The billionaire property tycoon's campaign has been accused of stirring up division, it's been compared with the rise of fascism in 20th century Europe, and it's causing a great deal of nervousness within the upper echelons of the GOP.
The Republican Party's 'Stop Trump' faction — comprised of a number of establishment figures — is far more than a mere fringe operation, and is spending millions of dollars on TV spots aimed at slowing the Trump bandwagon. If they are successful — and with all signs pointing towards a brokered convention, they probably will be — the inevitable upshot is a Ted Cruz candidacy.
A number of commentators however, have remarked that were it not for the shock factor of Donald Trump's campaign, his nearest rival — Ted Cruz — could be considered to be just as bad, if not worse than the controversial business tycoon. But who exactly is Ted Cruz? Well, here are 8 things you probably didn't know about the Texan Senator…
Support for Anti-Civil Rights Campaigners
The first political contribution Ted Cruz ever made in his life, he made to the late Jesse Helms, and he's proud of that fact. Helms famously supported the apartheid regime in South Africa, massively opposed the civil rights act, and called the University of North Carolina the "University of Negros and Communists."
Ted Cruz said he'd put Rosa Parks on the $20 dollar bill, but 100 Jesse Helms in the Senate. #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/Tt3Tr2MYbK
— Tea Pain (@TeaPainUSA) September 17, 2015
Associations With Extreme Homophobs
Last year, Cruz attended a conference in Iowa led by Pastor Kevin Swanson, a right-wing radio host who has — on a number of occasions — called for the execution of homosexuals who refuse to "repent."
Essentially Supports the Idea of a Theocracy
Ted Cruz has previously given tacit approval to the notion of the USA as a Christian theocracy, explicitly stating: "I'm a Christian first, American second".
"@imfabulous13: #ThingsLincolnDidntSay I'm a Christian first, American second. pic.twitter.com/lBF6pBDcYG" So, as POTUS, you'd put America 2nd
— R. H. Brotchner (@RHBrotchner) February 12, 2016
Wants to Assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader
Just as the diplomatic relationship between the USA and Iran is finally, slowly beginning to thaw, Cruz has signaled his willingness to assassinate Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying that he might "have to help introduce him to those 72 virgins".
There's nothing like a Texan saying "Ayatollah Khomeini". I giggle every time. I find it charming& also rewind worthy @tedcruz. #CruzCrew
— Kelli Hemstock (@godisapackerfan) March 22, 2016
@wolfblitzer Any chance we can ban @tedcruz from saying "Ayatollah Khomeini" until he learns how to pronounce it correctly?
— SK (@savannahyyc) March 22, 2016
Wants to Nuke the Middle East
We all know that Donald Trump favors torture methods like waterboarding, but less well known is Ted Cruz's desire to make Middle Eastern desert sands "glow in the dark," where he strongly implied a desire to nuke the region.
Cruz voted against federal funding in response to Hurricane Sandy — the deadliest and most destructive hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season — which was responsible for over US$70 billion worth of damage in the US alone. Last spring however, somewhat hypocritically, Cruz begged for similar funding when his home state of Texas was hit with severe floods.
Accuses Black Lives Matter of 'Celebrating the Murder of Police Officers'
Yes, Even Jimmy Carter Prefers the Through of Trump
Former Democratic President Jimmy Carter has said that he would prefer Donald Trump as the next Commander-in-Chief rather than Ted Cruz, whom he sees as being dangerously fixed in his opinions:
"I think I would choose Trump… which may surprise some of you, but the reason is Trump has proven already that he's completely malleable. I don't think he has any fixed opinions that he would really go to the White House and fight for."
So, as Americans — and international observers — look on with horror at the prospect of a Donald Trump nomination, many are starting to take comfort in the thought of a last minute Ted Cruz victory. For those who fear Trump's rhetoric though, this could be a case of be careful what you wish for.
On issue after issue, the Texan senator's platform is often no less conservative and no less divisive than those of his rival, and in many cases, more so.
