Ted Cruz might be the most hapless politician in congress. No one seems to respect him, he’s the constant butt of internet jokes — whether it be the so-called “staffing issue” that somehow led to Cruz getting caught liking Twitter porn or his bizarre Campbell’s Chunky Soup obsession. Now Cruz, who stands to lose his Senate seat to Democrat challenger Beto O’Rourke next month, is getting trolled by none other than Richard Linklater.
In perhaps the legendary filmmaker’s most ambitious project yet (of a resume that includes Boyhood, Dazed and Confused, and A Scanner Darkly), Linklater has directed a 30-second ad for the “Fire Ted Cruz” PAC, which sets out to do just that — make sure Cruz is not reelected in November.
Reprising his cameo from Linklater’s 2011 film Bernie, Texas actor Sonny Carl Davis explains why Cruz is not “Tough as Texas,” as the Republican Senator’s campaign states.
“I mean, come on,” Davis said, laughing. “If somebody called my wife a dog, and said my daddy is in on the Kennedy assassination, I wouldn’t be kissing their ass,” he said, of all of Cruz’s repeated attempts to suck up to President Trump despite having been relentlessly bullied by him during the 2016 GOP primaries, and even giving him the nickname “Lyin’ Ted.”
You stick a finger in their chest and give them a few choice words, or you drag their ass out by the woodshed and kick their ass, Ted, come on,” David continued, before adding one last condescending, exasperated, “Ted.”
It was … [kisses chef’s fingertips], and not at all surprisingly the ad was largely praised on Twitter:
haha holy shit Richard Linklater directed this new ad. "If somebody called my wife a dog, and said my daddy was in on the Kennedy assassination, I wouldn't be kissing their ass." https://t.co/dbRZM8RugE
— Andrew Kirell 🤙🏻 (@AndrewKirell) October 9, 2018
Richard Linklater?! https://t.co/YSpegiXeRv
— Matt Pearce 🦅🇺🇸 (@mattdpearce) October 9, 2018
This ad from Academy Award-nominated director and native Texan Richard Linklater is so spot on. How can Ted Cruz be "Tough As Texas" when he kisses Trump's ass after Trump insulted his wife's looks and said his dad helped kill JFK? pic.twitter.com/87lQ11d0bX
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) October 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/MikeLewisATX/status/1049460206479036416
https://twitter.com/JustSchmeltzer/status/1049654484656254976
If you needed any further proof that Richard Linklater is one of our greatest working directors, look no further than this anti-Ted Cruz political ad. https://t.co/5qZ91Zyjmv
— DJ Wooldridge (@djtalkstrash) October 9, 2018
Oh, boy. Richard Linklater wins the 2018 election, no matter the outcome. That second ‘Ted’ at the end though… 🤣 #FireTedCruz pic.twitter.com/IMXBFS2kCQ
— Kristopher MacGregor (@krismacgregor) October 9, 2018
Richard Linklater directed this ad and it's as low key brilliant and genuinely Texan as his own movies, all the way to the final "Ted" https://t.co/SJdsjDXTOa
— Wagner James Au (@slhamlet) October 9, 2018
It shouldn’t take Richard Linklater to do it, but finally a political ad that looks and feels different https://t.co/CH8F55fqSk
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) October 9, 2018
The ad makes sure to note at the end that it’s not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee, but we all know who reaps in the benefits, here. If Beto can pull off a blue win in a red state it will be incredible, and losing couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.