Ted Cruz Describes Alleged Planned Parenthood Shooter As ‘Transgendered Leftist Activist’
Source: Think Progress
Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz is the latest presidential candidate trying to downplay the role anti-abortion rhetoric may have played in motivating the Planned Parenthood shooting in Colorado Springs Friday afternoon. When a reporter asked him at an Iowa campaign stop Sunday evening about suspect Robert Lewis Dear saying he was motivated by no more baby parts, Cruz countered that hes also been reported to be a transgendered [sic] leftist activist.
Cruz explained, We know that he was a man registered to vote as a woman. This discrepancy on Dears voter registration was first reported by The Gateway Pundit, a self-described right-of-center news website, under the claim that he identifies as [a] woman. Conservatives have since run with the claim that Dear is transgender.
There is actually no evidence to suggest that he is transgender, nor a leftist, nor any kind of activist. In fact, all of the available information suggests he was none of those things.
As the New York Times explained, Dear was very much a recluse, the type that preferred to be left alone, living in various single-wide trailers and cabins since his divorce in 2000. Neighbors did not know him well, and if they did, its because he would lash out at them when they tried to interfere with his business, like reporting him for mistreating his dogs.
Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2015/11/29/3726311/ted-cruz-planned-parenthood-shooting-transgendered/
Seeing Trump thrive with the tinfoil hat GOP base with his "thousands and thousands" of celebrating NJ muslims claim, Canuck Cruz decides to get in on some of that making-up-your-own-facts and repeating-nonsense-from-rightwing-blogs action
What we up to now this cycle? Example #45,876 of things that would disqualify anyone in a sane party as a candidate?
uppityperson
(115,677 posts)virtualobserver
(8,760 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(101,316 posts)as well - that there are too many general election voters for whom an idiotic bit of trolling like that from Cruz is just "one way of looking at it" - that it's fine to take a tragedy, and twist it into a lie for party political reasons.
If it were only the Republican base, I think mass media would by now be pointing and laughing at Cruz, Carson and Trump, and saying they're no more 'presidential' than Vermin Supreme. But I think they feel there are a sizeable number of Americans who think this is suitable behaviour for a president.
IronLionZion
(45,442 posts)MosheFeingold
(3,051 posts)When I read the actual quote in the article, Cruz's point was there was a lot of conflicting information out there, not that the shooter actually was transgender.
Not as good a talking point as I hoped.
66 dmhlt
(1,941 posts)TED CRUZ:
When a reporter reminded Cruz it has been reported Dear made a comment about "baby parts" while being apprehended, Cruz retorted, "Its also been reported that he was registered as an independent and a woman and a transgendered leftist activist.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/11/29/cruz-the-colorado-shooter-may-have-been-a-transgendered-leftist-activist/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/11/30/ted-cruz-cites-reports-that-planned-parenthood-shooter-could-be-transgendered-leftist-activist-what/
http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/30/politics/ted-cruz-planned-parenthood-transgendered-leftist-activist/
MosheFeingold
(3,051 posts)Cruz is very, very clever. Read EXACTLY what he said (below). What he said is technically true, but leaves a false impression (which is what you are hearing):
"The media promptly wants to blame him on the pro-life movement when, at this point, theres very little evidence to indicate that, Cruz said Sunday at a campaign stop in Newton, Iowa. He added that its also been reported that he was registered as an independent and a woman and a transgendered leftist activist. If thats what he is, I dont think its fair to blame
the rhetoric on the left. This is a murderer.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/11/30/ted-cruz-cites-reports-that-planned-parenthood-shooter-could-be-transgendered-leftist-activist-what/?hpid=hp_rhp-top-table-main_fix-cruz-shooting-135pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory
If you follow the exact wording, what he is saying is "there are a lot of inconsistent reports about the killer. It doesn't matter. He's a murderer."
In a vacuum, that's a reasonable sentiment. But of course, his intent is to leave the impression that he was a transgender -- but giving himself ample room to distance himself from that position.
He did the same thing with the "most convicted felons are Democrats" line yesterday -- again, a technically true statement, but calculated to mislead with the idea that "Democrats are mainly felons."
Cruz was a very, very successful lawyer and uses words like a scalpel. He is playing the media very well.
66 dmhlt
(1,941 posts)MosheFeingold
(3,051 posts)I have been involved in campaigns (overwhelmingly for Democrats)for over 50 years.
Ascertaining the strengths of your opponent is an essential aspect of an effective campaign.
Putting your fingers in your ears and going "nah nah nah" when your opponent speaks teaches nothing about how he operates and is something my 6 years old great-great granddaughter would do.
Kingofalldems
(38,456 posts)What report ever claimed he was a left wing activist?
MosheFeingold
(3,051 posts)Note the use of passive voice by Cruz "a report says. . . "
Now, the report could be (and was) nonsense, but Cruz is very careful to not endorse the report.
