--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we saw with both Donald Trump and…" description: "\"What we saw with both Donald Trump and Marco Rubio, that their response, whenever you point to anything in their record, is just to yell, \"Liar, liar, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/ted-cruz-487_approach_what-we-saw-with-both-donald-trump-and-m_2916792.png" --- # What we saw with both Donald Trump and Marco Rubio, that… ![“What we saw with both Donald Trump and Marco Rubio, that their response, whenever you point to anything in their record, is just to yell, "Liar, liar, liar," and to get very personal and to make direct character attacks. And my approach, from the very beginning of this President's campaign…” quote by Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/ted-cruz-487_approach_what-we-saw-with-both-donald-trump-and-m_2916792.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/ted-cruz-487_approach_what-we-saw-with-both-donald-trump-and-m_2916792.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/ted-cruz-487_approach_what-we-saw-with-both-donald-trump-and-m_2916792.png) > “What we saw with both Donald Trump and Marco Rubio, that their response, whenever you point to anything in their record, is just to yell, "Liar, liar, liar," and to get very personal and to make direct character attacks. And my approach, from the very beginning of this President's campaign, starting a year ago in 2015, is that I will not respond in kind. I do not intend to insult any of the candidates.” [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He chooses not to retaliate with personal attacks, maintaining a civil discourse despite opponents' accusations. **In simple terms:** He avoids responding with insults. Key Takeaway Stay civil, avoid personal attacks. Themes politics ethics communication Mood serious determined Type political strategic When to use this quote - debates - campaigns - media interviews - public statements Key Concepts civility strategic restraint Questions to Reflect On - How can one balance firmness with civility? - What are the risks of refusing to counterattack? A Different Perspective Opponents may view restraint as weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Campaigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaigns/) [Candidates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidates/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Direct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct/) [Insult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insult/) [Insult Candidates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insult-candidates-4230046/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Liar Personal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liar-personal-4230047/) [Liars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liars/) [Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marcos/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) [Response](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/response/) [Rubio Response](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rubio-response-4230045/) [Saws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saws/) [Starting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Trump Marco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump-marco-3653491/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [ It's really remarkable to see two candidates,\[Donald\] Trump and \[Marco\] Rubio, making things up and putting things out for which there is no evidence… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/it-s-really-remarkable-to-see-two-candidates-donald-trump-and-marco/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I'm not going to impugn anyone's integrity. I'm not going to attack their character. And, in fact, I will happily praise both Donald Trump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-m-not-going-to-impugn-anyone-s-integrity-i-m-not-going-to-attack/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [ I will sing their praises, I'll sing Donald's \[Trump\] praises and Marco's \[Rubio\] praises and everybody else's praises. But I'm going to keep the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-will-sing-their-praises-i-ll-sing-donald-s-trump-praises-and-marco/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [ On his \[Marco Rubio\] Gang of Eight bill, he would have liberalized immigration, but he did not - and he steadfastly opposed any new… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/on-his-marco-rubio-gang-of-eight-bill-he-would-have-liberalized/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [ I think the establishment donor class has begun to crumble. They're searching for \[Marco\] Rubio, trying to get some momentum there. But the establishment… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-think-the-establishment-donor-class-has-begun-to-crumble-they-re/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [We're seeing something fairly remarkable happen on the political train. We're seeing the Washington establishment abandoning Marco Rubio. I think they've made the determination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-re-seeing-something-fairly-remarkable-happen-on-the-political/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Marco Rubio said he was personally open over a long period of time to offering a path to citizenship for immigrants here illegally. Rubio's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/marco-rubio-said-he-was-personally-open-over-a-long-period-of-time-to/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [He has attempted to muddy the waters, but I think anyone that watched the battle that we had - you know, there was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/he-has-attempted-to-muddy-the-waters-but-i-think-anyone-that-watched/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [ One of the problems with Marco's \[Rubio\] foreign policy is he has far too often supported Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama undermining governments in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/one-of-the-problems-with-marco-s-rubio-foreign-policy-is-he-has-far/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [ Marco \[Rubio\] has more of an allegiance to Chuck Schumer and to the liberals than he does to conservative policy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/marco-rubio-has-more-of-an-allegiance-to-chuck-schumer-and-to-the/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I was then and am now very much a happy warrior, very much joyful. Not engaging in character attacks myself, just putting out, "Here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-was-then-and-am-now-very-much-a-happy-warrior-very-much-joyful-not/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Let me say something at the outset. The questions that have been asked so far in this debate illustrate why the American people don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/let-me-say-something-at-the-outset-the-questions-that-have-been-asked/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [ I introduced bill saying we need more security, we need more scrutiny. Once again, Marco \[Rubio\] opposed this. So Marco can't have it both… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-introduced-bill-saying-we-need-more-security-we-need-more-scrutiny/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Marco Rubio was fighting to grant amnesty and not to secure the border, I was fighting to secure the border. And this also goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/marco-rubio-was-fighting-to-grant-amnesty-and-not-to-secure-the/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [ Marco \[Rubio\] has opposed at every point increased security - border security for those who come to our country. