Ted Cruz Interview with Matt Lauer

Ted Cruz Interview on the TODAY Show on Announcement of Candidacy
Forensic Statement Analysis by Laurie Ayers
Posted March 2015 

Last week Republican candidate Ted Cruz and wife Heidi sat down with Matt Lauer on the TODAY show to discuss his run for President. What you will see below is a portion of the transcript of their five minute interview. I have completed a forensic statement analysis on the candidate’s words. Pay attention to the text in bold purple. I address that specific content at the end of each question.

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Matt: So on the subject of a broad coalition, is there room in Ted Cruz’s Republican Party for those who are socially liberal; for those who are pro-choice; for those who support gay marriage?

TC: Oh absolutely. We.. we welcome a broad tent, and a broad coalition. And what I’m trying to do is stand for principle and.. and the two things that I’ve tried to do more than anything else in my time in the senate have been, number one tell the truth; and number two, do what I said I would do. And..and the interesting thing on that is I think people can respect that, even if they don’t necessarily agree on.. on everything.

*A majority of the deception in this interview comes out in the aforementioned response. Twice he says what he’s trying to do or tried to do and that is to tell the truth and do what he said he would. What does the word “tried” mean? It means someone attempted but failed to do something. Here Ted Cruz is telling us that he tried but failed to stand for principle, to tell the truth and do what he said he would. He didn’t say, “I stand for principle, and more than anything else in my time in the senate I have been truthful and I have done what I said I would do.” He couldn’t say that because people do not want to lie.

Another key word in his statement is “think.” This is not as confident as stating, “People can respect that.” The word “think” means there is the possibility he may be wrong.

Matt: But you know your reputation; in your short time in the senate you’ve developed a reputation as a guy who does not back down; who will not compromise. I think you even refer to yourself, recently you said I’m kinda like the disruptive app in politics. Will you bring that brand of No Compromise to the White House if you’re elected?

TC:  Well Matt, let me disagree with the premise I’ve never said I won’t compromise; and in fact from day one when I was elected I said my attitude on compromise is exactly the same as Ronald Reagan. Reagan said. What do you do if they offer a half a loaf? Answer: you take it and then you come back…

*There are a number of phrases or single words that indicate a person is being deceptive. People will periodically use this untruthful language to reinforce their statement in an attempt to persuade you they are being honest. Nevertheless, these phrases usually dilute their statement. Just a few of the phrases often used in this effort are: To tell the truth; to be honest; honestly; in fact, frankly. We see above he says “…in fact from day one when I was elected I said my attitude of compromise is exactly the same as Ronald Reagan.” He likely did not say that from day one.

Matt: But shortly after you were elected you also said quote, “I don’t think what Washington needs is more compromise.”

TC: Because (drawn out)… what Washington does often is it compromises going backwards. I’m perfectly happy to work with anyone: Democrat, Independent, Libertarian, Republican. If their shrinking the size and power the federal government; if they’re turning around the debt; if they’re expanding Liberty.  What Washington does though, is you have compromises like the so-called CRomnibus bill that passed in December was a trillion-dollar spending bill paid off corporate welfare; paid off every special interest in Washington and simply grew government. That’s not a good compromise because it’s not fixing the problems in this country.

*To respond to Matt’s comment about his compromise quote, Ted Cruz draws out the word ‘because’. This could mean he is trying to think on the fly how to walk back his previous statement or he could be merely collecting his thoughts first – although this is the only time in the five minute interview that he pauses before responding.

You can see the entire interview here. If you have an audio, video or written statement you’d like analyzed contact me so we can discuss how I can help.

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