He delivers his lie without being called on it.
roguevalley
(40,656 posts)what a sorry assed imbecile
houston16revival
(953 posts)It's like they're testing the credibility bridge to see what they can get away with
We all know where lies lead
Chakab
(1,727 posts)won't call them on their shit.
geomon666
(7,512 posts)And only a leftist would shoot up a clinic. Is it too late for Canada to take this fucking monster back?
darkangel218
(13,985 posts)Canada is probably counting its blessings that the nut left.
ProfessorGAC
(65,042 posts)You said what i was thinking. A transgendered guy who identifies as a woman can't even bother to shave the beard? I'm not an expert on TG folks, knowing only a couple in my whole life, but they didn't have beards. They were very careful about their appearance.
City Lights
(25,171 posts)Own him.
lastlib
(23,226 posts)This killer is as much her spawn as his. THEY, and those who do not disavow them, own the fucker lock, stock, and barrel!
City Lights
(25,171 posts)SoapBox
(18,791 posts)And will ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, NPR, PBS cover this...and call it out for the nutso speech it is?
Of course not.
So lame MSM, you ALSO own him.
Alison Hartson
(39 posts)No sighting of this on major outlets. Maybe they're trying to decide how to spin the story or if they can in fact bury it with the rest. Gross.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Means he is a right wing terrorist. I just don't know why RW TP can't say Right Wing Terrorists.
Roy Rolling
(6,917 posts)Leftist: someone who wants to be left alone
valerief
(53,235 posts)anyone who doesn't pray to baby parts.
Jack Rabbit
(45,984 posts)Questions for Senator Cruz:
- If Planned Parenthood promotes abortion, and abortion is a left wing thing, then why would a "leftist" want to shoot up a PP clinic?
- It seems that the bad publicity that PP is getting nowadays is basically a campaign of lies from right wing sources, so wouldn't it stand to reason that an armed and unbalanced individual creating mayhem with a firearm in a women's health clinic is under the influence that campaign?
- THere is no evidence that Mr. Dear is transgender, but even if that were true, what does it have to do with his shooting up a PP clinic?
I'm afraid that Senator Cruz would have some answers, but I'm also afraid that they are as bizarre as everything else he's said on the subject this weekend.
MillennialDem
(2,367 posts)I can't tell you how often that happened to me before I transitioned and no intent to change (though my birth name was very androgynous was part of it).
Grassy Knoll
(10,118 posts)Don't Forget To Try The Veal, It's The Best In The City!!!!
Feeling the Bern
(3,839 posts)progree
(10,907 posts)or something like that, I'd guess, once you think about it some ... think outside the box, youknow ... and get into his mind and all that or somesuch
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Oldtimeralso
(1,937 posts)gembaby1
(253 posts)Considering where he grew up, an immigrant-hating southern white supremacist is exactly what he is. Sorry he wasn't here long enough to be a true Canadian.
DhhD
(4,695 posts)hide the facts. I am just waiting to see family members of the victims call out the RW Fundies on their hate speech and lying videos. Carly Fiorina should close her campaign, take her lying video message, and go home.
Keep in mind that Teddy tried to shut down the government several weeks ago over the lying videos about PP, by Senior Senators would not allow Cruz to cause that much trouble.
In my opinion, Texas R-Cruz is a sorry excuse for a Senator.
rusty quoin
(6,133 posts)moondust
(19,981 posts)Two days to fabricate a remotely believable scapegoat and that's the best he can do?
BlueStater
(7,596 posts)You've got some competition for the disgusting bigot vote.
phleshdef
(11,936 posts)I'm a dude. Mistakes like that are made.
Zorra
(27,670 posts)Voter Name: ROBERT LEWIS DEAR JR
Residential Address: (Redacted by Poster), HARTSEL, CO, 80449 Change my address
Address: (Redacted by Poster), HARTSEL, CO, 80449, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Birth Year: 1958
Registration Information
Voter Id: 601010372
Registration Status: Active
Date of Registration: 10/17/2014
Party Affiliation: Unaffiliated Change party affiliation
Date of Affiliation: 10/17/2014
https://www.sos.state.co.us/voter-classic/pages/pub/olvr/findVoterReg.xhtml
It appears that in Colorado, since 2012, reporting gender on Voter Registration Forms is optional.
(2) In addition,
each eligible elector shall be asked, and the elector shall correctly answer,
the following:
(d) The elector's gender, IF THE ELECTOR WISHES TO STATE IT;
http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2012a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/70A30B8A18CAA52E87257981007F557C?open&file=1292_enr.pdf
Matariki
(18,775 posts)Their crazy ass base just repeats the lies they're told and then ruins holiday meals for the saner members of their families.
Warpy
(111,257 posts)Obviously, he's hoping his dimwit supporters only hear a string of bad words they can attribute to non Cruz supporters.
Sadly, he's probably right about that. You have to be a rare kind of stupid to support Ted Cruz for anything.
mwb970
(11,359 posts)He looks even more like a woman in the picture accompanying this post than he usually does. He also often reminds me of an evil marionette in a Stephen King novel.
gembaby1
(253 posts)Exactly what does being born in Canada have anything to do with Ted Cruz's insane rants? Oh yeah, absolutely nothing since he was here all of 3 years and spent the rest of his life in The United States of America. Your country raised him to be what he is but because of that Canadian birth this makes you feel better about yourselves as if that were really the problem.