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/marco-rubio-has-opposed-at-every-point-increased-security-border/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## More by Ted Cruz > [I was born in Cuba. At the age of 14 years of age I was involved in a revolution. We were suffering from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-was-born-in-cuba-at-the-age-of-14-years-of-age-i-was-involved-in-a/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [ Donald Trump has opened \[ politically correct enforcement\] up wide. He's made a very bold statement and he's backed it back just a little… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-has-opened-politically-correct-enforcement-up-wide-he-s/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I get that the media wants us to play theater critics and critique every other proposal. What I'm focusing on are my own policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-get-that-the-media-wants-us-to-play-theater-critics-and-critique/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [We need to remain a nation that doesn't just welcome but that celebrates legal immigrants who come here seeking to pursue the American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-need-to-remain-a-nation-that-doesn-t-just-welcome-but-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Donald Trump threatened to file a defamation suit against me for running a TV ad that consisted only entirely of his own words on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-threatened-to-file-a-defamation-suit-against-me-for/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The immigrant experience of all of us is what makes us Americans, because we value in our DNA liberty and opportunity above all else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-immigrant-experience-of-all-of-us-is-what-makes-us-americans/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The First Amendment exists to protect our religious liberty--to ensure that all Americans are able to seek out worship God with all our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-first-amendment-exists-to-protect-our-religious-liberty-to-ensure/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [It is my hope that all of the Republicans who recognize that nominating a candidate who agrees with Hillary Clinton on a host of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/it-is-my-hope-that-all-of-the-republicans-who-recognize-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The Senate Majority Leader has the unilateral ability to stand up and say, 'If you defy Congress, if you defy the Constitution, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-senate-majority-leader-has-the-unilateral-ability-to-stand-up-and/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [You can't get to a balanced budget and begin to pay down debt and thus create jobs in this country if you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/you-can-t-get-to-a-balanced-budget-and-begin-to-pay-down-debt-and/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [That's what actually caused me to run for office is, you know, my family story, the experience of growing up in a family where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/that-s-what-actually-caused-me-to-run-for-office-is-you-know-my/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [When you subpoena one pastor, you subpoena every pastor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/when-you-subpoena-one-pastor-you-subpoena-every-pastor/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [One of the things we've seen here is how easy it is for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to get distracted from dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/one-of-the-things-we-ve-seen-here-is-how-easy-it-is-for-barack-obama/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Imagine a legal immigration system that welcomes and celebrates those who come to achieve the American dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/imagine-a-legal-immigration-system-that-welcomes-and-celebrates-those/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The court follows elite opinion, not public opinion. And Democratic leaders in Congress and Republican leaders in Congress follow elite opinion as well. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-court-follows-elite-opinion-not-public-opinion-and-democratic/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) [Explore all 523 Ted Cruz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## More Approach quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [I don't have any particular method, my approach is very simple. I try to understand the emotional graph of the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratik-gandhi/i-don-t-have-any-particular-method-my-approach-is-very-simple-i-try/) [Pratik Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pratik-gandhi/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everything, every part that you approach has to be somehow rooted in yourself. You have to somehow root everything so that it's not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/everything-every-part-that-you-approach-has-to-be-somehow-rooted-in/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [Literature transforms and intensifies ordinary language, deviates systematically from everyday speech. If you approach me at a bus stop and murmur Thou still unravished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/literature-transforms-and-intensifies-ordinary-language-deviates/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The whole secret to mastering the game of golf - and this applies to the beginner as well as the pro - is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-whole-secret-to-mastering-the-game-of-golf-and-this-applies-to/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Like a morning dream, life becomes more and more bright the longer we live, and the reason of everything appears more clear. What has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/like-a-morning-dream-life-becomes-more-and-more-bright-the-longer-we/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [What begins as a Utopian vision, always - always - ends in bloodshed. Because you have to force a utopia on a free people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/what-begins-as-a-utopian-vision-always-always-ends-in-bloodshed/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [The only two good words that can be said for a hurricane are that it gives sufficient warning of its approach, and that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-only-two-good-words-that-can-be-said-for-a-hurricane-are-that-it/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) [Browse all 3,949 Approach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What we saw with both Donald Trump and Marco Rubio, that their response, whenever you point to anything in their record, is just to yell, \"Liar, liar, liar,\" and to get very personal and to make direct character attacks. 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