Cruz Repeats Biden Joke at GOP Event, Apologizes for Poor Timing
Like most politicians, Ted Cruz is fond of repeating good jokes and one-liners. On the campaign trail he’s made a few recurring cracks about Vice President Joe Biden that he repeated at a GOP event tonight:
"Vice President Joe Biden," @TedCruz says to faint laughter. "You know the nice thing? You don't need a punch line." #JoeBiden
— Chad Livengood (@ChadLivengood) June 3, 2015
The only problem with that joke is that the Biden family is currently in mourning over the death of Beau Biden, whose funeral services begin tomorrow.
Needless to say, Cruz got hammered on Twitter:
This has me absolutely livid. https://t.co/fArjNwZ660
— Graham Davis (@grahamdavis) June 3, 2015
His son hasn't even been buried. Stay classy, @tedcruz. https://t.co/a9fxmH349Z
— Lauren Miller (@laurenm) June 3, 2015
Sure, Biden might still be grieving over his son but in Cruz’s defense the line is just so original, funny & good https://t.co/XLJ1d2fcvw
— Elias Isquith (@eliasisquith) June 3, 2015
Reason 142,948 why Ted Cruz won't be president: No one on his team told him "Hey, don't make fun of Joe Biden days before he buries his son"
— Kyle Feldscher (@Kyle_Feldscher) June 3, 2015
Beau Biden isn't even buried yet. Ted Cruz is a subhuman ghoul. https://t.co/HIyz72Tvcy
— David Houston (@DavidHoustonVox) June 3, 2015
Ted Cruz making (old) Joe Biden jokes FOUR DAYS after his son died. Four days.
He's just a bad person.
— Jesse Berney (@jesseberney) June 4, 2015
The reporter above who tweeted about Cruz’s joke spoke with him afterwards. This is what happened:
I just asked @TedCruz for thoughts about @VP @JoeBiden losing his son @BeauBiden this week. "Heartbreaking and tragic," Cruz says.
— Chad Livengood (@ChadLivengood) June 4, 2015
.@TedCruz told me: "And our prayers are very much with Vice President Biden, with Jill. It's a tragedy no one should have to endure."
— Chad Livengood (@ChadLivengood) June 4, 2015
When I asked @tedcruz "why'd you tell a joke about the vice president tonight?" the Texas senator turned and walked away. #BeauBiden #netDE
— Chad Livengood (@ChadLivengood) June 4, 2015
But to his credit, Cruz soon issued this apologetic statement on Facebook:
It was a mistake to use an old joke about Joe Biden during his time of grief, and I sincerely apologize. The loss of his son is heartbreaking and tragic, and our prayers are very much with the Vice President and his family.
[image via screengrab]
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