#NewYorkValues: NYC slams Cruz over debate comment
Ted Cruz is in hot water after he attempted to disqualify Donald Trump during the GOP presidential debate by criticizing his “New York values.” Outraged residents of Big Apple are having none of it, stirring up social media with #NewYorkValues.
During Thursday night’s debate in North Charleston, South Carolina, the senator from Texas went after the New York City billionaire by saying that “not a lot of conservatives come out of Manhattan.” New Yorkers are “socially liberal, are pro-abortion, are pro-gay marriage, are focused on money," Cruz said.
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Insulted by Cruz’s comments, Trump described New York as a “great place” with “wonderful people.”
“When the World Trade Center came down, I saw something that no place on earth could have handled more beautifully, more humanely than New York,” Trump continued, to applause. “We rebuilt downtown Manhattan, and everybody in the world watched, and everybody in the world loved New York, and loved New Yorkers.”
Trump’s defense of New York won him grudging approval from the city’s liberal mayor Bill deBlasio.
There is ONE thing I agree with @realDonaldTrump on: his love for NYC. Appreciated his tribute to our city's heroic response to terrorism.
— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) January 15, 2016The liberal New York Daily News did not mince words in responding to Cruz.
If you're unclear about what #NewYorkValues are, the @NYDailyNews printed a helpful reminder on the front page today pic.twitter.com/8lcM0y3Bfj
— Michael Graham (@IAMMGraham) January 15, 2016Within hours, angry New Yorkers were taking to social media, and the hashtag #NewYorkValues was trending just below the one dedicated to pop star Justin Bieber.
"Never pick a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel." - Mark Twain
#NewYorkValuespic.twitter.com/lnhydTEiTd
— Stephen Carter (@jstephencarter) January 15, 2016Residents of Big Apple described what they meant by New York values, some humorously.
Strength, ambition, and an eternal willingness to take public transit. #NewYorkValuespic.twitter.com/OM5QGDjEb8
— Jennifer Wright (@JenAshleyWright) January 15, 2016Love. Tolerance. Curiosity. Passion. A capacity to seek out different ways of being and understand them. #newyorkvalues
— Michele Kennedy (@mishabellavoce) January 15, 2016Several celebrity New Yorkers also got into the fray.
#NewYorkValuespic.twitter.com/kTIwxW5607
— mia farrow (@MiaFarrow) January 15, 2016Hey @tedcruz remember that time when you pissed off 8 million of the worlds most aggressively accomplished people? They will. #NewYorkValues
— Justin Guarini (@JustinGuarini) January 15, 2016Some New Yorkers wondered if Cruz's words were "dog-whistling" for anti-Semitism.
"He means Jewish." #NewYorkValues#GOPDebatepic.twitter.com/YkIetxeKnn
— Andy Noel (@asnoel) January 15, 2016Did anyone else think of the West Wing pilot ("she meant Jewish") when Cruz made that comment about "New York values"?
— Marjorie Romeyn (@marjorieromeyn) January 15, 2016Others were quick to note that Cruz wasn't squeamish about taking loans from New York bankers "focused on money."
The part of New York @tedcruz values: Shopping at @GoldmanSachs. #NewYorkValuespic.twitter.com/XiR7FOAKQm
— Scott Wooledge (@Clarknt67) January 15, 2016And just like that, in one sentence, Cruz made Trump a New York darling - and lost himself Big Apple.
