Known previously for accusing Texas GOP Senator Ted Cruz of “defending Nazis,” California Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell issued a challenge to Cruz via a bet on the upcoming playoff game between the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers, sparking a cutting response from Cruz.
The two NFL teams are slated to face off this coming Sunday in the NFC Divisional Round, the ninth time the two teams have met each other in playoffs.
“I will make this open bet to @tedcruz — if the @dallascowboys beat the @49ers I won’t tweet for the rest of January. If the @49ers win you can’t tweet for rest of January. How Texan are you, Ted? Deal?” exclaimed Swalwell via social media.
I will make this open bet to @tedcruz — if the @dallascowboys beat the @49ers I won’t tweet for the rest of January. If the @49ers win you can’t tweet for rest of January. How Texan are you, Ted? Deal?
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) January 17, 2023
Cruz was seemingly ready with a cutting response with his referencing to Swalwell’s infamous association with a Chinese spy, claiming, “How about we bet a Chinese dinner instead?”
How about we bet a Chinese dinner instead? https://t.co/7sSk1jwiGl
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 17, 2023
Back in October 2021, Swalwell attempted to go after Cruz, making the claim that Cruz was “defending Nazis” in the wake of Cruz making reference to a parent who made a gesture akin to the Nazi salute while attending a school board meeting in order to highlight that the incidents in the NSBA letter that seemingly sparked Attorney General Merrick Garland’s memo which went after parents attending school board meetings were largely non-violent incidents.
Cruz shot back, “You are frequently a liar (when you’re not sleeping with Chinese spies).”
He went on, “But here, you’re [sic] lie is exactly 180 degrees false. I was defending the right of citizens to denounce authoritarian policies. In other words, to OPPOSE Nazis (or petty tyrants), not to support them.”
You are frequently a liar (when you’re not sleeping with Chinese spies).
But here, you’re lie is exactly 180 degrees false. I was defending the right of citizens to denounce authoritarian policies. In other words, to OPPOSE Nazis (or petty tyrants), not to support them. https://t.co/EghsxDaWBo
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 27, 2021
The back and forth that prompted Swalwell’s efforts at smearing Cruz involved Cruz grilling Garland.
Cruz posited of Garland, “Let me ask you something, [Attorney] General Garland: In the letter, which you told the House of Representatives was the basis for this abusive memo targeting parents, how many incidents are cited in that memo?”
“I have to look back through the memo,” responded Garland.
“You don’t know. How many of them were violent?” questioned Cruz.
“Again, the general report—” started Garland.
“How many of them were violent?” pressed Cruz.
“I don’t know,” stated Garland.
Cruz stated further, “You don’t know. And there’s a reason you don’t know. Because you didn’t care and nobody in your office cared to find out. I did a quick count just sitting here during this hearing; I counted 20 incidents cited. Of the 20, 15 on their face are non-violent. They involve things like insults; they involve a Nazi salute. That’s one of the examples. My God, a parent did a Nazi salute at a school board because he thought the policies were oppressive. General Garland, is doing a Nazi salute at an elected official, is that protected by the First Amendment?”
“Yes, it is,” Garland answered sheepishly.
