I was not going to comment on this because I didn't want to amplify unsubstantiated rumors. But now that it's the top trending topic on social media, it's been discussed on cable news, I've been personally asked about it dozens of times, and Cruz himself has addressed it, I think there's nothing I can say that would amplify it anymore than it's already been amplified. So let me do my best to lend a little bit of sanity to the proceedings.
Yes, a National Enquirer report accuses Ted Cruz of being a serial adulterer who has carried on affairs with at least 5 women. The report does not name the women but it does describe them and provide blurred out pictures of their faces. "Detectives" on the internet spent all of last night matching the descriptions and the blurry photos with women that have worked for or with Cruz. Now at least 3 of the women implicated by the gossip rag are known, allegedly, and at least two of them have publicly denied it. Cruz has also publicly denied it. And that's where we are right now. I don't think the story is going away any time soon, mostly because a lot of people -- especially Trump supporters -- desperately want it to be true.
Now, here's what I'll say about all of this:
Nailed It!!
First point. In fairness, the Enquirer has been right in the past when they've uncovered the sexual escapades of public figures. John Edwards and Tiger Woods come to mind. The Enquirer had those stories first and it turned out they were 100 percent accurate. Moreover, if they made this story up, they just willfully put themselves in a position to be sued out of existence by a politician who, by the way, also happens to be a brilliant lawyer.
I will not, then, sit here and say the story CAN'T be true. I'm not going to be one of those political groupies who screams "Oh no, my Teddy would NEVER do that!" I don't know the guy from Adam. Just because a man says things you agree with doesn't mean he isn't guilty of terrible sins. He could put Bill Clinton to shame with the number of women he's bedded, for all I know. And for all YOU know, I could be a serial arsonist and puppy murderer. And for all I know, you could be a satanic cannibal. You don't know me, I don't know you, you only know what I say. And I could say a lot of true things and still be a scumbag. That's just the reality. Likewise, Cruz could say a lot of great conservative-sounding things and still be a philandering dead beat.
It's important to state that for the record, because you need to know that the rest of what I have to say doesn't come from a place of emotional attachment to, or blind trust in, a politician. I have been very consistent in my criticism of people who are mindlessly loyal to political candidates. I have no such loyalty, and if any politician I support is proven guilty of these kinds of things, I will drop them in a heartbeat. No hesitation.
OK, that's established.
Second point. Here's why I don't believe the reports right now. The National Enquirer has been right in the past, but they've been wrong MANY more times than they've been right. Just in the last few months this same publication has claimed Hillary Clinton is dying of brain cancer, Hillary Clinton has lesbian lovers, and Barack Obama has a harem of a dozen mistresses. They've implicated practically every famous politician in an affair at some point or another, and I'm sure some of them have had affairs, but the National Enquirer obviously has a long history of printing totally absurd and baseless rumors just to sell papers.
Importantly, the owner of the Enquirer is a very close, longtime friend of Donald Trump. They ran a hit piece on Carson right when Carson reached the top of the polls. Allegedly, Trump fed the story to them (so, again, great job endorsing this guy, Carson!). The only person quoted in the Enquirer piece is Roger Stone, a scummy political operative for Trump. The story was brought up on CNN this morning by a Trump surrogate. Trump's spokeswoman was implicated as one of Cruz's mistresses but when she denied it she still cast aspersions on the other women, saying, rather conspicuously, "I can only speak for myself. Carry on..."
In other words, this thing has Trump's dirty, stubby fingerprints all over it. No evidence. No proof. No named sources other than a Trump minion. This has the look, sound, and feel of a total hit job against Ted Cruz with Trump pulling the strings.
Third point. Trump's supporters don't care if this is true or not. They have spread these rumors as absolute fact, and even slandered innocent women in the process, with no concern as to the actual accuracy of any of it. I have said for a long time that Trump's supporters suffer from a severe character deficiency, and every day they only further confirm my thesis.
It is DESPICABLE to take an unsubstantiated rumor reported only in a gossip rag and spread it AS FACT in order to slander, defame, and destroy your political opponents. ANYONE who participates in this sort of thing is detestable beyond words. Even if it turned out to be true -- which I doubt it ever will be -- that still would not excuse or vindicate those who ran with slanderous gossip all because they wanted it to be true.
As it stands right now, at this juncture, not a single person on this planet aside from the principle people involved can make definitive statements about what is or isn't true with this story. But anyone with common sense would be leaning very strongly towards it not being true. If you have definitively decided it is true, and have proceeded to repeat it as definitive truth, you are behaving in a way that is, quite simply, evil. Again, that is STILL the case even if, by some crazy twist of fate, this ends up being a 1 in 90,000,000 story that the Enquirer gets right.
Fourth point. This story reminds us that people are bored, petty, and vindictive. The absolute glee with which many liberals and Trump fans (but I repeat myself) have reacted to this story should send chills right down to your soul. They're accepting an unsubstantiated smear as gospel because it plays to their prejudices, but they're also celebrating something that, if it were true, would mean the utter devastation of not only Cruz's family but the families of his alleged mistresses. So even if you believe it, to be happy about it is subhuman.
Fifth point. It's appropriate that this happens on Good Friday. Jesus died for our sins, and today we are shown again just how ugly our sins really are.
Sixth point. For the record, I am not actually an arsonist or a puppy murderer.
- Matt Walsh
