Mayor de Blasio 'disgusted' over Ted Cruz's 'New York values' comment, says senator should apologize

ByMike Waterhouse WABC logo
Friday, April 15, 2016
Mayor de Blasio 'disgusted' over Cruz's 'New York Values' comment
Dave Evans is live in Midtown with the details.

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- New York City's mayor said he's "disgusted" by Sen. Ted Cruz's comments about New York values during the GOP debate Thursday night.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sen. Cruz owes the people of the city an apology, and he owes first responders an apology.

"On behalf of all New Yorkers, I am disgusted at the insult that Ted Cruz threw at this city and its people. The bottom line is he does not understand in the least New York values," said de Blasio.

The mayor said he's in-line with Donald Trump's response.

"I find myself for once agreeing with Donald Trump," de Blasio said. "I think it was right for Donald Trump to defend this city, to talk about the heroic actions of the people of this city after 9/11."

He posted this message on social media Friday morning:

"New York values" came up during the debate when Sen. Cruz was trying to discount Donald Trump's alignment with the Republican Party.

"Everyone understands that the values in New York City are socially liberal ... focused around money and the media," Cruz said.

Sen. Cruz then specifically pointed to Trump's home in Midtown Manhattan, saying "I can frame it another way: Not a lot of conservatives come out of Manhattan. I'm just saying."

Trump countered, saying Sen. Cruz's comment were insulting, and talked about how New York City came together after the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.

"Everybody in the world watched, and everyone in the world loved New York and loved New Yorkers," Trump said. "That was a very insulting statement that Ted made."

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also weighed in on Sen. Cruz's comments.

"Not only what he said is anti-New York, it's anti-American," Gov. Cuomo told CNN. "I think it's sad, I think it's disturbing for all Americans, not just for New York. He is practicing the politics of division, he is trying to divide people, he is trying to divide this country. It doesn't work and it is antithetical to who we are."

Hillary Clinton took Trump's side on this one, too:

What do you think about Senator Ted Cruz's comments about New York values? Chime in via the comment section below.