Rift erupts at Republican convention with boos: First for Trump, then for Cruz

By Alexander Panetta, The Canadian Press

The lingering tensions within the Republican party erupted on the floor of its national convention in a memorable spectacle of boos mixed with cheers as Sen. Ted Cruz dramatically refused to endorse the man who beat him for the nomination.

That tension escalated during a speech by the conservative firebrand as the crowd awaited that endorsement from the former grassroots favourite who finished No. 2 in the primary contest.

Cruz offered his congratulations to Donald Trump. He then proceeded to ignore the nominee through the rest of his speech, instead encouraging his legion of fans within the party to focus on fighting for their principles.

And then he lowered the boom.

“Vote your conscience,” he said, as the room erupted in jeers as pockets of people chanted, “We want Trump!”

“Vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution.”

As Cruz left the stage, his wife Heidi was reportedly escorted by security from the arena. Groups of delegates stood to applaud Cruz. Some online commentators lauded him as a man of principle.

But the building echoed in booing with an intensity that would have been unimaginable a few months ago for a candidate preferred by the party’s conservative base. It was foreshadowed earlier in the evening when popular radio talk-show host Laura Ingraham urged holdouts — like the Bushes, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, and Cruz — to fall in line: “Even all you boys with wounded feelings and bruised egos… you must honour your pledge to support Donald Trump now.”

But it wasn’t the only foreshadowing of the day.

In this divided party, the disdain cuts both ways. A crowd booed a reference to Trump, just as his plane was landing in Cleveland where he’ll be celebrated as the party’s presidential nominee on Thursday.

The audible protest rippled through a group of staunch conservatives gathered for a rally with Cruz, illustrating divisions over matters of policy substance and personal style.

Cruz was thanking his supporters and noted that their campaign had almost defeated 16 talented candidates but fell one short. He then said: “Our party now has a nominee,” and the crowd started booing.

Some chanted: “2020! 2020!” in the expectation Cruz will run again. One man mumbled of Trump: “He’s a Democrat.” One woman shouted: “New leaders in the RNC!”

The Republican National Committee went out of its way to avoid scenes like this on the convention floor, whipping up support against attempts to force a contested vote in full view of television audiences.

This solitary statement of anti-Trump dissent played out on a waterfront patio. Ironically it happened as Trump’s plane arrived. As the crowd booed, Cruz looked up and laughed when he realized who was buzzing by.

“That was pretty well-orchestrated,” said the Texas senator, as he called out to his campaign manager Jeff Roe.

“Jeff did you email them to fly the plane right when I said that?”

Those boos underscore more serious struggles ahead within the party — first, over whether it will turn out for Trump in November. Cruz hasn’t endorsed him yet, and has made it clear he won’t be doing so in the immediate future.

The differences between Cruz and Trump were based in personality and policy. The Texas senator originally cozied up to the billionaire businessman before the primaries, refusing to criticize him in the hope of winning his supporters later.

By the end of the race it was Trump retweeted an insult about Cruz’s wife’s physical appearance, fed unsubstantiated rumours about marital infidelity published in the National Enquirer, and suggested that Cruz’s father might have been connected to the Kennedy assassination.

But the differences were also substantive. Trump is less keen on social issues like abortion, same-sex marriage and transgender rights than Cruz.

Cruz’s former campaign manager said he’ll continue to fight for his issues — even if it ruffles the feathers of a candidate or president Trump.

“He would do that to anybody,” Jeff Roe said in an interview. “(Cruz) is not bashful. Where they align on issues, you won’t have a better ally. And when they’re opposed you won’t have a more vigorous opponent.”

Roe also suggested the Cruz faction’s position on Trump could shift. He said conservatives will be judging Trump by his actions.

“We have a nominee and people are looking to find ways to be supportive,” Roe said. “And (we’ll) see how he conducts the campaign. We have another 115 days to figure it out.”

The Canadian Press interviewed four of the staunch conservatives attending Cruz’s rally. Three said they will vote for Trump. One said he wasn’t sure, and wants to see how he behaves.

Only one said she was enthusiastic about Trump.


CityNews reporters Shauna Hunt and Avery Haines are in Cleveland covering the Republican national convention.

See their updates below.

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