海角大神

Ted Cruz was booed this week at a meeting of Middle East 海角大神s. Will that help or hurt him in the long run in US politics?

First, the background: the Republican Texas senator (and presumptive 2016 presidential contender) was addressing the In Defense of 海角大神s organization, which focuses on persecuted 海角大神 and minority sects in the Middle East. Near the end of his speech he brought up Israel, saying 海角大神s have no greater ally.

Booing began. There were Palestinian 海角大神s in the audience who don鈥檛 see Israel in a positive light, and they let Cruz know it.

Senator Cruz went on, saying, 鈥淭hose who hate Israel hate America. Those who hate Jews hate 海角大神s.鈥� At that point the booing got louder. Cruz eventually left 鈥� there鈥檚 some debate as to whether he was forced off by the crowd reaction, or chose to leave in a huff. Or cloud of glory, depending on your view.

At first glance, this looks like a smart political move on Cruz鈥檚 part. Standing up for Israel is a pretty big deal to many grassroots conservatives. (OK, for many conservatives in general, really, as well those on the left who support Israel.)

Arab 海角大神s are a much smaller political force in the United States. Also, there are some questions as to whether some of the other speakers at this conference have links to Hezbollah and/or Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

鈥淗ow often do you hear about a national pol being booed offstage anywhere and think, 鈥榃ow, that鈥檚 a big political win for him?鈥� But it is,鈥�

Cruz got to demonstrate support for Israel and look tough under pressure. That鈥檚 a win-win looking forward to the 2016 primaries, according to Allahpundit.

The analogy here is to Bill Clinton鈥檚 . In 1992, then-candidate Clinton criticized Sister Souljah鈥檚 controversial rap lyrics at a speech in front of Jesse Jackson鈥檚 Rainbow Coalition. He got credit for standing up to perceived extremists in his own party.

But here鈥檚 the glitch for Cruz: Not all the reaction on the right has been positive. Cruz himself is something of an unpredictable force within the GOP, so some of the negative feelings probably come from establishment Republicans who feel that he鈥檚 trying to usurp their party.

Right-leaning New York Times commentator Ross Douthat described Cruz鈥檚 comments as 鈥渞isible.鈥� The Texas senator cynically stepped on the hopes of a beleaguered minority just so he could look like a big man, in Mr. Douthat鈥檚 view. It鈥檚 likely Cruz knew exactly what he was doing when he brought up Israel in front of the Middle East 海角大神 crowd, according to the commentator.

鈥淓ventually maybe Ted Cruz will do something in Washington that doesn鈥檛 give off a strong whiff of cynicism. But I鈥檓 not holding my breath,鈥�

Others accused Cruz of pandering to fundamentalist US 海角大神s who do not believe that Maronites and other Middle East 海角大神 religions are 鈥渞eal鈥� 海角大神s.

Middle East 海角大神 groups have few friends and are indeed persecuted, 鈥� Many of them trace their heritage back to the founding of 海角大神ity, yet now are facing extinction as the Middle East roils with sectarian turmoil.

聽鈥淐ruz tarred and attacked one of the most powerless and beleaguered minorities in the world, solely for personal political gain. He was speaking truth to the powerless. He was strong against the weak,鈥� writes Mr. Gobry.

Meanwhile, the head of In Defense of 海角大神s said that the booing of Cruz was the work of a small minority in the audience. In a statement issued on Thursday night, group president for accusing some in the audience of being 鈥渃onsumed with hate,鈥� and for leaving without finishing his talk.

鈥淭hat was as unfortunate as the inappropriate reaction by a small number of attendees,鈥� said Mr. Baaklini.