Debate coach: Cruz got crushed

By Todd Graham
4 minute read
Published 5:10 AM EST, Fri January 15, 2016
Republican presidential candidates line up on stage before a debate Thursday, January 14, in North Charleston, South Carolina. From left are Ohio Gov. John Kasich, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Ben Carson and Jeb Bush. It is the sixth GOP debate of this election cycle and the first of 2016.
Republican presidential candidates line up on stage before a debate Thursday, January 14, in North Charleston, South Carolina. From left are Ohio Gov. John Kasich, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Ben Carson and Jeb Bush. It is the sixth GOP debate of this election cycle and the first of 2016.
Rainier Ehrhardt/AP
Trump, who has been leading GOP polls for months, answers a question during the debate. "I'm very angry because our country is being run horribly, and I will gladly accept the mantle of anger," he said.
Trump, who has been leading GOP polls for months, answers a question during the debate. "I'm very angry because our country is being run horribly, and I will gladly accept the mantle of anger," he said.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Cruz speaks during the debate. The senator from Texas opened the event by talking about the U.S. sailors recently detained by Iran. "Today," he said, "many of us picked up our newspapers, and we were horrified to see the sight of 10 American sailors on their knees, with their hands on their heads. ... I give you my word, if I am elected president, no service man or service woman will be forced to be on their knees, and any nation that captures our fighting men will feel the full force and fury of the United States of America."
Cruz speaks during the debate. The senator from Texas opened the event by talking about the U.S. sailors recently detained by Iran. "Today," he said, "many of us picked up our newspapers, and we were horrified to see the sight of 10 American sailors on their knees, with their hands on their heads. ... I give you my word, if I am elected president, no service man or service woman will be forced to be on their knees, and any nation that captures our fighting men will feel the full force and fury of the United States of America."
Chuck Burton/AP
Bush waves to the audience. The former Florida governor has been trying to build momentum that he had in the early stages of his candidacy, and he went after Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton early in the debate. "She's under investigation with the FBI right now," he said. "If she gets elected, her first 100 days, instead of setting an agenda, she might be going back and forth between the White House and the courthouse. We need to stop that."
Bush waves to the audience. The former Florida governor has been trying to build momentum that he had in the early stages of his candidacy, and he went after Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton early in the debate. "She's under investigation with the FBI right now," he said. "If she gets elected, her first 100 days, instead of setting an agenda, she might be going back and forth between the White House and the courthouse. We need to stop that."
Rainier Ehrhardt/AP
Rubio delivers an answer during the debate. He frequently attacked President Barack Obama. "When I become president of the United States, on my first day in office, we are going to repeal every single one of his unconstitutional executive orders," the senator from Florida said. "When I'm president of the United States, we are getting rid of Obamacare and we are rebuilding our military."
Rubio delivers an answer during the debate. He frequently attacked President Barack Obama. "When I become president of the United States, on my first day in office, we are going to repeal every single one of his unconstitutional executive orders," the senator from Florida said. "When I'm president of the United States, we are getting rid of Obamacare and we are rebuilding our military."
Chuck Burton/AP
Carson promised this week he would "insinuate" himself into the conversation when needed. After a discussion between Rubio and Christie during the debate, Carson told moderator Neil Cavuto, "Neil I was mentioned too." Cavuto asked, "You were?" Carson quipped, "Yeah, he said everybody." On a more serious note, Carson noted the "divisiveness and the hatred" in today's society. "We have a war on virtually everything -- race wars, gender wars, income wars, religious wars, age wars. Every war you can imagine, we have people at each other's throat," he said. "And our strength is actually in our unity."
