Cruz/Trump insult each other's wives (and all women)

[shortstax]

My title, clearly...

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www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/03/22/donald-trump-just-threatened-to-spill-the-beans-on-ted-cruzs-wife/

Within a matter of seconds on Tuesday night, Donald Trump tweeted — and deleted — an apparent threat involving Ted Cruz’s wife.

This was the tweet, captured automatically by The Fix’s internal chat software:



“Wow Sen. Ted Cruz,” it read, “that is some low-level ad you did using a picture [of] Melania in a G.Q. shoot. Be careful or I will spill the beans on your wife.”

Within a few minutes, he tweeted a new version with the same not-so-veiled threat.


The tweet appears to be a reference to an ad that is not from Cruz but from an anti-Trump group. As BuzzFeed reported on Monday, the group, Make America Awesome, is running ads targeting Mormon voters in Tuesday’s Utah primary.

Among the ads is this one:

 


It is indeed from a 15-year-old photo shoot for GQ magazine, which included Melania Trump posing inside Trump’s private jet.

It’s not clear why Trump deleted the tweet in the first place, though he’s been known to delete tweets with typos — which the initial tweet had — and replace them.


It's also not clear what “beans” there are to spill on Cruz’s wife, Heidi. Heidi Cruz left a job at Goldman Sachs to support Ted Cruz’s presidential bid, and her struggle with depression (and one acute episode in particular) have been previously reported. Trump consistently brags about having done no polling, and it’s not clear that his team has done basic opposition research, so the odds are decent that the apparent threat may be nothing more than something Trump heard.

Trump hasn’t been shy about looping spouses into his political attacks. Earlier this year, he criticized Bill Clinton’s transgressions while in office, as a response to Hillary Clinton’s comments about Trump’s treatment of women. He’s also been known to cast vague charges at his opponents, so there may be no beans at all. If past practice is any guide, we can expect this topic to come up again, soon.

Update:

Cruz’s campaign responded shortly after the tweet, calling Trump a “coward” and “#classless,” and noting his campaign wasn’t behind the ad.



Make America Awesome’s Liz Mair tweeted that Trump had been attacking Heidi Cruz “for weeks.”


This appears to be a reference to the depressive episode mentioned above, when police in Austin encountered Heidi Cruz by the side of a highway, distraught.


(Very typically for a political consultant, she also took credit in advance for a bad performance on Tuesday night by Trump.)

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Sorry, there's a bunch of tweets in the article that I can't seem to copy. 

ETA - I decided to edit out the pic in case you're GBCNing from work. Not because it's inappropriate for a FLOTUS.  She's gorgeous, but you all knew that.

[summer]

The minute anybody tries to talk about Michelle, I will start taking off my jewelry and greasing my face.

[WanderingWinoZ]

just when i think trump couldn't be more of a d-bag.

That pic/meme is pretty damn trashy....I don't fault her for it, tons of women do taht sort of thing. It's just not behavior we'd typically expect of a FLOTUS

[aurora]

I know not to take my private fights to personal media. Why don't the Pres candidates?

[shortstax]

Mar 23, 2016 7:32:36 GMT -5 aurora said:

I know not to take my private fights to personal media. Why don't the Pres candidates?

Well, I have a feeling that Trump spouting off a low-blow will actually be viewed as as "positive" from his supporters.  (Look at him, he's not some filtered politician, he doesn't care about being PC, blah blah blah.)

However, I can't imagine Cruz's main followers feel the same about him.  But maybe I'm wrong--or naiive. 

[isabel]

So, not only is he a racist, misogynistic, bigoted asshole, but he also picks on people dealing with mental illness? Cool. Such a stand up guy.

[MrsAxilla]

Lol that the superPAC behind the ad is called "Make America Awesome".

[iammalcolmx]

Mar 23, 2016 6:05:37 GMT -5 summer said:

The minute anybody tries to talk about Michelle, I will start taking off my jewelry and greasing my face.

CHILE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nikki25]

Mar 23, 2016 11:23:22 GMT -5 Dig Ophelia said:

Mar 23, 2016 11:10:39 GMT -5 isabel said:

So, not only is he a racist, misogynistic, bigoted asshole, but he also picks on people dealing with mental illness? Cool. Such a stand up guy.

I expect nothing less.  Just another tick on the list.  

Didn't he already insult people with physical aliments/disabilities? 

