Trump, Cruz Get Into Uncomfortable Spat Over Spouses
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- In his spouse spat with GOP front-runner Donald Trump, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz borrowed a line from Hollywood to make his point.
It was a line from the 1995 movie, The American President, as star Michael Douglas, playing a widowed U.S. president, gives an impassioned speech defending a lobbyist and love interest, saying, "You want a character debate, Bob? You'd better stick with me because Sidney Ellen Wade is way out of your league."
Cruz took that line and added his own context concerning his latest feud with Trump -- their wives.
"If Donald wants to get in a character fight he is better off sticking with me because Heidi is way out of his league," said Cruz.
Trump responded with a tweet.
Lyin' Ted Cruz steals foreign policy from me, and lines from Michael Douglas— just another dishonest politician.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 23, 2016
The battle began when Trump re-tweeted a comparison photo of his wife, Melania (right), with Cruz's wife, Heidi (left).
"@Don_Vito_08: "A picture is worth a thousand words" @realDonaldTrump #LyingTed #NeverCruz @MELANIATRUMP pic.twitter.com/5bvVEwMVF8"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 24, 2016
Cruz responded angrily.
"Let me be absolutely clear: our spouses and our children are off bounds. It's not acceptable for a big, loud New York bully to attack my wife," Cruz said.
Trump fired back with a threat: "Be careful, Lyin' Ted, or I will spill the beans on your wife!"
She said Trump's harsh words didn't hold much weight.
"You probably know by now that most of the things Donald Trump says have no basis in reality," Heidi said.
House Speaker Paul Ryan weighed in, as well.
"When passions flare, ugliness is sometimes inevitable. But we shouldn't accept ugliness as the norm."
