Mark Halperin called racist for Ted Cruz questions
A recent interview of Texas Senator Ted Cruz by Mark Halperin of Bloomberg Politics, asking racially tinged bias and insulting questions which seemed to put Cruz through his paces to find out if he’s Cuban enough. It drew attention after the summary from Ruben Navarrette.
Halperin: Senator, people are really interested in you and your identity. I just wanted to ask you as a historical matter, when you filled out your application to Princeton, to Harvard Law School, did you list yourself as an Hispanic?
Halperin: … if you have an affinity for or a connection to anything part of your Cuban past, do you have a favorite Cuban food… Cuban dish?
Cruz: Oh, I grew up eating Cuban food all the time, I…
[Halperin cuts him off] What’s your favorite dish?
Halperin: Alright… do you like Cuban music. Do you have a favorite Cuban Singer?
Halperin: Finally, I wanted to give you the opportunity to welcome your colleague Senator Sanders to the race and I’d like you to do it, if you would, en Espanol.
Before too long, as Insty pointed out, the hashtag #HalperinQuestions was trending on Twitter.
“Mr. Kennedy, if you are indeed the first Irish Catholic president, chug this bottle of Jamesons and eat a potato.” #HalperinQuestions — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) May 10, 2015
photo donkey hotey
Navarrette took Halperin to task for “bad journalism, bad form, and bad manners.”
“You crossed the line,” Navarrette wrote this weekend in his column, adding “I was actually nauseated.”
The interview took place a day after Cruz spoke at the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Halperin asked his guest, who appeared via satellite, “Your last name is Cruz and you’re from Texas. Just based on that, should you have appeal to Hispanic voters?”
Cruz delivered a long-winded response, explaining “my family story, my personal experience is an experience that resonates in the Hispanic community.”
“Do you like Cuban music? Do you have a favorite Cuban singer?” Halperin also asked.
“I have to admit, in that I’m much more of a Texan. I tend to listen to country music more than Cuban music,” the Republican answered.
