Sen. Ted Cruz slammed CNN for attacking his fellow GOP senator, Martha McSally, after she referred to one of the network’s reporters as a “liberal hack.”
The Texas Republican blasted CNN host Chris Cuomo in particular after Cuomo aired a segment critical of McSally, 53, which called her comment a “pathetic” stunt and a symbol of her “sworn fealty” to President Trump.
“NY Dem royalty Chris Cuomo declares ‘I can’t believe people would vote for’ McSally, or McConnell, or any GOP candidate. Clutching his pearls, in the very same breath, he says he can’t understand why anyone might think CNN are liberal hacks,” Cruz, 49, tweeted on Friday.
“Pro tip: real ‘journalists’ don’t (1) kiss up to every Dem, (2) refuse to ask them hard Qs, (3) relentlessly attack every Republican, (4) lie when doing so & (5) always, always push the prevailing Dem narrative of the moment. You know this, as does [CNN reporter Manu Raju]. You just choose not to,” he concluded.
Pro tip: real “journalists” don’t (1) kiss up to every Dem, (2) refuse to ask them hard Qs, (3) relentlessly attack every Republican, (4) lie when doing so & (5) always, always push the prevailing Dem narrative of the moment. You know this, as does Manu. You just choose not to.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 17, 2020
[Opinion: Martha McSally takes a cheap shot at CNN reporter]
McSally called CNN reporter Manu Raju, 39, a “liberal hack” on Thursday after he confronted the Arizona Republican and asked her if the Senate in its trial should consider new evidence against President Trump not initially included in the articles of impeachment passed by the House.
“Manu, you’re a liberal hack. I’m not talking to you,” McSally responded.
The exchange caused a ruckus at CNN as multiple anchors weighed in to defend Raju and slam McSally, characterizing her comments as an unfair attack on the press. McSally used the moment, captured by CNN’s television cameras, to raise money from her supporters.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m not in the Senate to play politics, especially with liberal hacks who profit off of spin,” McSally said in a fundraising email sent later in the day. “I’m in the Senate to fight for all Arizonans, not play games with the left-wing media.”
McSally was appointed to her seat by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to replace former Sen. John Kyl, who resigned before his term was up. She was sworn into office in January 2019.
