Republican Sen. Ted Cruz says he has no interest in getting into a "mudslinging battle" with former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson after the Democrat said Cruz doesn't represent the Hispanic community because of his opposition to citizenship for illegal immigrants.
Cruz responded by saying he doesn't think Americans care much for "name-calling,"
according to Politico.
"In my experience, if people are insulting you, if they're attacking your ethnicity, that tends to indicate they don't actually want to engage in the substantive merits of the argument," said Cruz, whose father came to America from Cuba 55 years ago. "I certainly have no interest in getting into any sort of mudslinging battle on that front."
Cruz told Fox News on Monday, "What we need to be focusing on is the substance of the argument. In particular, we need to be focusing on economic growth that enables more and more people to climb the economic ladder and reach the American dream."
"I think what the Hispanic community wants, and what all Americans want, is an economy and an environment where small businesses can prosper, and where anybody can start with nothing and achieve anything," he continued.
Richardson made his remarks during the web portion of ABC's "This Week" program on Sunday after being asked whether he thought Cruz represented the views of most Hispanics.
"No, he's anti-immigration," Richardson responded. "Almost every Hispanic in the country wants to see immigration reform. I don’t think he should be defined as a Hispanic. He’s a politician from Texas, a conservative state."
Richardson later said he was "misinterpreted" and meant Cruz should simply not be defined "just" as a Hispanic.
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