Ted Cruz is used to the media constantly bashing him, but Mark Halperin took it to a whole new level when he pressed Cruz on his Cuban bonafides, even asking him to name his favorite Cuban musician. Cruz handled it perfectly, with dignity and grace - check out the clip and Glenn’s reaction on radio today.
Watch:
MARK: Senator, people are really interested in you and your identity. So I just want to ask you as a historical matter, when you filled out your application to Princeton, to Harvard Law School, did you list yourself as a Hispanic?
TED: Oh, sure. I've listed myself as Cuban American. That's -- that's my heritage and my background.
MARK: Okay. In the following categories, whether you have an infinity for or a connection to anything part of your Cuban past. Do you have a favorite Cuban food, Cuban dish?
TED: Oh, I grew up eating Cuban food all the time. My grandparents --
MARK: What's your favorite dish?
TED: Piccarillo (phonetic).
GLENN: [buzz] Sorry!
MARK: Do you have a favorite Cuban singer?
TED: I have to admit. In that, I'm much more of a Texan. I tend to listen to country music more than Cuban music.
MARK: Finally, we wanted to give you the opportunity to directly welcome your colleague, Senator Sanders to the race. And I'd like you to do it, if you would, in Espanol.
TED: I'll stick to English, but I appreciate the invitation.
Wow.
Listen to Glenn's reaction in the opening moments of today's podcast: