GOP lawmaker: Cruz walk off ‘outrageous’

Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) on Thursday characterized Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) as being deliberately confrontational before abruptly walking off the stage at an event meant to raise awareness for Christians in the Middle East. 

Cruz said some in the crowd the night before reacted with “bigotry and hatred” when he expressed his support for Israel early in his speech. 

{mosads}”I support Israel, but what Senator Cruz did was outrageous and incendiary,” Dent told The Washington Post. “He showed a true lack of sensitivity for the people he was speaking to, especially the religious leaders who were there. It was a political speech, inappropriate and, overall, an uncomfortable moment.”

Dent attended the event sponsored by the group In Defense of Christians. He said Cruz seemed to be speaking to another audience, speculating it might have been done to rally Tea Party activists. The group is aimed at advocating for Christians persecuted in the Middle East. 

“He was speaking to people outside of the building,” Dent said. “It was a willful and deliberate confrontation, and very self-serving.”

Cruz cut his remarks short after only a few minutes. In a statement issued near midnight, Cruz said he had been booed while expressing his strong support for Israel and the Jewish people. 

“I told the attendees that those who hate Israel also hate America, that those who hate Jews also hate Christians, and that anyone who hates Israel and the Jewish people is not following the teachings of Christ,” Cruz said. “These statements were met with angry boos.”

The Texas Republican then walked out after telling the audience he would not stand with them if they did not stand with the Jewish people.

“When I spoke in strong support of Israel and the Jewish people, who are being persecuted and murdered by the same vicious terrorists who are also slaughtering Christians, many Christians in the audience applauded,” Cruz said. “But, sadly, a vocal and angry minority of attendees at the conference tried to shout down my expression of solidarity with Israel.”

The organization said 17 other members of Congress spoke at the event to resounding support. However, a small anti-Israel element in the room heckled Cruz for not focusing his remarks on Christians.  

The organization said the hecklers did not represent its views and that a greater number of people were attempting to shout them down. 

“Senator Cruz abruptly ended his remarks accusing some participants of being ‘consumed with hate.’ That was as unfortunate as the inappropriate reaction by some attendees,” the group said in a statement. 

—Updated 5:50 p.m.