Republican Sen. Ted Cruz said he walked out of a speech Wednesday night to a Christian organization after some audience members booed his comments in support of Israel and the Jewish people.
At the “In Defense of Christians” gala dinner, the Texas senator said he told the gathering that those who hate Israel also hate the United States and those who hate the Jewish people also hate Christians. He said that hatred of Israel and Jews runs counter to the teachings of Christians.
That elicited boos from a small but vocal minority. Cruz insisted that Christians in the Middle East have no better friend than Israel.
“After just a few minutes, I had no choice,” Cruz said. “I told them that if you will not stand with Israel, if you will not stand with the Jews, then I will not stand with you. And then I walked off the stage.”
Cruz, mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2016, called anti-Semitism a “corrosive evil” that reared its ugly head at the event.
“Tonight in Washington should have been a night of unity as we came together for the inaugural event for a group that calls itself ‘In Defense of Christians,” Cruz said. “Instead, it unfortunately deteriorated into a shameful display of bigotry and hatred.”
(AP)
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11 Responses
It was an organization of Middle Eastern Christians, who unlike that in American and Europe, preserve all the anti-semitism that has been part of Christianity in the past. The big events that “changed” things in the west (the exceptionalism of the United States with its embrace of religiousity combined with religious diversity, as well as the holocaust which serously affected western Christians as well), never affected the Middle East. Israel’s attempt to forge an alliance with middle eastern Christians has been a total flop.
Thank you Senator Cruz. How many of our Jewish senators would have the guts to do the same?
Can Yeshiva World please post a link in which we can express our hakoras hatov to the Senator? I think it is crucial that he receives some positive feedback from the Jewish community following this incident.
The Senator has a Facebook page, and can be emailed at http://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=email_senator.
Cruz talks the talk & walks the walk.
A great friend of the Jews & hopefully our next President.
I’m a US citizen living in Israel & I can’t use the website to express my appreciation – the required fields make it impossible as there is no option for living overseas. I hope at least he will know that come the 2016 election, many of us will be voting for him, should he run.
The article in the (politically conservative) Washington Times is a bit more informative than the AP story. Their story, not behind a paywall, is: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/sep/11/sen-ted-cruz-booed-stage-event-mideast-christians/
Hi. I just called the Senator’s office, reached someone right away and left a message with him for Senator Cruz. I explained that even though I’m not from Texas, but rather New York, I wanted to express my gratitude to the Senator for standing up for Israel, and the strong support he showed by walking out of his speech to demonstrate his support.
I think it would be good for others to call too (or email), as it shows our Hakoras Hatov for those who take unpopular stances in order to support us.
Senator Cruz’s Office – (512) 916-5834
http://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=general&id=23
Email – http://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=email_senator
Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders were just as strong in their defense of Israel to hostile crowds, and it was in front of their own voters. They agree with Cruz on basically nothing else.
Thank you Gog & Yossi1000 for posting his email.
I just sent Senator Cruz a nice email thanking him and giving him chizuk. I agree its a tremendous Kiddush Hashem that he should hear from Frum Yidden wherever they live. He should know that we share his values and we’re not like the Liberal Jews who bring shame to the name of God.