Democratic Rep Not Sure Why Ted Cruz Went To Mandela Service

[DonViejo]

TOM KLUDT – DECEMBER 16, 2013, 10:42 AM EST

If you're wondering why Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) accompanied a largely Democratic delegation to South Africa for Nelson Mandela's memorial service last week, you aren't alone. The Democrats weren't quite sure what to make of it either.

Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) said Monday that while Cruz was cordial on board the flight to South Africa, she and others were "curious" about what motivated the tea party senator to join the delegation.

"I think that he was on the spot because there were many members who were curious, you know, about why he would want to take this pilgrimage," Moore said on MSNBC. "This was a solemn — it was hard trip, 40 hours and turning right around. And even the senator had to come right back and vote at 1 a.m."

Moore pointed out that the delegation was comprised mostly of Democrats, including some lawmakers who were active in the anti-apartheid movement. "And so there was a lot of curiosity about [Cruz]," she said. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), who was also in the delegation, said last week that Cruz "got an earful" from his Democratic counterparts on the flight.

###

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/democratic-rep-not-sure-why-ted-cruz-went-to-mandela-service

[hollysmom]

1. Ah but it got his name in the news again, didn't it. I vote for that reason.

[CBGLuthier]

2. Reading what they call hard makes me wonder if these assholes ever worked a day in their life.

Oh the grueling grind of getting drunk and flying around the world the poor fucking babies.

[DonViejo]

4. So, you're saying all of the reps should not have attended

the Mandela service? Including the President, who, according to your deep and thoughtful analysis, was drunk?

[CBGLuthier]

5. No, I am complaining about them calling it HARD.

Work on your reading skills and you may be able to understand my point.

[DonViejo]

8. You doubt whether flying 20 hours, sitting in a memorial

service for a minimum of 5 hours and then immediately flying 20 hours to return to the U.S. is hard work? Have you ever tried it? I loved serving in Southeast Asia (not Vietnam) for four years but, I hated the damned 18+ hours it took to get there or return to the States. Time zones, climate changes all impact a person -- and I was in my early twenties then. None of these Congress critters are anywhere near my then age. I don't need to work on my reading skills; it's obvious by simply reading your comment that you're more interested in hurling insults and name-calling than you are in posting thoughtful and considered commentary. Sorry for you!

[Lucky Luciano]

17. It is hard actually.

I just had a job interview in Geneva. I flew from NYC on a Monday night and arrived Tuesday Mirning at 10:00 for a 2:30pm interview that lasted almost six hours. Then I went to dinner by myself and explored the town (the fun part I guess) for four hours in the cold. The heavy fog actually helped spread the light to make decent photos at night. Then I went to bed, got up in the morning and went back to the airport for a 9 hour flight home. Having just one more day to myself would have made it more fun, but with the tight schedule and long hauls, it was really just business.

South Africa would have been much more brutal trip!

[awoke_in_2003]

18. good luck, Lucky

I would almost kill to work in Switzerland

[Lucky Luciano]

33. Job is still in NYC. Had to meet some people there though.

Probably 50-50 on getting an offer. I flubbed one of the C++ questions because I am rusty there after doing a lot more C# lately. It was a pretty tough question though and I was on the right track to the solution - just didn't nail that part of the interview. I am not really looking at a hardcore developer role - more like domeone who programs a lot of numerical implementations, so i was syrprised thry came at me that hard on the C++. Nailed much of the rest though.

[former9thward]

22. It is not hard.

They are picked up at Andrews Air Force base and flown in a special military transport to South Africa. Not crowded in like a commercial jet -- all first class. They don't have the hassle of the airport stuff -- they are ushered through. Driven to the memorial and then back again. Nothing hard at all.

[Lucky Luciano]

31. Still gotta disagree.

I went business class, which is not too different from first. I still could not sleep well because it was too early for me and while it is flat, it is not a bed. Only four hours of light sleep. Also, I got to skip most of the security lines...I know they had some more conveniences, but I doubt it makes a significantly big impact on overall comfort/enjoyment.

