National Politics - 2016

Ted Cruz's Manchurian Voters

A POLITICAL TWILIGHT ZONE?  While GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump has ridden a wave of populist angst to his lofty position in the polls, the No. 2 candidate in the “Republican” field – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas – has been clawing his way into contention via an aggressive grassroots movement and…

A POLITICAL TWILIGHT ZONE? 

While GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump has ridden a wave of populist angst to his lofty position in the polls, the No. 2 candidate in the “Republican” field – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas – has been clawing his way into contention via an aggressive grassroots movement and sophisticated data collection and exploitation.

Cruz is methodically micro-targeting voters … reprising and reinventing many of the turnout techniques successfully employed by U.S. president Barack Obama during his groundbreaking 2008 bid.

The latest example?  The “Cruz Crew” mobile app … which is being promoted by the campaign digitally and as part of its door-to-door canvassing efforts.

Take a look (it’s item No. 3 on the grassroots flyer below) …

(Click to enlarge)

cruz crew

(Pic Provided)

According to the Associated Press, Cruz’s app isn’t just about providing information – it’s built to take information as well.

Specifically, the app is “designed to gather detailed information from its users’ phones – tracking their physical movements and mining the names and contact information for friends who might want nothing to do with his campaign.”

Wait … what?

A presidential campaign is monitoring people’s movements?  Gathering their contact names and numbers from supporters’ cell phones?  

Yes … and ironically, it’s the campaign of a guy who has been a leader on privacy issues.

By downloading the “Cruz Crew” app, more than 60,000 users have given Cruz’s campaign” express consent to access your contact list.”  The app also tracks the location of the smartphone “so that we can connect you to other Cruz Crew users based on your particular geographic location.”

Um … that’s kind of creepy.  Creepier still?  Cruz’s campaign is sharing the information it gathers from your phone with other organizations – and with analytics companies.

Yikes …

Clearly this “Manchurian Candidate” approach to political campaigning has paid dividends for Cruz.  He narrowly won the 2016 Iowa Caucus and scored a better-than-expected third place finish in New Hampshire earlier this week.  Meanwhile in South Carolina, he’s currently polling in second place behind Trump.

And technically, his campaign is not doing anything wrong … as users who don’t want their contacts scoured or their physical locations tracked can opt-out of those features on the “Cruz Crew” app.

Still, there’s something more than a little bit unsettling about these sorts of tactics … to say nothing of the sort of people who would be willing to turn that kind of information over.

***

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59 comments

Mom February 11, 2016 at 8:02 pm

It’s not creepy. It’s innovative.

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Sad Sack February 11, 2016 at 8:09 pm

Cruz’s face? Now that’s creepy!

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Soft Sigh from Hell February 11, 2016 at 8:13 pm

Didn’t Jerry Falwell, shortly before his great departure, tell the world that the Antichrist was likely already among us?

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???? February 11, 2016 at 8:16 pm

He is.Bernie Sanders.

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Terry Ward February 11, 2016 at 8:17 pm

Hi pogo.

???? February 11, 2016 at 8:48 pm

Hey mamatiger.OT?I am pissed.

idcydm February 11, 2016 at 8:19 pm

I think he did but that wouldn’t be Cruz. The Antichrist starts out as a nice guy, you know like Sanders. ;)

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JB February 11, 2016 at 8:22 pm

One of the reporters I followed on twitter during the Iowa caucus – tweeted that his uber driver said he was voting for Trump but was worried he was the antichrist.

BJ February 11, 2016 at 8:23 pm

Sounds like an idiot Trump supporter, for sure.

idcydm February 11, 2016 at 8:24 pm

I don’t thin most uber driver were valedictorians.

???? February 11, 2016 at 8:28 pm

There’s a reason why religion was illegal in the communist Soviet Union. To believe in something that could fulfill you that wasn’t the State was a direct challenge to government’s authority to run your life. It’s ironic that Bernie’s attempt to win points by likening himself to a man of faith actually reminds us that Bernie’s goal of revolution requires the eradication of religion.

Feel the BERN!

JB February 11, 2016 at 8:30 pm

Did you listen to Rush today? This sounds similar to what I heard him talking about. I didn’t catch all of it as I was just listening in my car while running an errand.

???? February 11, 2016 at 8:31 pm

You do realize Russia is big time Christian right?

???? February 11, 2016 at 8:30 pm

Pogo is the actual anti Christ.

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Paw February 11, 2016 at 8:15 pm

Ted Cruz has an App.
There are also Apps that strickly make fart noises.

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???? February 11, 2016 at 8:36 pm

At least fart apps are worth downloading.

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Who Cares? February 11, 2016 at 8:40 pm

Sound effects for Cruz’s face……how innovative…..

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???? February 11, 2016 at 9:02 pm

Better than the sounds that actually come out of his mouth on an average day. LMAO!!!

Who Cares? February 11, 2016 at 8:39 pm

It is creepy and so is Cruz…….!! A face that only ‘Mom’ could love….

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Not mom.. February 11, 2016 at 8:41 pm

Neither his mom nor children can stand him. Google videos of it…

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shifty henry February 11, 2016 at 8:59 pm

They are saying that when he was born he looked like a mush melon — but then they turned him right side up.

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Who Cares? February 11, 2016 at 9:23 pm

He was so ugly when he was born (in Canada) they named him ‘Shit happens’……..later changing it to Ted Cruz.

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Who Cares? February 11, 2016 at 9:25 pm

He is so ugly they have to put a paper bag over his head before the dog humps his leg……..

shifty henry February 12, 2016 at 1:23 pm

Is it true that his father wanted to name him Theophilus when he was born? Because he was the awfulest thing he’d ever seen?

