It’s been a little over two months since Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz sat down with Bloomberg Politics co-host Mark Halperin in what became known as one of the most cringe-worthy interviews of Halperin’s career. During the interview, Halperin audaciously asked Cruz his favorite Cuban dish, music, and even commented on the fact that his last name “Cruz” should be enough for Hispanic appeal.
Ted Cruz must be a very forgiving person, because he sat down AGAIN with Halperin this past Saturday while attending the Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa. This time however, Halperin made no mention of Cruz’s favorite Cuban music, food, or ask for remarks “en Espanol.” This time, Halperin tried to get Cruz to comment on why he wasn’t publicly criticizing Donald Trump for his recent comments about John McCain’s service and that he was labeled a war hero “because he was captured.”
Florida Senator Marco Rubio said Trump was engaging in “offensive rantings,” while former Texas Governor Rick Perry said Trump’s remarks made him unfit to be commander in chief, while other Republican presidential candidates have either gone on record to condemn Trump or rush to McCain’s defense. Everyone that is, but Ted Cruz.
Cruz told Halperin:
"They're running their own campaigns, they can make their decisions. I'm not going to go into the gutter with personal attacks impugning character....I’m not gonna engage in the media’s game of bashing another Republican candidate. I’m just not gonna do it.””
Cruz also said he has used the same way of dealing with those who have criticized him in the past, noting that Chris Christie and Rand Paul and Mike Huckabee have leveled attacks on him, but that he praised them all. He instead shared his view on McCain:
"My view on John McCain is explicit and unambiguous. He's an American hero and he's a friend. I'm not going to just take a stick to fellow Republicans or for that matter to Democrats…In my time in the Senate I haven't impugned the character of Republicans or Democrats and I don't intend to start today."
That's for a man who called him a "wacko bird" (and apologized for it). Here’s a more interesting question for Cruz. After the last bizarre interview, what made him want to sit down with Halperin again?
