Ted Cruz’s Hometown Newspaper Rescinds Endorsement
Last year, the Houston Chronicle endorsed Ted Cruz in the General Election to fill the Senate seat being vacated by Kay Bailey Hutchinson. Today, they informed the world that they really, really regretted that decision:
Sen. Ted Cruz’ hometown newspaper, the Houston Chronicle, wishes it could take back its endorsement.
The Chronicle’s editorial board, which endorsed Cruz, R-Texas, in his 2012 race, now says it misses his predecessor, former Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.
“When we endorsed Ted Cruz in last November’s general election, we did so with many reservations and at least one specific recommendation – that he follow Hutchison’s example in his conduct as a senator,” The Chronicle said. ”Obviously, he has not done so.
“Cruz has been part of the problem in specific situations where Hutchison would have been part of the solution,” the board added.
From the un-endorsement:
Does anyone else miss Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison?
We’re not sure how much difference one person could make in the toxic, chaotic, hyperpartisan atmosphere in Washington, but if we could choose just one it would be Hutchison, whose years of service in the Senate were marked by two things sorely lacking in her successor, Ted Cruz.
For one thing, Hutchison had an unswerving commitment to the highest and best interests of Texas at all times. This revealed itself in a thousand different ways. Hereabouts, we miss her advocacy for NASA, the Port of Houston and the energy industry. And we know she worked just as hard for Dallas, San Antonio and a hundred smaller Texas cities and towns.
(…)
One reason we particularly believe that Hutchison would make a difference in these hectic days is that if she had kept her seat, Cruz would not be in the Senate.
When we endorsed Ted Cruz in last November’s general election, we did so with many reservations and at least one specific recommendation – that he follow Hutchison’s example in his conduct as a senator.
Obviously, he has not done so. Cruz has been part of the problem in specific situations where Hutchison would have been part of the solution.
We feel certain she would have worked shoulder to shoulder with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, in crafting a workable solution that likely would have avoided the government shutdown altogether.
But we’ll never know.
It’s worth noting that, in the primary the Chronicle had endorsed Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, who was considered the moderate in the race. Now, Dewhurst is traveling the state calling for President Obama’s impeachment. I’m not sure what that says, but in any case I’m pretty sure this is the first time I’ve ever actually seen an un-endorsement.
“Gosh, when we endorsed a sociopathic narcissist for the senate we assumed he’d spend all of his time trying to make poor people and minorities suffer. We never expected he’d do damage to real white Americans like us!”
I think that is the most severe case of Buyer’s Remorse that I’ve seen in a long time.
I must confess though, I’m not so sure that newspaper endorsements carry the kind of weight that many political observers assume they do. That said, an endorsement from a major paper can’t hurt.
@wr:
Indeed.
Cruz is a huckster; he was never in it for anything but himself. I suppose he got what he wanted: publicity and a million-plus in donations to his pac. I almost feel sorry for the poor fools who thought he was going to be their savior.
Almost.
I happened to listen to debates between Cruz and his opponent, Paul Sadler. Sadler was an earnest policy guy who knew what he was talking about. Calm, rational demeanor. Cruz was just a fountain of talking points. Of course, the talking points won. Sadler didn’t have a chance.
I doubt all this will hurt Cruz, although I would be delighted if it did.
The Edmonton Sun endorsed Cruz and now takes it back?
Wait, the guy who owes his career to a Sarah Palin endorsement is “toxic, chaotic and hyperpartisan”? unpossible.
It’s worth noting that, in the primary the Chronicle had endorsed Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, who was considered the moderate in the race. Now, Dewhurst is traveling the state calling for President Obama’s impeachment. I’m not sure what that says…
It says Texas is packed with lunatics, but we already knew that.
The paper endorsed Cruz, wanted him to act like Hutchison, but didn’t want Hutchison herself? WTF?
@CSK:
I believe that he is more than just a huckster: I believe that he is a committed ideologue who believes his own bullsh!t , just like that other political leader we all know who was born in one country and rose to prominence in a neighboring country.
Godwin’s Law – you lose. Doesn’t it hurt when you write something that stupid?
@Rick Almeida:
Hutchison wasn’t running.
@stonetools:
I think it’s possible to be both, don’t you? The interesting question to me would be: Is he 49% huckster and 51% ideologue? Or is he 51% huckster and 49% ideologue?
We gave the job to the crazy sociopath and everything turned to shit somehow!
Certainly you, of all people, should know the answer to that question considering most of what you write…
Just 12 days ago I noted that the whole Pee Tardy/Birther thing is just a continuation of Republican’s mindless quest for revenge over Nixon’s resignation with a big dose of racism thrown in.
https://www.outsidethebeltway.com/this-is-how-legislative-blackmail-becomes-a-real-crisis/
(Friday, October 4, 2013 at 21:30)
I am grateful to Citizen Dewhurst for validating my observation in such a timely manner.
There is really something to this. Republicans have always wanted institutional payback. They want to balance the books. In their eyes, Democrats “brought Nixon down” and they want to return the favor. I really don’t think they understand that Nixon was the architect of his own demise. This is something of a generalization of course, but I think there is a lot of validity to it.
@Scott O:
Aha, I should have checked. Thanks!
I happen to like Cruz and admire the stand he took. I think this piece is silly. I would take Cruz over Rubio any day of the week. Talk about slick, Rubio’s past dealing while in the Fl legislature were shady to say the least. But, he is the consumate politician, IMO.
Don’t any of you people want to see the government scaled back ? Don’t you think it is bloated and doesn’t return anything to the economy ? Sometimes, I don’t see where some of you are coming from.