When the voters have up-close access to the candidates, it invites opportunities for activists to “get in their faces” about the issues for which they advocate.
For candidates who have taken strong stands on issues, it becomes an almost daily occupational hazard. But a recent interaction between U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and one of his constituents—who drove all the way from Texas to New Hampshire to confront him—offered a glimpse at how those interactions can be handled in a loving, Christian manner.
Renee Boschert, whose home was severely damaged by record floods that swept through Texas last spring, is a climate change activist. And in partnership with a group called Climate Truth Action, she has been following Cruz to discuss his position that climate data has been skewed to advance the activists’ liberal agenda.
In the first confrontation, Boschert explains her story as Cruz listens intently. At points, he expresses his sadness over her losses, and asks if any of her loved ones were injured. And even after she changes gears with her “gotcha” questions, he continues to maintain a calm demeanor—even as he vigorously disagrees with her position.
“I understand that there are scientists with political agendas,” he said. “But … they don’t get to own the data and evidence.”
Boschert returned to the trail on another day to confront Cruz, opening their conversation with, “Do you remember me?” The senator said he did, and they continue their discussion, almost exactly where it last left off. He took a petition she presented to him and gave it to a member of his staff.
And at the end of the conversation, he ended with, “God bless you.” Boschert, in reply, thanked Cruz for the “civil discipline” with which he discussed the matter with her.
That’s not how the climate change group is portraying the exchange, though. Instead, they are reporting to their colleagues that Cruz “blew off” his constituent and that his campaign hadn’t responded to the petition requesting he meet with them to discuss the issue of climate change.
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