Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz (R-TX) can talk all he wants about carpet bombing areas controlled by ISIS, civilian casualties be dammed, without drawing a broad rebuke, but condemning the values of New York is apparently off limits.
As Cruz has ascended in the polls, so has his rhetoric against chief rival Donald Trump. Caught in the middle of their childlike spat is New York, or more accurately, the state’s system of “values”—whatever that means.
New Yorkers have taken to social media to defend the Big Apple and the Empire State, even reviving the decades-old fabricated beef between Biggie Smalls and Tupac. Cruz, the latest victim of Trump’s birther movement, has also drawn the ire of lawmakers across the state, including Long Island’s most outspoken Congressman.
Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford), who has previously railed against the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party, lambasted the Texas senator on Friday.
“Memo to Ted Cruz: New York Values are the heroes of 9/11; the cops who fight terror; and the people you ask for campaign donations,” King said in statement through his spokesman.
“Go back under a rock,” he added.
Cruz’s backfiring quips began with his lashing out against Trump’s “New York values” following the billionaire’s repeated criticism about Cruz’s White House qualifications. Cruz was born in Canada, but his mother is a US citizen.
During Thursday night’s GOP debate in South Carolina, Cruz said New York values are akin to being “socially liberal, pro-gay marriage, pro-abortion, focused on money and the media.” That was his way of defending his unprovoked rebuke of New York.
New Yorkers used Twitter to remind Cruz of their perseverance after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks to defend the New York way of life. The New York Daily News, not one to back down from a challenge, produced a viral cover featuring an appalled Lady Liberty flipping the bird at Cruz and eloquently suggesting he “drop dead” and disappear north of the border.
Good morning Ted Cruz! Love, New York, New York.What Donald J. Trump thinks: http://nydn.us/1nnhd6GPlus Mike Lupica: http://nydn.us/203Wanq
Posted by New York Daily News on Friday, January 15, 2016
Gov. Andrew Cuomo demanded that Cruz apologize to the residents of New York before noting that such an offering from Cruz would likely be unwelcomed.
“Not that I believe they need it or they want it,” Cuomo said on NY1.
Cruz’s opponents labeled him a hypocrite, pointing to his indulgence for “New York money.”
“I’m sure he’s going to return all of the money, I’m always open to give him an education on what New York values are all about,” said Cuomo.
This is the same Cruz who voted against a Sandy relief bill in the wake of the devastating superstorm that slammed the region in 2012.
You can’t argue with Seth's #NewYorkValues. https://t.co/JG8mQOATIr #LNSM pic.twitter.com/0KT7IzGgsk
— Late Night (@LateNightSeth) January 15, 2016
.@BilldeBlasio: Cruz "owes the people of New York an apology" for #NewYorkValues comment https://t.co/6OZtrfIwim https://t.co/LFhpQsSBix
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) January 15, 2016
Don't disparage #NewYorkValues or we'll cut you.
— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) January 15, 2016
People who complain about #NewYorkValues are the same people who come to the city and only visit Times Square
— Mark S. Luckie (@marksluckie) January 15, 2016