[Skittles]

26. I AGREE

[lunasun]

28. Now that ain't workin' that's the way you do it

Let me tell ya them guys ain't dumb


Maybe get a blister on your little finger
Maybe get a blister on your thumb

I forgot about that song = thanks!

[wercal]

29. I dunno - flying is rough on me.

I actually couldn't take the flying schedules some of these politicians have. I've always assumed that they must get accustomed to it. But really, a 20 hour flight, 4 hour service, and 20 hour return flight would kick my butt.

[FSogol]

3. Cruz thinks it makes him look Presidential. n/t

[Scuba]

7. Bingo. This'll be listed under "foreign policy experience" on his Prezidential resume in 2016.

[randr]

6. His staged protest of Castro speech will no doubt be part of his Presidential campaign

[brush]

13. BINGO!

Last edited Tue Dec 17, 2013, 12:51 AM - Edit history (1)

And he thought his stunt would get major media coverage. It didn't because, I mean c'mon, how was his little walkout ever going to overshadow the memorial for one of the greats of our age?

[Voice for Peace]

16. People probably assumed he left to take a leak.

[Coyotl]

25. No one even noticed, so he had to call the media to report his own action.

Otherwise, the whole stunt would have gone unnoticed and the trip would nave been for naught.

[thelordofhell]

9. Because the Koch brothers needed representation

[otohara]

10. So He Could Stage His Protest

I wondered until he pulled his media grabbing stunt.

[dem in texas]

11. DUH!

It's about the news coverage stupid. Walking out when Raul Castro spoke gave him an even better chance. All he cares about is getting his name on the cable news and in the newspaper. He is a gold plated jerk who will do anything to get publicity. So sorry he is from my state.

[Coyotl]

12. One reason only, to walk out of the Memorial and make himself the biggest asshole in Africa.

And then no one noticed, so he had to call the media and report on himself being the biggest asshole in Africa.

Two continents down, ....

[randr]

24. As I recall, he won the planetary asshole trophy that day

[Tyrs WolfDaemon]

14. He probably also promised his dear old dad that he would...

look for Pres. Obama's 'real' birth certificate.

[Wounded Bear]

15. So he could say, "I can see South Africa from my porch."

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

19. So he could pull it out & say he's not racist

when the time comes.

"I'm not racist: I went on a grueling flight & missed x, y & z to go to Mandela's memorial"

[Cha]

20. Because scruz is an asshole.

[ancianita]

21. He's the kid who'd go to shows so he could do there what he did elsewhere for free -- be obnoxious.

Houston allows for any kind of idiot with oil credentials.

[DFW]

23. Probably just like a famous line from Alan Arkin's first big film

John Philip Law plays a seaman on a Soviet submarine that accidentally ran aground on a Martha's Vineyard-style fictional island off the coast of Massachusetts.

The Soviet seaman explains to an American vacationing on the island how it happened. He said that the captain didn't pay close enough attention to the shallow depth while observing the American coastline. The American asks, full of suspicion, why the captain wanted to observe the American coastline. The Soviet seaman replies, "never saw it." The American just says, "oh," and figures it was a logical enough reason.

[underpants]

27. With a crowd that large he thought he could "move" some coloring books

[Historic NY]

30. Carnival must have had to go sit on the plane...because

he'd stick out like the a$$ hole he is.

[Thinkingabout]

32. There are a few reasons for his attendance. First, he wanted to prove he has a black friend and

Close enough to the blank friend to attend the memorial service. He wanted to beg Raul Castro to allow he and his family to return to Cuba. He wanted to be the first hand Raul Castro shook but Obama beat him out. He had planned to filibuster the service with his story of Green Eggs and Ham. Was on the wrong flight, did not know it was going to South African or it was for Mandela's memorial service. He thought he was going to be the key note speaker. Thought he could replace Mandela as president and found Mandela was not in office at this time.

My hope was he would get lost and he would have to swin to get back to Texas.

[TeamPooka]

34. His dad told him to go and walk out on Raul Castro's speech. nt