Ted Cruz to Obama: 'Insult me to my face'

Updated
Feisty Cruz to Obama: 'Insult Me to My Face,' Let's Debate Refugee Plan
Feisty Cruz to Obama: 'Insult Me to My Face,' Let's Debate Refugee Plan


Sen. Ted Cruz had sharp words for President Barack Obama over his comments regarding Republican rhetoric on Syrian refugees, saying his statement "is utterly unbefitting of a president."

"If you want to insult me, you can do it overseas, you can do it in Turkey, you can do it in foreign countries, but I would encourage you, mister president, come back and insult me to my face," the Texas senator and Republican presidential candidate said this on Capitol Hill Wednesday.

See Ted Cruz on the campaign trail:


President Obama had harsh words for Republicans calling for a stop of Syrian refugees to the United States, saying such calls are just "political posturing."

"When individuals say that we should have a religious test and that only Christians - proven Christians - should be admitted -- that's offensive and contrary to American values," President Obama said in Manila yesterday. "I cannot think of a more potent recruitment tool for ISIL than some of the rhetoric that's been coming out of here during the course of this debate."

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Another Republican presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee, also had tough words for Obama, calling him "delusional."

"If the President honestly believes that ISIS is concerned about what we think about them and that they are driven by that than the president is more delusional than I ever imagined when it comes to dealing with this crisis," Huckabee said on MSNBC Wednesday. "It's just astonishing the president would make this all about himself not about the safety and security of the American people."

More from NBC News:
Kasich: New Government Will Help Defeat ISIS
Bobby Jindal Ends 2016 Presidential Campaign
Obama Blasts GOP Candidates Over Refugee Refusal

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