Sen. Ted Cruz "betrayed the trust" of his supporters and "lost his chance to be the leader of the conservative movement," conservative news site founder Richard Viguerie charges in a stinging rebuke of the
Texas Republican's endorsement snub of Donald Trump.
In a blunt takedown posted Thursday, the head of
Conservative HQ news site writes Cruz's decision "was not good for Ted Cruz, conservatives, Republicans, and America.
"Last night Ted Cruz pleased the 5 percent of #NeverTrump Republicans and disappointed and angered the vast majority in the conservative movement," Viguerie writes. "In doing so Ted Cruz lost his chance to be the leader of the conservative movement …"
Viguerie argues Cruz's speech "betrayed" his supporters.
"For those of us who endorsed Ted Cruz and worked for him in the Republican primaries, he betrayed the trust we gave him that he was a bigger man than his attackers and that there was a cause greater than self in the hard-fought battles of the Republican primaries," Viguerie writes.
"In his speech he laid out this case for forgiveness and greatness of heart that he then refused to embrace in his own life and political career."
He also denounced the Texas senator for "too clever by half word play" in his remarks urging voters to "vote your conscience.
"Everyone in the room and the millions of viewers at home immediately understood Senator Cruz was giving the #NeverTrump cabal, and those inclined to act on a false sense of righteousness, a dog whistle of permission to not vote for Donald Trump and Mike Pence," Viguerie writes.
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