Reports: Ted Cruz Walked Out Of Mandela Memorial During Castro Speech

[DonViejo]

CATHERINE THOMPSON – DECEMBER 11, 2013, 6:52 AM EST

A spokeswoman for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said Tuesday that the lawmaker walked out of Nelson Mandela's memorial service in Johannesburg when Cuban President Raul Castro spoke to the crowd, according to news reports.

“Sen. Cruz very much hopes that Castro learns the lessons of Nelson Mandela,” Cruz spokeswoman Catherine Frazier told ABC News. “For decades, Castro has wrongly imprisoned and tortured countless innocents. Just as Mandela was released after 27 years in prison, Castro should finally release his political prisoners. He should hold free elections, and once and for all, set the Cuban people free.”

Cruz, whose father immigrated to the United States from Cuba, was one of just two Republicans that joined an official congressional delegation to attend the memorial service.

President Barack Obama shook Castro's hand as he greeted a line of world leaders before taking the podium to speak at the service. That gesture was later criticized by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/reports-ted-cruz-walked-out-of-mandela-memorial-during-castro-speech

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A comment appearing on TPM, below the above article:

NCSteve5 minutes ago

So wait, this is from his press office a day or two after the fact? No one actually saw The Most Important Man in the World walk out on Castro's eulogy in real time, but the hyperventilation=news segment of the press corpse is going to just report what a lying nutjob's "spokeswoman" says a couple of days after the fact as gospel truth?

Yeah, right. This oozes "thing I wish I'd done once I realized the old diehards in south Florida had their undies in a twist because Obama didn't snub Castro at a funeral so let's tell them I did it."

And here's the hilarious part: look at the linked stories. ABC News reports that "Cruz says he walked out." The vapid talking hairdos at CNN then, citing the ABC story, transmogrify that into "Cruz walked out."

Witnesses. I want witnesses. God forbid anyone in the MSM bother to find out if yet another unverified "so-good it must be true" story is actually true.

[djean111]

1. What is obvious is that Cruz only attended at all in order to make some sort of point and

to draw attention to himself.

Rubio's parents, by the way, did not flee Castro, they left Cuba earlier, for better business opportunities. Nothing wrong with that, but Rubio has claimed that they left because of Castro, which did not endear him to those Cubans who actually did.

[DURHAM D]

3. My thought exactly.

He made the trip as a publicity stunt.

[Blus4u]

4. Cruz is dedicating his life...

...to position himself for a 2016 run.

Nothing would make his 'sham of a preacher' daddy prouder than to have him anointed 'King' king of the 7 kings to then begin the fleecing of the non-believers in a big way.

It always amazes me how transparent these bull shitters are to most of us and how they are deified by the 'scary ones'.


Peace

[SunSeeker]

8. Yup, just like Marco Rubio's parents--they left Cuba BEFORE Castro took office.

And now lie like it was some sort of principled political decision. They fucking got on a plane with passports, not starved on an uncovered outboard boat until hitting shore. And they did it to be richer.

[tanyev]

2. Ooh, boy, that showed him!

I bet Castro was devastated when he noticed Ted walk out during his speech. In that giant stadium. Full of thousands of people.

[djean111]

5. To be fair, and if Cruz actually did that, Cruz was only playing to his base; doubties he cared

if Castro even knew he was there. The funeral was nothing but a massive photo op.

[JBoy]

6. I hope he also gave Castro a frowning of a lifetime.

Leave it to sociopath Cruz to make Mandela's death all about him.

[marble falls]

7. Nothing like that old school Cruz smooth.

[Arkana]

9. He couldn't even avoid grandstanding at a foreign dignitary's funeral.

Ted Cruz is a disgusting piece of shit. Good thing he'll never get anywhere near the Presidency, despite the fevered dreams of Freep.

[frylock]

10. not ready for primetime

[Aristus]

11. Or the Presidency, in which one shows respect for world leaders,

even if you disagree with them. Don't think Teddy-boy is up to that challenge...