Yup. He mocked the reporter with a disability.

[heyjude]

I don't like Liz Mair. She's the one who came up with the super low Melania meme.

[debatethis]

Mar 23, 2016 11:39:36 GMT -5 Dig Ophelia said:

Mar 23, 2016 11:36:51 GMT -5 nikki25 said:

Yup. He mocked the reporter with a disability.

Ugh, I remember that now.  Who's next?  Lepers?  Blind children?  Puppies with only three legs?

John McCain. 

He's not next, but he has also been mocked due to his physical disabilities. You know, the ones he received because of torture as a POW.

[mbcdefg]

Mar 23, 2016 11:36:51 GMT -5 nikki25 said:

Mar 23, 2016 11:23:22 GMT -5 Dig Ophelia said:

I expect nothing less.  Just another tick on the list.  

Didn't he already insult people with physical aliments/disabilities? 

Yup. He mocked the reporter with a disability.

I have an IL with a pretty severe disability who supports Trump. Took everything I had not to pull up that video and ask what he thought of that.

[nikki25]

Mar 23, 2016 12:11:02 GMT -5 Dig Ophelia said:

Mar 23, 2016 11:47:40 GMT -5 debatethis said:

John McCain. 

He's not next, but he has also been mocked due to his physical disabilities. You know, the ones he received because of torture as a POW.

Goodness.  I'm almost out of words for how loathsome that man (Trump) is.  

He criticized John McCain to the effect he wasn't a real solider because he was captured.

He was tortured and held captive for 5 years I believe? Listen, I am not necessarily a fan of McCain but you cannot doubt he went through horrible things and is a true hero.

[miniroller]

Mar 23, 2016 12:47:55 GMT -5 Dig Ophelia said:

Mar 23, 2016 12:39:42 GMT -5 nikki25 said:

He criticized John McCain to the effect he wasn't a real solider because he was captured.

He was tortured and held captive for 5 years I believe? Listen, I am not necessarily a fan of McCain but you cannot doubt he went through horrible things and is a true hero.

Agree.  I've never been a fan of McCain's either but mocking the man for his disabilities or minimizing what he went through is just beyond the pale.  

But so is Trump.  He's just one big festering pimple on the ass of society.  

SOOOOO incredibly humiliating that he is a top nominee to be leader of my nation

Why don't people get this?!? Why are people attracted to this?!? I am seriously not in complete disagreement with a call for national division/ separation/ splitting should this nightmare become reality.

[jeaniebueller]

Mar 23, 2016 12:39:42 GMT -5 nikki25 said:

Mar 23, 2016 12:11:02 GMT -5 Dig Ophelia said:

Goodness.  I'm almost out of words for how loathsome that man (Trump) is.  

He criticized John McCain to the effect he wasn't a real solider because he was captured.

He was tortured and held captive for 5 years I believe? Listen, I am not necessarily a fan of McCain but you cannot doubt he went through horrible things and is a true hero.

I believe his exact quote was that John McCain was a loser because he was captured because Trump "doesn't like people who are captured." True story. HOnestly, my 7 year old thinks with more logic than this.

[gretchenindisguise]

Ok, so I don't like Cruz and hate defending him - but it wasn't actually his campaign that insulted Trump's wife, right?

[cattledogkisses]

I feel for Heidi that her medical history is being dissected in the media. Not only is it incredibly invasive to her, but acting like mental illness is something to be mocked does a huge disservice to other people who are struggling.

Likewise, I find it reprehensible that someone would use Melania's career to try to slut-shame her. That also does a disservice to others.

And that's as close as I'll ever get to saying something nice about either of those guys. Blech.

[nikki25]

Mar 23, 2016 12:08:04 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

Mar 23, 2016 11:36:51 GMT -5 nikki25 said:

Yup. He mocked the reporter with a disability.

I have an IL with a pretty severe disability who supports Trump. Took everything I had not to pull up that video and ask what he thought of that.

I only liked ( your post) to know I read your reply. Unbelievable.

[nikki25]

Mar 23, 2016 13:30:57 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

I feel for Heidi that her medical history is being dissected in the media. Not only is it incredibly invasive to her, but acting like mental illness is something to be mocked does a huge disservice to other people who are struggling.

Likewise, I find it reprehensible that someone would use Melania's career to try to slut-shame her. That also does a disservice to others.

And that's as close as I'll ever get to saying something nice about either of those guys. Blech.