Carson promised this week he would "insinuate" himself into the conversation when needed. After a discussion between Rubio and Christie during the debate, Carson told moderator Neil Cavuto, "Neil I was mentioned too." Cavuto asked, "You were?" Carson quipped, "Yeah, he said everybody." On a more serious note, Carson noted the "divisiveness and the hatred" in today's society. "We have a war on virtually everything -- race wars, gender wars, income wars, religious wars, age wars. Every war you can imagine, we have people at each other's throat," he said. "And our strength is actually in our unity."
Chuck Burton/AP
Kasich touted his economic record as governor of Ohio. "Our wages are growing faster than the national average," he said. "We're running surpluses. And we can take that message and that formula to Washington to lift every single American to a better life."
Kasich touted his economic record as governor of Ohio. "Our wages are growing faster than the national average," he said. "We're running surpluses. And we can take that message and that formula to Washington to lift every single American to a better life."
Chuck Burton/AP
Christie, like most of the candidates on stage, continued to be tough on the current administration. "Tuesday night, I watched story time with Barack Obama," he said of the recent State of the Union address. Christie also said "you cannot give Hillary Clinton a third term of Barack Obama's leadership. I will not do that. If I'm the nominee, she won't get within 10 miles of the White House."
Christie, like most of the candidates on stage, continued to be tough on the current administration. "Tuesday night, I watched story time with Barack Obama," he said of the recent State of the Union address. Christie also said "you cannot give Hillary Clinton a third term of Barack Obama's leadership. I will not do that. If I'm the nominee, she won't get within 10 miles of the White House."
Chuck Burton/AP
From left, Republican presidential candidates Mike Huckabee, Carly Fiorina and Rick Santorum arrive for the "undercard" debate that took place a couple of hours before the main event.
From left, Republican presidential candidates Mike Huckabee, Carly Fiorina and Rick Santorum arrive for the "undercard" debate that took place a couple of hours before the main event.
Andrew Burton/Getty Images
Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, delivers remarks during the debate. "The biggest reason that we're seeing the hollowing out of middle America is the breakdown of the American family," he said. "We have been too politically correct in this country because we don't want to offend anybody to fight for the lives of our children."
Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, delivers remarks during the debate. "The biggest reason that we're seeing the hollowing out of middle America is the breakdown of the American family," he said. "We have been too politically correct in this country because we don't want to offend anybody to fight for the lives of our children."
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
Fiorina makes a point during the undercard debate. "The state of our economy is not strong," she said in her opening comments. "We have record numbers of men out of work. We have record numbers of women living in poverty. We have young people who no longer believe that the American dream applies to them. ... It's time to take our country back."
Fiorina makes a point during the undercard debate. "The state of our economy is not strong," she said in her opening comments. "We have record numbers of men out of work. We have record numbers of women living in poverty. We have young people who no longer believe that the American dream applies to them. ... It's time to take our country back."
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
Huckabee laughs during the debate, which was hosted by the Fox Business Network. His opening statement was much more serious. "There are a lot of people who are hurting today," said the former Arkansas governor. "I wish the President knew more of them. He might make a change in the economy and the way he's managing it."
Huckabee laughs during the debate, which was hosted by the Fox Business Network. His opening statement was much more serious. "There are a lot of people who are hurting today," said the former Arkansas governor. "I wish the President knew more of them. He might make a change in the economy and the way he's managing it."
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
Republicans debate in North Charleston

