Cruz’s comments draw fire from Dole, McCain
Washington (CNN) - Former Republican presidential nominees Bob Dole and John McCain are pushing back against Sen. Ted Cruz for comments he made Thursday at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
As Cruz was talking about how the Republican Party had not been successful in recent campaigns and what it needed to do to win, he said if “you want to lose elections, stand for nothing.”
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Then noting in 2010 how Republicans had won the House back with its emphasis on opposition to Obamcare, the Texas Republican added “Of course, all of us remember President Dole and President McCain and President Romney. Now look those are good men, they’re decent men. But when you don’t stand and draw a clear distinction, when you don’t stand for principle, Democrats celebrate.”
Dole, the 1996 nominee, told CNN Friday that “Senator Cruz needs to check the record before passing judgment.”
McCain, the 2008 nominee, told MSNBC Friday that he asked Cruz to apologize to Dole. “I talked to him on the floor. I talked to him on the floor, and I said exactly what I'm telling you I said.”
“(Cruz) can say what he wants about me, and he can say anything he wants to,” McCain continued. “But when he throws Bob Dole in there, I wonder if he thinks that Bob Dole stood for principle on that hilltop in Italy when he was so gravely wounded and left part of his body there fighting for country,” McCain also said.
Cruz’s spokeswoman, Catherine Frazier, reacted to the calls for an apology.
“As he noted in his speech, the Senator greatly respects these men, particularly the heroic military service of Sens. Dole and McCain,” she said in a statement. “Suggesting anything otherwise is just an unnecessary distraction. He will not hesitate to talk about substantive matters of conservative principle that are important to bringing Republicans to victory – even if others may disagree.”
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I don't see anything good about the GOP ,,,,America stand on its own merit! Dump republicans ,,,,
The problem is that ALL potential and likely Repub-Tea Party presidential candidates are just like Cruz!! It is truly frightening to think of what will happen to the good old USA if any of them is ever voted to become POTUS!!!!
"'(Cruz) can say what he wants about me, and he can say anything he wants to,' McCain continued. 'But when he throws Bob Dole in there, I wonder if he thinks that Bob Dole stood for principle on that hilltop in Italy when he was so gravely wounded and left part of his body there fighting for country,' McCain also said."
I knew I liked McCain. Remind that spoiled, pampered little poodle where his dinner comes from. Cruz is revealing himself to be an awful person; a man with no humility and a man with no loyalty.
With respects to what Senator Cruz said about Sen Dole and Sen. McCain, and to those in opposition to Senator Cruz......If it wasn't the truth, it wouldn't bother you ! Finally someone who can and will stand up and speak the truth and people are demanding he sit down and shut up. Haven't you people had enough lies, half truths and every other kind of corruption with this current ship of fools. Enough of the status quo. It's time to shake things up. Senator Cruz will do just that and more. I need, America needs a breath of fresh air. Rock on Senator Cruz !!!
...also, since when - in matters of principle, politics and National policy - is recognizing the sacrifice of wounded veterans, a "distraction"? And this arrogant sociopath and his lackeys, are giving lectures about "principles"?
Let me clear this one up, for you, Cruz: If you can wave-off the sacrifices of military service of your own members of party, you stand for nothing of substance. Perhaps, you are a fraud of a human being, with no respect for anything or anyone.
Ted Cruz insults,ridicules and degrades out of one side of his mouth,then say's he respects who he has just spoken about. The Ted Cruz's of this world are a huge part of the problems our county faces. Until the authentic and decent stand up and be counted,we are in for an ugly time. Cruz speaks with a forked tounge.
Cruz is a flame thrower and has no respect for anyone.
Rand Paul ,. Ted Cruz, Sarah Palin , Rick Perry , and vice president Bobby Jindal .
Why dose love have to be so sad ?
That photo of Ted Cruz makes me think of Joe McCarty as a vampier singing tuti fruity .
Cruz respects Dole's and McCain's military service, but he's absolutely correct the RINOs can't get elected. We need another Ronald Reagan and Ted Cruz may be the one.
Cruz is playing with fire this time. The good o'le boys will go after him after these comments, and he's not gonna like it!
It just doesn't get any better for the GOP with alll this name calling and back stabbing.
Cruz is a moron.if he thinks that he becomes the republican nominee, then I've land to sell him in the everglades
Don't worry Cruz you will never be President . I have more faith in the intelligence of the people of the U.S.A.
Bob Dole, John McCain and Lindsay Graham, are reaping the dirty seeds they sowed, by allowing these extreme right wing nutbags to enter the inner sanctum of the GOP. It was only a matter of time before the serpents you allowed in your house come up from the basement and start biting you and your family members. The GOP is in a deadly grip from the TEA Party as it slowly squeezes the life out of this once great party.
How does the value voter and moral majority feel like, today gentlemen??
There are bad partisan apples in both parties that should be tossed out of Congress - Cruz is one; Reid and Pelosi are two more that should go. I think term limits might help a bit
Cruz has a point. Of course it is more complex than he suggests.
The entire country has lost its principles, ideals, and ethics. The entire country has become a land of corruption, dictatorship, and conflict. We are being tested for take over........and all too few of our citizens have any grasp of that truth.
Cruz is a good man. He stood up when no one else had the courage to. He is a great American fighting for the working man. Please help him. Vote out the politicians who lie cheat and steal. The government is not your friend. Handouts to lazy people only produces more lazy people.
Unfortunately, McCain and the GOP do not seem to understand that getting shot does not make someone suitable to be president....
Bob Dole and John McCain at least live in the real world, Ted Cruz comes from the land of make believe.
Cruz is the second coming of another idiot call McCarthy of the cold war era. Will say anything to keep his name in the papers and fire up the minority of his base. The GOP will never recover with self-serving clowns like this. Palin ring a bell?
Cruz,torn between the US and Canada..Hey jerk show us your birth certificate..He's not worth even responding to because republicans here know as well as us he's politically irrelevant,inept for sure...He won't even get past the primaries...
Cruz will be the GOP nominee for President in 2016. He will steamroll the opposition in the primaries and have enough pledged delegates BEFORE the convention opens to win on the first ballot.
Time for the republican party to kick the TPers to the curb. The TPers have destroyed the republican party.
The old timers know how the game works, Cruz is still thinking small, mittens flopped like a fish on ice for a reason.