I didn't see the ad but find it hilarious that his wife and her family are immigrants! She became legal with the help of her modeling agency and now husband of course. Like wtf?

But, again, I don't believe he believes the shit he is saying. It doesn't make it right but he is smart and feeds off the feedback.

[cattledogkisses]

Mar 23, 2016 13:28:44 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

Ok, so I don't like Cruz and hate defending him - but it wasn't actually his campaign that insulted Trump's wife, right?

No, it was apparently created by a woman who sees nothing wrong with shaming Melania for modeling in less clothing than she deems appropriate. 

[WanderingWinoZ]

Trump responded with his own comparison- can somebody insert this pic? www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2016/03/24/trump_mocks_ted_cruz_for_not_having_a_trophy_wife.html

[readyin07]

Mar 24, 2016 13:31:47 GMT -5 WanderingWinoZ said:

Trump responded with his own comparison- can somebody insert this pic? www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2016/03/24/trump_mocks_ted_cruz_for_not_having_a_trophy_wife.html

The fact that Trump retweeted this is fucking disgusting. I cannot believe anyone thinks this is ok.

Obviously I think the meme with Melania is just as horrible, but it didn't come from Cruz's campaign.

[ESF]

Mar 23, 2016 13:28:44 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

Ok, so I don't like Cruz and hate defending him - but it wasn't actually his campaign that insulted Trump's wife, right?

Yeah, it was a super pac, which isn't legally able to be able to coordinate with the campaigns themselves. So I have a hard time holding Cruz responsible. What I don't know is if Cruz condemned the ad, if he didn't, and just pointed fingers, that's flame-worthy.


This entire fight is so gross. Trump escalating by re-tweeting that comparison photo is horrendous. I cannot believe people want this man to be president. I cannot believe we might be looking at a general election campaign with this shit for brains. It just makes me sad.

[aurora]

Mar 24, 2016 13:31:47 GMT -5 WanderingWinoZ said:

Trump responded with his own comparison- can somebody insert this pic? www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2016/03/24/trump_mocks_ted_cruz_for_not_having_a_trophy_wife.html

I am really disgusted that Trump retweeted this. Sure, be happy with your wife. But don't f-ing disparage your competitor's wife's looks.

[jamich]

I loathe this asshole.
I still can't believe he has gotten this far in the campaign.
It scares me that he may actually become president.

[WanderingWinoZ]

Mar 24, 2016 14:24:43 GMT -5 aurora said:

Mar 24, 2016 13:31:47 GMT -5 WanderingWinoZ said:

Trump responded with his own comparison- can somebody insert this pic? www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2016/03/24/trump_mocks_ted_cruz_for_not_having_a_trophy_wife.html

I am really disgusted that Trump retweeted this. Sure, be happy with your wife. But don't f-ing disparage your competitor's wife's looks.

Or take the best pic of one woman and compare it to the worst of another woman's...

Oh and stop using women's looks as a pissing contest!!!!!

[laurenpetro]

I so very desperately want someone to mention that this is his eleventy-th wife somehow. I'm not sure why, I just do.

[shortstax]

Mar 24, 2016 13:31:47 GMT -5 WanderingWinoZ said:

Trump responded with his own comparison- can somebody insert this pic? www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2016/03/24/trump_mocks_ted_cruz_for_not_having_a_trophy_wife.html

I'm legitimately at a loss for words.

[cattledogkisses]

Mar 24, 2016 14:29:09 GMT -5 WanderingWinoZ said:

Mar 24, 2016 14:24:43 GMT -5 aurora said:

I am really disgusted that Trump retweeted this. Sure, be happy with your wife. But don't f-ing disparage your competitor's wife's looks.

Or take the best pic of one woman and compare it to the worst of another woman's...

Oh and stop using women's looks as a pissing contest!!!!!

Yeah, when you put a professionally styled, posed, and photoshopped picture next to an unflattering candid photo of course one is going to look better. 

Not it that any of this matters since, last I checked, the nominee isn't chosen by who has the "hotter" spouse. This isn't Miss USA, Drumpf. 

[lurkingaw]

What's most absurd is that Mrs. Cruz is not unattractive. I think she's pretty (obviously that's a bad picture, but I'm sure those exist for Mrs. Trump too). And she's educated and accomplished.

The whole thing is gross. What's next, Donald? Memes making fun of the Cruz kids? Disgusting!