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Tea Party star Ted Cruz's Facebook praise of Nelson Mandela got quite the backlash from his faithful supporters, who didn’t hide their disdain of Mandela.

The posting in question reads as such:

“Nelson Mandela will live in history as an inspiration for defenders of liberty around the globe. He stood firm for decades on the principle that until all South Africans enjoyed equal liberties he would not leave prison himself, declaring in his autobiography, ‘Freedom is indivisible; the chains on any one of my people were the chains on all of them, the chains on all of my people were the chains on me.’ Because of his epic fight against injustice, an entire nation is now free. We mourn his loss and offer our condolences to his family and the people of South Africa.”

Needless to say, Cruz’s comments were not what his fellow Tea Partiers wanted to see, let alone digest. To some, the Republican firebrand crossed the line in his praise of Mandela. The result: a slew of Facebook replies that didn’t hide how they really felt about Cruz and the man he honored.

“Go home ted your drunk. He was a communist terrorist who targeted people for no other reason than being white [sic],” Shane Spade expressed.

Cruz’ Tea Party cred was further questioned by Matt Helm, who yearned for the good ole days as he stated that South Africa was better off before Mandela was president.

“Yeah…not with you on this one, Ted. Might want to reign in the warm and fuzzy interns posting on your page on your behalf, Mandela was not a hero and South Africa is NOT better off because of his work,” Helm said.

Even more offensive were those who voiced their happiness in Mandela’s death.

Despite comments about the racist and hate-filled messages, it wasn’t enough to silence the majority of commenters, who believe that Cruz is “selling out to the politically correct establishment and that Nelson Mandela is not a revolutionary that literally changed the course of history, instead he’s a terrorist murderer who hates white people.”

The Texas politician’s praise of Mandela may ultimately come back to bite him via disappointed voters who regret choosing him to lead them.

“Well I’m sorry I voted for you Cruz. Really disappointed in [c]onservatives tonight for they’re [sic] ignorance about him,” said Taylor Hartmann. http://www.eurweb.com/2013/12/mandela-praise-costs-ted-cruz-tea-party-
support-on-facebook/

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Something else: There's a video attached to the post in which Gingrich gives his thoughts on Mandela's passing. When Gingrich compliments Mandela on his presidency he doesn't do so within the context of alleged African pathologies, but within the context of countries throughout the world. It's a textbook lessons in "How not to be racist," which is to say it is a textbook lesson in how to talk about Nelson Mandela as though he were a human being.

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President Nelson Mandela was one of the greatest leaders of our lifetime.

He emerged from 27 long years in prison with a wisdom, a compassion, and a commitment to help other people that was astonishing. His life was a triumph of the human spirit.

When he visited the Congress I was deeply impressed with the charisma and the calmness with which he could dominate a room. It was as if the rest of us grew smaller and he grew stronger and more dominant the longer the meeting continued.

His thoughtful disciplined but friendly and warm personality made him a leader who could define the right policies and the right behaviors.

Nelson Mandela was truly the father of an integrated, democratic South Africa.

He will be an inspiration for generations to come and an historic leader worth studying for as long as people want to learn about greatness in serving others.

Callista and I extend our condolences and our prayers to the Mandela family and to the people of South Africa.

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Finally, if you had been imprisoned for 27 years, 18 of them in a cell eight foot by seven foot, how do you think you would have emerged? Would you have been angry? Would you have been bitter?

Nelson Mandela emerged from 27 years in prison as an astonishingly wise, patient, and compassionate person.

He called for reconciliation among the races. He invited his prison guard to sit in the front row at his inauguration as President. In effect he said to the entire country, “If I can forgive the man who imprisoned me, surely you can forgive your neighbors.”

Far from behaving like a communist, President Mandela reassured businesses that they could invest in South Africa and grow in South Africa. He had learned that jobs come from job creators.

I was very privileged to be able to meet with President Mandela and present the Congressional Medal of Freedom. As much as any person in our lifetime he had earned our respect and our recognition.

Before you criticize him, ask yourself, what would you have done in his circumstances?

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You're referring to the phony 99% Occubabies, right ? Of course you are. Vandalize private property, rape, do drugs, plot to blow up bridges, threaten to kill / eat the " rich ", etc... No wonder they adore Mandela.

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