Photo: Martin Falbisoner (archive photo)
Sen. Ted Cruz on Monday condemned an outside political advertisement supporting Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, calling it one of the “most vicious Jew-hating ads” he had seen and praising Rep. Haley Stevens for endorsing Republican Mike Rogers.
Cruz made the comments on Monday’s episode of his Verdict podcast, co-hosted by Ben Ferguson. His characterization of the advertisement and his allegations about El-Sayed are political claims, not findings of wrongdoing.
The ad came from Rebellion PAC, an outside group associated with commentator Cenk Uygur, not El-Sayed’s campaign. El-Sayed’s campaign had said it was unaffiliated with the ad, and the candidate said Saturday that he did not agree with its contents.
Dispute over the grocery-store advertisement
Cruz described a commercial featuring a couple at a grocery checkout discussing high food prices before criticizing U.S. assistance to Israel. He argued that its message blamed Jewish people for Americans’ financial difficulties and called it “a hateful ad.” Those were Cruz’s descriptions and conclusions.
Although Cruz accused El-Sayed of refusing to disavow the advertisement, the candidate had said at a Saturday campaign event: “That ad was not made by me, and I do not agree with the contents of that ad,” according to the published account of his remarks. The dispute includes whether that response went far enough, rather than an absence of any public distancing from the ad.
Cruz praised Stevens’ Sunday decision to support Rogers after she lost the Democratic primary to El-Sayed. He described it as putting country ahead of party and argued it could influence Jewish voters, moderates and Democrats. That is his electoral assessment, not a prediction established by a vote count.
Broader allegations and El-Sayed’s denial
Cruz also repeated allegations about El-Sayed and the Muslim Brotherhood, citing writings and associations he said supported his argument. This article has not independently established those allegations. El-Sayed has denied membership in the organization.
In an October 23 interview, El-Sayed said: “I have never been a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and never will be.” That denial preceded both Monday’s podcast and President Donald Trump’s Sunday remarks in Iowa.
Cruz criticized television coverage of the allegations and said his criticism concerned ideology rather than El-Sayed’s Muslim faith. Those comments were part of the senator’s campaign argument for Rogers in the final day before the election.
Trump’s earlier comments
President Donald Trump accused Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed of being a “Muslim Brotherhood guy” while speaking to reporters in Iowa on Sunday afternoon. Trump also used the word “jihadist” during the exchange. El-Sayed had previously denied ever belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood.
The remarks came as Trump praised Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens for endorsing Republican Mike Rogers, El-Sayed’s opponent. Trump spoke after arriving aboard Air Force One in Dubuque, Iowa, at a press gaggle recorded by the White House.
“He’s a Muslim Brotherhood guy,” Trump said, according to the transcript of the exchange. He did not provide evidence for that allegation during the remarks.
Trump’s words were an accusation about a political opponent, not a finding that El-Sayed belongs to the organization. The transcript also records Trump saying “these jihadist” before turning to his allegation about El-Sayed.
Michigan voters are choosing between El-Sayed and Rogers for the U.S. Senate. Stevens, who had competed against El-Sayed in the Democratic primary and initially supported him afterward, announced Sunday that she was backing Rogers instead.
Trump welcomed that decision at the airport, calling it a “smart thing to do.” Stevens later defended the switch in a Sunday night interview, saying her decision was “rock solid,” while fellow Michigan Democrat Debbie Dingell said Stevens had told her the night before that she would not endorse Rogers.
The endorsement and the reaction to Stevens’ decision added to the final days of campaigning before Tuesday’s election.
JBizNews Desk | New York
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