True, this sort of confrontation is jarring and it would be better if we, as a nation, hadn't descended into this morass of bitterness. On the other hand, women trying to access legal health care at clinics are regularly attacked by zealots using even worse language and actions, these tactics are supported and protected by Ted Cruz.
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At least Cruz did better than Scalise. The left is getting scary, when will they be throwing bombs?
2
I think I can appreciate where these protesters are coming from. But the fact that Ted Cruz voted to steal from Social Security by giving billionaires a tax cut should be enough to get him strung up Texas style. (Check out the articles on the rising deficit and government interest payments.)
9
Can we all take a collective pause and deep breath? When every side is yelling so loud at each other, the only thing you hear is: yelling. Is this the sort of country we want to be? Protests are fine - I've been to a number myself, but there is a time and place for them. But when you heckle & demean someone at a restaurant, aren't you mimicing the tactics of those you are against? A couple, irregardless of their political leanings, deserve to be able to eat a meal in peace. '
Let's put the civility back into civilization.
6
Good job protesters. Love how they had trouble getting the emergency exit door open. We all need to get out there and tell our representatives how we feel, in public.
4
To me how this was handled was far more significant than the fact that it happened. Why didn't I see the protesters asked to leave by the staff? Why didn't I see patrons back Heidi and Ted up? And more importantly why have I not heard of any arrests or bans from twitter?
I assume it is a crime for an unruly mob to enter a business and disturb the piece. I assumed veiled threats are a crime.
What is the DC police policy for handling such protests?
Protests that break the law are crimes. Why aren't they treated as such?
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I support the investigation into Ms Ford's allegations and am no fan of Sen Cruz. But heckling him in a restaurant is wrong. We must all remain civil. Work to get out the vote to defeat him in the upcoming election, even engage in public demonstrations, but leave him in peace to dine with his family inside a private business.
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@Marj Davies
I agree. Screaming, giving the finger, hounding a couple out of a restaurant is neither fair nor politically good. It just plays into the Republicans' hand "O, those crazy liberals--they don't even have manners." If we want to win back the House (and maybe maybe the Senate?), remember that a lot of voters in the heartland will see this video and be appalled. These people, whatever their politics, are polite and kind. Which is why I was appalled when a crowd asked Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her husband to leave a restaurant. In the 1960s, people fought and died for the right of black people to go into white restaurants. Just remember that, and try to treat our political opponents with respect. You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
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@Marj Davies Are you serious? They're supposed to be representing us. If they were truly acting in the interests of working people, working people might give them some respect.
5
What caught my eye in this piece was, "Mr. Cruz said he and his wife have been 'good friends' with Judge Kavanaugh and his wife... for 20 years."
It gave me pause; is it a great judicial record which gets one nominated to our highest court? OR connections?
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I could never vote for anyone whose father participated in the Kennedy assassination.
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@A. Stanton
Dear A. Stanton,
Could you vote for a guy who when he was 26 years old, driving while intoxicated caused a three car pile-up and then fled the scene. And since his daddy was a judge down there in El Paso he didn't serve any time. If it had been me or some poor Latino we would have been carted off to jail without the option.
Beto can go around apologizing all he wants but he reminds me of the very entitled Brett Kavanaugh, neither of whom should be considered for the offices for which they are aspiring.
2
This type of behavior is unacceptable. The Senator may have opinions different from your own but he should be allowed to have a private dinner with his wife without being harassed by a raging mob. This is an example of everything that is wrong with our politics today. I hope the leftist wing of the Democratic party doesn't cost us an election.
19
The NYT headline used the term "confront" in the story about Sen. Cruz and his wife being chased out of a restaurant. This looked -- from the video -- like an assault to me. One of the protestors shouted "We know where you live" or something to that affect. A verbal threat is an assault under the law. Do these folks not realize they are committing the same sort of bullying act of which they accuse Judge Kavanaugh? The national discourse, it seems, knows no nadir.
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@John Jabo
To say that protesters vehemently chanting in a public place against a public official is equivalent to two drunk college-age men holding down a woman in a bedroom at a party and sexually assaulting her is a perfect example of the egregious ignorance of the issue of sexual misconduct against women. The intensity of the protest is a result of the long standing lack of acknowledgement of these kinds of offenses. To portray Ted Cruz as being victimized in the same way as a young woman who was sexually assaulted by two men makes me want to go to DC and shout at Republican congressmen too.
9
And Beto issues a news release afterward that this shouldn't have happened and that Cruz and his family should not be disrespected. What a humane thing to say regarding his competitor! Cruz would never do such a thing. That's why Texas and our Country desperately needs Beto!
24
Smash Racism is an anti-fascist organization? Really, they think other Americans, and in particular a US Senator, are 'fascists' and 'racists'? Unless the definition of either word is stretched to the point of meaninglessness, these 'activists' are sadly delusional, hateful, mad, or twisted. I do not believe that Ted Cruz gets up and does a Nazi salute in the morning, any more than I think Bernie gets up and listens to Radio Moscow. Let's get real and get back to some civility and common sense, and let's banish the fringe groups and haters to where they belong, on the fringe of society, not on the front pages.
10
Unfortunately John only the extreme fringe groups get the press!
3
I intend on voting a straight Democratic ticket in November, but I am appalled by the boorishness of these folks who ambushed Senator Cruz and his wife at the restaurant.
Do they think that they made any converts by their actions? Even Senator Cruz's opponent decried these actions.
Do you think that the Cruz campaign minions won't be putting you faces all over TV in Texas between now and November 6? Think again.
This is the big leagues folks and you are acting like a group of two year old children. If you are going to play politics, screw your damned heads on straight first.
24
Good Job, Protesters. Make their lives uncomfortable every minute of every day. It's high time these men and women who are trying to destroy OUR United States of America government learn we are a country of people - not laws.
The Robber Barons, with The Con Don as their talking head, think they have won. They think they have manipulated OUR laws so well that they can control us all.
Boy, have we got news for them. They think they have seen resistance? They haven't seen even the start of it.
WE THE PEOPLE will not allow greedy, socially unconscious people like Teddy Cruz destroy OUR democratic form of governance. Not now. Not ever.
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@njglea
That requires that one win electoral power first. Idiots like the ones at that restaurant did not sway one vote
3
@njglea
We the people get out and vote for our candidates. Democrats do not respect the rule of law, so they threaten, harass, attempt to assassinate political opponents and generally misbehave rather than come up with an acceptable platform.
You are someone in the minority who refuses to accept reality.
And Ted Cruz never left a pregnant girlfriend to drown while he went home to sober up. Your Teddy was a misogynist predator.
2
If the "representatives of the people" steadfastly refuse to consider the opinions of their constituents, they should continue to hear from them through these means. Cruz and his ilk pretend to care about the will of the people, but in reality only listen to those who come bearing massive campaign bribes....er.... "contributions." In this environment, the people will demand to be heard and will do so whenever the opportunity presents. I would do the same given the chance.
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@AJ
Ted Cruz's constituents have the opportunity to vote for him or against him in six weeks. Thugs in Washington DC should be arrested for threatening and harassing him and his wife. Their fascist behavior and opinions are irrelevant.
To represent that such behavior has relevance to democracy shows how far off your comprehension has moved toward totalitarianism.
1