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Soft Sigh from Hell February 11, 2016 at 8:04 pm

Why all this bother? Why doesn’t God just give him all this stuff? HE knows all.

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idcydm February 11, 2016 at 8:14 pm

Sounds like Cruz has better technical support than Fitsnews. Fits can’t even make this site stop jumping.

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GrandTango February 11, 2016 at 8:16 pm

Or scrape up a single advertiser.

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???? February 11, 2016 at 8:18 pm

Rocky and I are trying to help.

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Terry Ward February 11, 2016 at 8:20 pm

We know pogo, but you already ran a blog into nothingness.

Reply
???? February 11, 2016 at 8:28 pm

LMAO!! Looks like my impersonator is back! Ooh my!!!!!!!

J.Smith February 11, 2016 at 8:32 pm

He’s not very clever…..still.

???? February 11, 2016 at 8:34 pm

He is still pretending to be that Fannin guy. It’s kind of cute how stupid he is. He’s downloading all kinds of liberal pictures and cheering on Bernie just to imitate me. Played like a violin! LMAO!!!!!!

Terry Ward February 11, 2016 at 8:35 pm

Too easy.

???? February 11, 2016 at 8:36 pm

Damn.Just got called in from Fits HQ and it has ruined my night! Just got a new transgender,gay,straight boy/girl friend and we was eating paint chips for dinner.

pogo February 11, 2016 at 8:39 pm

Glad your enjoying my company, big boy. I was hoping you’d feed me more than paint chips, but I understand you being tight with your EBT, now that having a job will be a requirement. Now, back to tossing my salad…

???? February 11, 2016 at 9:06 pm

Explains why you are dumbly copying me!

???? February 11, 2016 at 8:21 pm

Na.You can be eating dinner at the Pow Wow in Tucumcari,NM and they can find ya?

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Rocky Verdad February 12, 2016 at 9:25 am

Was that David Fry kid your nephew?

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shifty henry February 11, 2016 at 8:56 pm

HAH..!!

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JB February 11, 2016 at 8:18 pm

Reading the article all of them except Donald and Hillary have apps – Cruz’s goes a little farther than the others with giving the info the data analytical company.

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Vicky S February 11, 2016 at 8:26 pm

Ted Cruz wife says he is the chosen one!

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Looney tunes February 11, 2016 at 8:30 pm

After movingbto Texas, Ted Cruz’s wife was found by police next to a highway acting erratic and had to be put in a mental hospital, so I bet she thinks all kinds of crazy things.

http://www.insideedition.com/headlines/14138-cops-found-ted-cruzs-wife-on-roadside-thought-she-was-a-danger-to-herself

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???? February 11, 2016 at 8:32 pm

Married to Ted has to be rough…

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???? February 11, 2016 at 8:47 pm

LMAO!!! At least Bill and Hillary didn’t leave Vince Foster on the highway.

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Yikes! February 11, 2016 at 8:54 pm

No children around, pogo?

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???? February 11, 2016 at 8:27 pm

Sounds like Cruz will be all about the NSA!

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pogo February 11, 2016 at 8:33 pm

So? I’m all about the NAMBLA.

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???? February 11, 2016 at 8:39 pm

If you say so!

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???? February 11, 2016 at 8:46 pm

Fits don’t hold that against me.

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Flip February 12, 2016 at 8:46 am

Pogo admitting he is employed by FITS and is a member of NAMBLA? Oh my! Screen shot!

LMAO!!!

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erneba February 11, 2016 at 9:18 pm

If the “Cruz Crew” mobile app flashes up the “queen of diamonds,” you are in some deep shit.

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sparklecity February 15, 2016 at 9:42 pm

“Let’s pass the time by playing a little solitare”………
Got the DVD in my library……….(right beside “Soylent Green”, “Panic in the Year Zero”, The Fire Next Time” , “Testament”, On The Beach”, “The Day After”, “Invasion USA” and that masterpiece of films: “Threads”{just don’t watch that if you’re suicidal….}.)

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shifty henry February 12, 2016 at 12:50 am

Mrs. Cruz is intimately involved with Goldman Sachs, as is Clinton — makes me wonder who is trying to buy this election — too much intrigue and influence for me — Cruz should resign from the senate before running because I don’t trust any politician who is not willing to put his faith in running at 100% …..

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sparklecity February 15, 2016 at 9:44 pm

And he should have given up his Canadian dual-citizenship card as soon as he ran for Senate……

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shifty henry February 16, 2016 at 11:46 am

I’ve been blocked by this cyber-attack and cannot enter Fitsnews except by responding to a comment — thanks. I’ll try to contact Fits and see if he can do anything from this end. If not, then I’ll try some other way…. so I can’t read or respond to any articles or comment for the time being. I can’t even read the articles — DAMN..!!

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Lakecrazy February 12, 2016 at 9:25 am

you have Choice on the app, you don’t have to let them have any of the information. GOP needs smart tech savvy candidates/organization.

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nitrat February 12, 2016 at 10:34 am

Read somewhere last night one of the Koch brothers front groups has made a $1.5 million buy of anti-Cruz ads.

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Donald J Rump February 12, 2016 at 12:26 pm

Ted Cruz sucks.

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John L. Battey February 12, 2016 at 6:36 pm

This is part of the standard package of improper, incorrect, indecorous, naughty, unbecoming, unseemly; corrupt, debased, debauched, degenerate, depraved, dissolute, libertine, perverted, reprobate; unprincipled, unscrupulous; atrocious, infamous, villainous; base, low, mean, vicious, vile; blameworthy, objectionable, offensive; iniquitous, nefarious operations that go along with hiring Jeff Roe, Ted’s campaign manager, and his company, Axiom Strategies. Karl Rove regards Jeff Roe as “dirty”.

Reply

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