David Brooks, Mother Jones’ David Corn discuss ‘satanic tone’ of Ted Cruz, attacks Rafael Cruz
David Brooks on PBS, discussing the “satanic tone” of Ted Cruz
David Brooks and Mother Jones Washington Bureau Chief David Corn were on PBS Newhour, hosted by Judy Woodruff and ultimately called Texas Senator and GOP Presidential candidate’s satanic and Corn then added Cruz’s father in the insult.
Brooks is discussing Donald Trump’s decline in polls and the rise of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio by adopting “some of the dark and satanic tones that Cruz has…” which prompted laughter, not shock.
This prompted Brooks to double down: “Well, if you go to a Cruz — if you watch a Cruz speech, it’s like, we have got this enemy, we have got that enemy, we’re going to stomp on this person, we’re going to crush that person, we’re going to destroy that person. It is an ugly world in Ted Cruz’s world. And it’s combative. And it’s angry, and it’s apocalyptic…”
Brooks replied, “I withdraw the satanic from Ted Cruz” and Corn noted, “You’re thinking that it’s political, but, sometimes, it’s literal.” Brooks went on to compare Cruz’s “dark and combative and, frankly, harsh” approach to the political disposition of Sen. Marco Rubio.
Corn responded to the attention and “explained” the remarks:
“…neither one of us called either Cruz “satanic.” Brooks did use the word “satanic” to describe Cruz’s tone, but he meant that Cruz pitches an apocalyptic message of good versus evil, light versus dark. Which he does. And I then explained that his father, who has been recruiting religious leaders to support his son’s campaign, does indeed see political and policy developments he opposes as the handiwork of Satan. That is, the elder Cruz, who routinely resorts to fiery fundamentalist rhetoric, often labels his (and his son’s) foes as “satanic,” noting that they’re being manipulated by the Evil One. Neither Brooks nor I suggested that Ted or Rafael Cruz are serving the Dark Lord.
The points we made were not that hard to understand. Yet conservatives—perhaps driven by their antipathy to the RINO-ish Brooks—quickly tried to manufacture a fake controversy. I wonder if the devil made them do it.”
Senator Ted Cruz
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Full transcript: WOODRUFF: Well, I want to ask you about — there is more to talk about, about the Democrats. But on the Republican side, you’re seeing — yes, you saw this Clinton-Sanders back and forth, but, on the Republican side, among — David Brooks, among the so-called establishment Republicans, they’re taking more potshots at one another. You’re hearing a lot of back and forth between Rubio and Cruz, between Rubio and Christie. So, what’s going on over there, or is anybody making any headway among that group?
BROOKS: Yes, Ted Cruz is making headway. There’s — you begin to see little signs of liftoff. Trump has sort of ceiling-ed out. Carson is collapsing. And Cruz is somehow beginning to get some momentum from Iowa and elsewhere. And so people are either mimicking him, which Rubio is doing a little by adopting some of the dark and satanic tones that Cruz has, and so…
WOODRUFF: What did you — let me just ask, what did you just say? (Laughter)
BROOKS: Well, if you go to a Cruz — if you watch a Cruz speech, it’s like, we have got this enemy, we have got that enemy, we’re going to stomp on this person, we’re going to crush that person, we’re going to destroy that person. It is an ugly world in Ted Cruz’s world. And it’s combative. And it’s angry, and it’s apocalyptic.”
CORN: “Well, actually, if you go to a speech from his dad, who is a pastor, evangelical, Rafael Cruz, it actually is satanic. (Laughter) He — I watched a speech in which he said Satan was behind the Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage. So, it’s not…
