WASHINGTON — (CNN) Ted Cruz swatted away the idea that Donald Trump’s conversion to Republicanism was genuine, saying that Trump’s late-life change to conservatism was in no way similar to that of another former Democrat, Ronald Reagan.
“Ronald Reagan did not spend the first 60 years of his life supporting Democratic politicians, advocating for big government,” Cruz told reporters here, adding other examples, including “supporting things like the TARP big bank bailouts, supporting things like expanding Obamacare to turn it into socialized medicine. That’s not what Ronald Reagan did.”
Cruz, who has shed all caution about attacking Trump after months of playing nice, also continued to assail Trump’s giving history to Democrats — again using Reagan as a foil.
“I’m pretty sure that Ronald Reagan didn’t write a huge check to Rahm Emanuel in December 2010 — after, by the way, the big Tea Party wave,” Cruz said of the now-mayor of Chicago.
Cruz insists he will not turn the battle with Trump into a personal war, sticking closely to policy contrasts. And he offered another one here on Monday, pointing to his pledge to cancel the country’s nuclear accord with Iran — which Trump has said in the past that he merely wants to honor and improve.
“I disagree with Donald,” Cruz said. “We need a leader who is prepared to do what is ever needed to keep this country safe, and that typically doesn’t include spending your time on Twitter.”
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