The Ted Cruz campaign just released one of the most hilariously awful advertisements. You can watch here:
Where to begin on this? First of all, this is coming from Ted Cruz, an ardent supporter of a man who has never shied on using foul language and whose rallies featured more profane words than any that Beto used (e.g. the “she’s a c***. Vote for Trump” shirts that were popular and actually said the word I blocked out).
Secondly, even without the hypocrisy, this is a completely tone deaf message. I said the same in 2016 when the Clinton campaign aired those “Role Models” attack ads. People don’t see politicians as role models. They care about whether politicians will enact policies that will improve their lives. One of the big lessons from 2016 is that people just don’t care that much about decorum or political correctness. A lot of people are going to hear that Beto clip and agree, because they also think that the system is f*cked up. I’ve heard plenty of people say that using those words. In using these clips, Cruz is amplifying Beto’s message that he will be an agent of change.
Third, the verbal description ends by saying “Beto shows the f*** up.” Seriously? That’s about as positive of a statement that you can say about anyone. Who wouldn’t want a senator that shows up?
Finally, the advertisement ends with the slogan “Ted Cruz. Tough as Texas,” which is hilarious after an entire advertisement in which he acts offended by a word that most people hear every day.
I’ll admit that I had previously been skeptical of O’Rourke’s chances, but this is the second terrible Cruz advertisement I’ve seen of late, the first one being one in which he amplified Beto’s speech about NFL players kneeling during the anthem. In 2012, Cruz faced no serious general election competition and won by over 20 points. He’s never had to put together a serious campaign for the general election. And now he’s running scared and throwing out hilariously bad commercials as his polling lead dwindles away.