s 4th place finish was CAUSED by this rumor?

The reality is this — Carson’s ground game was not as good as needed in order to win Iowa.

I still do not believe that his supporters are so dumb that a story like that would cause them to stay home.

[tennmountainman]

Dirty Ted.

[editor-surveyor]

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You really should have gotten that Rabies vaccination that your dog got.
.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Dropping out usually requires a formal announcement.

That’s why all these posts about Team Cruz tweets or posts about Carson dropping out CAUSING Carson to finish 4th does not compute.

Voters are intelligent enough to know that dropping out requires a formal announcement.

Anyone who let’s something like this affect how he votes deserves all he gets.

[Yashcheritsiy]

Cruz is sounding like obummer with that comment.

Well, politician's gonna politician, right?

[SeekAndFind]

RE: You really should have gotten that Rabies vaccination that your dog got.

I don’t have a dog. And you ought to use your common sense.

Dropping out REQUIRES a formal announcement. Anyone who votes on the basis of an internet tweet or facebook post deserves what he gets.

[AllAmericanGirl44]

Please keep spreading the truth Rummy, so many are clueless on these facts.

[firebrand]

I think you just admitted that the Cruz campaign used the words “dropping out” but CNN didn’t.

If I’m wrong tell me.

I wasn’t commenting on what caused what. You answered a different question.

[Will88]

The same kind of evidence there is to convict Cruz, minus the apology.

No sale. Provide some links for Rubio's use of the rumor for his benefit. The Cruz portion of the story has been linked numerous times. All I've seen about Rubio is that peculiar tweet from Conrad Close. What else is there?

[fireman15]

No, what I am saying is Cruz has put together a team of so-called experts in misinformation and social media manipulation. We can expect more of these “mistakes” in the coming days. This wasn’t an accident. If you are comfortable with someone who professes to be a devout Christian and the purest conservative but uses this type of tactic that is your business. I personally have now officially jumped off the Cruz train. I won’t have anything more to do with the man. That is what I am saying.

[editor-surveyor]

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Take it up with President Cruz in January, 2017!
.

[editor-surveyor]

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Typical Trumpbot Butt Hurt.