In the race for endorsements, Ted Cruz, an unpopular figure in the Republican establishment, isn’t doing well. Among GOP senators and governors, the Texan has a grand total of zero official supporters.
By all appearances, Cruz wears this as a point of pride, using it to make clear just how far he is from the GOP establishment. Yesterday, however, as Rachel noted on last night’s show, the senator received an endorsement he’s actually be proud of: controversial reality TV star Phil Robertson. For those who can’t watch clips online, here’s the script of the new spot:
PHIL ROBERTSON: My qualifications for President of the United States are rather narrow. Is he or she Godly, does he or she love us, can he or she do the job, and finally would they kill a duck and put him in a pot and make him a good duck gumbo? I’ve looked at the candidates, Ted Cruz is my man. He fits the bill. He’s Godly, he loves us, he’s the man for the job, and he will go duck hunting because today we’re going. Ted Cruz is my man, I’m voting for him. Cruz, the reason we’re going to vote for you, all of us, is because you’re one of us my man.TED CRUZ: Thank you.ROBERTSON: That’s why we’re voting for you. It’s now or never.
Keep in mind, in conservative circles, Robertson isn’t just a guy in a reality show. For many far-right activists, Robertson is a high-profile culture warrior, who’s made multiple appearances at major conservative events, despite his notoriety after making controversial remarks about minority groups. He’s also argued that American liberals follow Satan and are worse than Stalin and the Nazis.
In a statement welcoming the endorsement, Cruz said in a statement, “The Robertson’s [sic] are a strong family of great Christian faith and conservative values.”
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Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."