July 5^th

Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press” today interviewed Ted Cruz at some length. The subject was primarily immigration and, more particularly, what Cruz thought of Donald Trump’s comments. So what did Cruz think of them? Well, Cruz thought that was a “divisive question.” He claimed that these were questions the press loved to ask because they were meant to divide the Republican Party and he, Cruz, wouldn’t play that game. Still he said, “I salute Donald Trump for focusing on this (immigration) issue.”

Todd asked him what should be done about illegal aliens already here, and again Cruz played “duck ‘n’ dodge.” Cruz first wanted to secure the borders first before any other issues could be addressed. A secure border that would completely satisfy Cruz is certainly years away; consequently Cruz will get a pass on answering any other questions about immigration. Thus has Senator Cruz given himself a pass on this issue.

Cruz insists that all immigrants must follow the rules required to get into the country or be deported. Well, maybe not all of them; his father fought for Castro and then bribed a Cuban official there to get a visa and a green card to get into the United States. He stayed a short while and then got into Canada as a political refugee and while there married an American woman. They came back into this country because after his marriage to an American citizen he was now at the head of the line. Eventually, in 2005 to be exact, Cruz’ father became a naturalized American citizen. We don’t know what Ted thinks of his father’s interesting and apparently reluctant route to citizenship; he doesn’t talk about it.

The panelists on “Meet the Press” have discussed the variety of reactions to Donald Trump’s comments among the Republican presidential candidates. They believe that the responses have not been helpful to the party’s chances to win the Latino vote in 2016. Even the few who disagreed with Trump delayed far too long in saying so. Jeb Bush whose wife was born in Mexico and who speaks fluent Spanish was, today, quoted as saying that Trump was outside the mainstream of the party and that he was personally offended by the remarks.  But others, Governor Christie, like Cruz, were reluctant to be critical of Trump.

Jeb Bush, if he gets the nomination, might be able to salvage some of the Latino vote. Ted Cruz, even with his Cuban ancestry, has little chance, particularly when he declines to be critical of Trump’s comments…but then maybe he will be after a satisfactory fence is built.