Idk, what makes it ok to dump on people because of their birth identity. You certainly would not be doing this if he were black, a Jew, etc.
mwb970
(11,359 posts)I was speaking tongue-in-cheek to emphasize his otherness and to mock people who are "birthering" him. This seems to have gone over your head. Did you not detect the ironic nature of my entire comment?
I get a bellyful of people taking ironic or satirical comments at face value and becoming outraged when I spar with right-wingers in the comment sections on news sites. Never expected it on DU. Maybe times have changed.
gembaby1
(253 posts)That man is as far away from even a right-wing Canuck. I thought because this thread was a discussion on Ted Cruz's crazy rant that, you know, you should be talking about Ted Cruz's crazy rant.
Bringing up that he's Canadian is kind of irrelevant.
I really don't care about your birther "joke" as I find the very idea of disqualifying someone for being president because of being born some place else is ludicrous. I will never understand that one piece of xenophobia you guys have enshrined in law. My country doesn't do that. You can be prime minister whether you were born here or elsewhere as long as you have Canadian citizenship.
mwb970
(11,359 posts)It was a JOKE. Calm down. Move on.
Vinca
(50,271 posts)JEB! checked that box on a form he filled out. It's much more likely terrorist Dear is an ignorant numbnuts who put an "X" in the wrong box. As for being leftist, that's a real stretch. I haven't run into any lefties trying to close Planned Parenthood.
marble falls
(57,081 posts)many reasons I'm leaving Texas. Cruz self identifies as human, but not very well.
Javaman
(62,530 posts)moron.
sinkingfeeling
(51,457 posts)me wrong, Ted!
Vogon_Glory
(9,117 posts)The people who went to the polls and voted for Ted Cruz showed a serious lapse of judgment. It was clear from the time of the 2012 Texas Republican primaries that Ted Cruz was way out there, and there was no reason to believe otherwise when the time came to vote in the fall of 2012.
The voters of Texas replaced Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Republican who would vote at least once in a while for the interests of the people of Texas, despite her being a right-wing Republican, with an ideologue whose rhetoric and actions appear increasingly detached from the real world.
I voted for Democrat Paul Sadler in 2012, and despite the fact he probably wouldn't have passed the ideological purity tests of DU's more leftish members, Mr. Sadler would have been a far better representative of the people of Texas and a far better guardian of the interests of the people of Texas than the grandstanding ideologue that ideologues and lazy-minded Texas voters elected in 2012.
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)I had a lapse in judgement buying jeans online remembering that times have changed over the decade and skinny jeans are all the rage now. At least I can return them.
The people who voted for Cruz knew what they were getting! They were so afraid of losing their guns and their very warped version of God that they were willing to vote against their best interest in things like good-paying jobs and affordable healthcare.
tclambert
(11,086 posts)Who will call him on his bull shit? Only liberal fact-checkers. You know how you can tell they're liberal? Because they're fact-checkers. Only liberals bother to check facts.
By the way, why does Robert Lewis Dear look so surprised in his mug shot?
Response to Adenoid_Hynkel (Original post)
Zorra This message was self-deleted by its author.
George II
(67,782 posts)LynneSin
(95,337 posts)The beard should be a dead giveaway that Ted Cruz is full of shit.
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)niyad
(113,303 posts)niyad
(113,303 posts)Steviehh
(115 posts)And a Democrat. LOL LOL LOL.
GOLGO 13
(1,681 posts)Not proud of their Christian Death Cult Super-hero are they?
Blue Owl
(50,373 posts)kiva
(4,373 posts)A day or so after the shootings someone posted here that there was what looked like official state records that listed Dear as female on the birth certificate. It only took a few minutes for another DUer to note that the website wasn't a state site but instead a genealogy website where someone had apparently made a typo while entering information...of course DUers are much smarter that Cruz, but wouldn't you think he'd have figured it out by now?
MosheFeingold
(3,051 posts)At the state DMV and voter registration, both of which listed this guy as a woman, for reasons unknown, presumably a typo.
kiva
(4,373 posts)Thanks for the info
Zorra
(27,670 posts)logged into a computer, Parsell added."
Although Dear clearly identified himself as a man, the information was incorrectly logged into a computer, Parsell added.
"Our employee inadvertently clicked on 'female' and gave the confirmation to Mr. Dear to review," he said. "He missed it and signed it."
Thirteen days later, Dear received the erroneous driver's license in the mail. Records show he traveled to a Department of Motor Vehicles office in Salida to report the error and request a corrected license, which he received, Parsell said.
http://gazette.com/clerical-glitch-causes-speculation-about-colorado-springs-shooting-suspects-gender-identity/article/1564656
Response to Adenoid_Hynkel (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
tabasco
(22,974 posts)"Obama loving liberal homosexual atheist hippies!"