Cruz is right. In politics, family should be off-limits: Robert Robb
Trump suggested Cruz's wife was ugly and that his father was tied to JFK's death. And Donald expected an endorsement?
There seems to be surprise about Ted Cruz not endorsing Donald Trump in his convention speech and confusion as to why.
Gee, I don’t know. Maybe it was Trump suggesting that Cruz’s wife was dowdy? Or that his father was complicit in the assassination of JFK?
Politics is a rough and tumble game, and politicians say ugly things about each other. Chances are that Cruz would have swallowed Lyin’ Ted.
But family is different. And politicians regard their family as off-limits to political attacks. They take attacks on their family much more seriously than attacks on themselves. It’s one of the few redeeming features of the political character.
For Cruz, this was personal: Bill Sternberg
Ordinarily, there would have been an implied transaction, if not an explicit one, in a prime-time speaking slot at the national convention. You get the spotlight. You say some nice things about me.
But after what Trump said about Cruz’s family, I suspect he felt entirely justified taking the slot and screwing the implied transaction.
Most of the speculation about Cruz’s non-endorsement focused on potential future political calculations. And with Cruz, assuming political calculation is usually a safe bet.
But in this case, I suspect the reason was simpler and more personal. Even the prospect of Hillary Clinton appointing Supreme Court justices doesn’t justify giving a boost to a man who slurred your wife and father.
Robert Robb is an editorial columnist for The Arizona Republic, where this column first appeared. Follow Robert Robb on Twitter: @RJRobb
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