Cruz Defends Against Trump's Claims of 'Rigged' Delegate System

NBC News ^ | April 12, 2016 | Vaughn Hillyard

[reaganaut1]

Ted Cruz rejected Donald Trump's claims that the GOP race is rigged, telling Glenn Beck on Tuesday that Trump will continue "to scream that they're stealing the election" as long as they continue to successfully wrangle delegates before a possible contested convention this summer.

"Apparently, when anyone votes against him, it's an act of theft," Cruz said on Beck's online radio show. He also told Beck the Trump campaign's "inability to even show up and win elections" makes it appear the front runner "can't run a lemonade stand."

"Donald, it ain't stealing when the voters vote against you -- it is the voters reclaiming this country and reclaiming sanity," Cruz told a San Diego crowd at a rally on Monday night.

In the last day, Cruz has hotly defended his campaign's efforts to send Cruz loyalists as delegates to this July's Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

Cruz's campaign swept up each of Colorado's 34 GOP delegates last weekend at its state and congressional district conventions after a similarly strong outcome in North Dakota the week prior. And in states that have already held their primaries or caucuses - like Tennessee, Arizona and Iowa - the Cruz campaign has effectively positioned its own supporters as Trump delegates in preparation for a second or third ballot that would allow them to vote for Cruz.

Trump tweeted bafflement on Sunday about the system: "I win a state in votes and then get non-representative delegates because they are offered all sorts of goodies by Cruz campaign. Bad system!"

[perfect_rovian_storm]

And Cruz is just like SLIME!!

[Dallas59]

I love hassling both sides. I’ll vote for whomever gets the nomination. We don’t want Hellary.

[PA Engineer]

I was being sarcastic. ;-)

[Pelham]

I saw it. It’s pretty typical of what she posts. That’s why I think her intent is just to act ugly. Assuming it’s an act..

[Beautiful_Gracious_Skies]

Here’s Ted in action http://www.drbongo.com/play/vbA

gettin’ him some delegates. Cheatin’ CruzCoon

[DoughtyOne]

And I enjoyed it.

LOL

[Grampa Dave]

http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/Josef.Stalin.Quote.0DE9

Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything."

[DoughtyOne]

Okay, you’re pretty far out on that limb...

LOL

I hear ya...

[glock rocks]

As long as the single malt is available, I’m in :o)

[JediJones]

Most of the caucus states have the people vote on who the delegates are going to be just like they did in Colorado. Colorado just eliminated the presidential preference vote and let the delegates themselves say who they would support, so they could remain unbound in the event their candidate dropped out before the convention and they could make their vote count.

[JediJones]

Cruz is taking lemons and making lemonade.

Trump is just being a sour puss.

[UCANSEE2]

We’re not a pure democracy, which has served us well for 230 years.

Well... I'm gonna have to call you on those last 30 years. I think our democratically elected Republic has gotten all twisted and distorted.

[taketheredpill]

perfect

[mcshot]

AYE AYE

[mcshot]

Good grief ...

[gg188]

D.O. - I have read a lot of the threads on this subject but I haven't found any discussion of, or even anyone curious about: HOW did this "Cruz ground game" convert people to be delegates for him? Not necessarily talking Colorado, but the other states where Trump won, moved on, and Cruz people stayed and did something to make the delegates committed to Trump FLIP to Cruz. Was it the Cruz people's mastery of the issues and skills at persuasion that "converted" these people from Trump to Cruz? Because it seems to me, knowing politics, Washington, big money donors and human nature, that it SOUNDS like BRIBES were involved, and I have read elsewhere that in situations like this in other elections, extortion or blackmail has been involved in situations of "flipping" delegates.

What's your opinion? Why, in defending how well the Cruz people play the game or understand the rules---why don't they share with us HOW they accomplish this? Are delegates that easily persuaded to desert the candidate for whom they were elected delegate? OR are other "transactions" involved?

[P-Marlowe]

A picture is worth a thousand words:

[bigtoona]

Cruz told him! Trump the multi billionaire couldn’t even run a lemonade stand! Ooooooooooh! Burn!

[taketheredpill]

That is a great observation. Fraud Cruz does appear obcessed. Well, he is a megalomaniac after all.

[PA Engineer]

As long as the single malt is available, I’m in :o)

Ok. Picking up a case and some Mad Elf to wash it down.