Talk about a tantrum! During a conversation earlier this week, North Carolina Republican Chairman Robin Hayes asked fellow delegate Ted Hicks what he thought of Ted Cruz's speech. Hicks was honest and said "I thought it was a fine speech.”
No big deal. He was honest. He didn't pick a side or get angry, express frustration at Cruz's lack of endorsement or complain about Trump getting the nomination. Seems fairly middle of the road, right? Well not to Hayes. He blew a gasket.
Hayes responded, “I think you need to ride the bus home.”
Mind you, Hicks had ridden to Cleveland on Hayes private jet. And clearly, Hayes is a rich, white, Republican male who vehemently supports another rich, white, Republican man, Donald Trump. But to leave Hicks stranded? Really? That seems childish.
Not all was lost. Journal Now reports that Hicks was able to hitch a ride home with another delegate on Thursday.
When asked whether he felt he was justified in his actions, he doubled down and said:
“It’s when you do somebody a favor and they turn around and support something that was unacceptable, actions have consequences. They said they didn’t see anything wrong with what Ted Cruz did in his speech. ... I didn’t think it was appropriate. I did them a favor to bring them up here. They embarrassed our delegation and our party, so I asked them to get themselves home. ... Other views are certainly welcome, but … it’s my right to decide who flies home with me.”
So supporting Cruz is "unacceptable" because it doesn't fall into line with you he thinks, apparently. He did them a "favor" and now they are being punished. Republicans, the party of anger, punishment and temper tantrums.
This childish episode isn't a big deal, in and of itself. But, it is an interesting anecdote to demonstrate just how divisive the Republican National Convention, and the whole election so far, has been for the Republican party.