Editor’s Note: Todd Graham is director of debate at Southern Illinois University. His teams have won national championships for three years, and he’s been recognized twice as the national debate coach of the year. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

Story highlights

Todd Graham says that Ted Cruz failed to differentiate himself from Donald Trump on important issues

If you want to beat Trump in a debate, you've got to attack his worst ideas, Graham says

CNN  — 

Ted Cruz’s debating skills are overrated. There. I said it.

Over. Rated.

Cruz made tactical errors Thursday night. Basic stuff. He failed to differentiate himself from Donald Trump on important issues, and the arguments he started, he lost. That’s right: The “supposed” best debater (just look on his mantle for his national champion debating trophy), got beaten in every exchange with one of the worst debaters I’ve ever seen. So either Trump is getting better (which I must admit he is) or Cruz’s reputation is overstated (which it is).

Todd Graham
Todd Graham
Courtesy Todd Graham

Don’t get me wrong: Trump made a lot of ridiculous and questionable statements again last night in the debate. My two favorites were: “People come in, they live…they shoot,” (I can’t help but laugh every time I read that line), to “the police are the most mistreated people in this country.” Really? Not Native Americans? African Americans? Muslim Americans? Anyone with the “wrong” skin color? The disabled? Heck, what about women? I understand policing is a vital and dangerous job, but calling them the most mistreated people in our country is outlandish.

So if you want to beat Trump in a debate, you’ve got to attack his worst ideas. I mean, how hard could that be? Apparently, it’s like answering the puzzle of Schrodinger’s cat for poor Ted Cruz.

There are three main reasons Trump came out on top against Cruz.

Poll positions

First: ad hominem (I’m a winner and you’re a loser) combined with ad populum (I’m ahead in the race, so I must be the best). Trump initially mentioned how Cruz was losing by “going down in the polls” and that Trump was indeed winning as he boasted “In Iowa now…Ted, in the last three polls, I’m beating you. So you shouldn’t misrepresent how well you’re doing with the polls.” Cruz had no response, as do few of the debaters when Trump mentions the success of his campaign. You’d think that Cruz would have an easy answer to this attack, especially since it’s Trump’s “go to” answer. But it worked, and even though it’s a logical fallacy, it’s successful for Trump, so I’m sure he’ll keep using it in the future. As the saying goes…if it ain’t broke…then Trump won’t need to blame an immigrant for not fixing it.

Second, humor: Trump was pretty funny. This softens a debater’s stance and makes that person’s positions more palatable. Trump said he’d “take Cruz along for the ride” as his running mate, drawing chuckles. Finally, he said Cruz has improved in the polls, giving him “maybe a 4 or 5% chance” to win. Again, said with tongue in cheek.

Finally, it’s about picking battles properly. The two times they fought were both on Trump’s ground. First, on Cruz’s citizenship, Trump was able to play the “it’s not me, it’s them” game. His argument, deflecting away from himself as the bad guy, was that the Democrats would take Cruz to court if he was nominated and this would hurt the Republican Party.

Cruz’s rookie response was to “feed,” to use a debate term, the argument. Cruz stated that the people claiming he wasn’t a naturalized citizen shouldn’t be taken seriously because they were liberal Harvard law professors and others. Exactly Ted. That was Trump’s whole point. Liberals and liberal legal scholars will take you to court. What a poor argument for Cruz.

But his most monumental blunder was still to come.

New York, New York

The other big dust-up between the frontrunners was over Cruz claiming Trump had typical New York values. “I think most people know what New York values are…money and the media,” said Cruz, and then with his strangely aloof attitude he stated that “the concept of New York values is not difficult to figure out.”

Trump’s first response was to point out that William F. Buckley, a famous conservative scholar, came from New York. But that was too easy on Cruz. Trump then reminded our country it was New York City that was attacked on 9/11, with thousands of Americans killed, and how everyone in the world was behind New York and America at the time. Trump ended with “That was a very insulting statement that Ted made.” Yep, it sure was, and Trump wiped that smirk right off Cruz’s face.

Could it get worse for Cruz? Oh yeah, it could. To add insult to injury, Marco Rubio unloaded on Cruz and lit him up like that Christmas tree you just tore down. At just over the two-hour mark, Rubio highlighted Cruz’s flip-flops.

Dramatically. Cruz actually got booed near the end of this debate. Wow. Sad Ted.

I’ve had some fine debate teams, and we’ve been fortunate enough to win a few national championships. But I don’t ever remember being booed during a debate the way the supposed “best debater” and former national champion just was.

Living in the past, Ted. Living in the past.

Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion.
Read CNNOpinion’s Flipboard magazine.