Cruz blames Waters, Booker for ‘actively encouraging’ political divide

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Wednesday blamed Democratic politicians for “encouraging” over-the-top political behavior and rhetoric, hours after authorities intercepted a series of suspicious packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN earlier in the day.

Cruz said on MSNBC’s “Meet the Press Daily” that all sides should tone down their rhetoric and disagree in a civil manner. When asked if President Trump could do more to aid that effort, Cruz shifted his focus to Democrats’ rhetoric.

“I think the media always focuses on on the president,” Cruz said. “There are too many Democratic politicians that are actively encouraging this.”

{mosads}The Texas senator then cited comments from Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), who in June urged supporters to confront Trump administration officials in public spaces.

Cruz singled out Waters hours after Capitol Police intercepted a suspicious package at a congressional mail-sorting facility addressed to her.

The Texas senator also highlighted remarks from Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who, in July, urged a nonprofit group in Washington, D.C., to “get up in the face of some congresspeople” rather than being passive about issues they care about.

Booker’s office has argued that right-wing outlets and conservative politicians have taken his remarks out of context.

Cruz added that both major parties need to do a better job of discouraging hostilities before quickly pivoting his attention to another prominent Democrat, former presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton.

“I thought it was unfortunate when Hillary Clinton said ‘we can be civil after the Democrats win. That’s wrong,” Cruz said, referencing comments from Clinton earlier this month.

WATCH: Sen. @TedCruz blames Maxine Waters, Cory Booker for political divide. #MTPDaily #MeetTheMidterms

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) tells Chuck that’ “too many” Democratic leaders are “actively encouraging” the political divide. pic.twitter.com/PT2ab4wYrl

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) October 24, 2018

The U.S. Secret Service said it intercepted a package earlier Wednesday addressed to Bill and Hillary Clinton’s New York home.

The package was similar to ones addressed to former President Barack Obama, CNN’s New York City offices, former Attorney General Eric Holder and billionaire Democratic donor George Soros.

Cruz condemned the threats, asserting that citizens should be able to disagree on substance without resorting to violence. 

“This has been a very divided time, a polarized time,” he said. “Violence is never okay, and it doesn’t matter where on the political spectrum it comes. These bombs that were apparently sent to Soros and Obama and Clinton, is deeply troubling. On its face it appears to be a terrorist act. I hope the person is caught, is prosecuted and goes to jail for a long, long time.”

Numerous Republicans and Democrats have called for an easing of political hostilities after Wednesday’s bomb threats, while simultaneously blaming the other side for inflaming tensions.

Democratic leaders pointed to Trump’s attacks of Democrats at campaign rallies and elsewhere, where he has labeled the Democratic Party an “angry mob,” and attacked news outlets as the “enemy of the people.”

Republicans have, in recent months, seized on protests from liberal activists, some of whom have confronted lawmakers in public, as a sign of deteriorating political discourse.