Cruz slams Trump for opposing NC trans bathroom law

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and GOP front-runner Donald Trump sparred Thursday over North Carolina's law requiring transgender individuals to use the bathroom that corresponds with their birth gender, according to a CBS News report this morning.

The Associated Press reported, “Donald Trump says he believes transgender people should be able to use whichever bathroom they choose.

“Speaking at a town hall event on NBC's Today Thursday, Trump said North Carolina's so-called ‘bathroom law,’ which directs transgender people to use the bathroom that matches the gender on their birth certificates, has caused unnecessary strife.

"’There have been very few complaints the way it is. People go, they use the bathroom that they feel is appropriate. There has been so little trouble,’ he says.”

The CBS report quoted Cruz as saying the country has “gone off the deep end” over the issue of transgender bathrooms.

"’That's not a reasonable position, it is simply crazy and the idea that grown men would be allowed alone in a bathroom with little girls -- you don't need to be a behavioral psychologist to realize bad things can happen, and any prudent person wouldn't allow that,’ he continued.”

CBS’ coverage of the argument continued, with Trump quoted as saying, "’Look, North Carolina did something that was very strong, and they're paying a big price. And there's a lot of problems,’ he said. ‘I heard one of the best answer I heard was from a commentator yesterday saying leave it the way it is right now. There have been very few problems.

"’Leave it the way it is,’ Trump continued. ‘There have been very few complaints the way it is. People go. They use the bathroom they feel is appropriate. There has been so little trouble.’"

Still, according to the AP, he says he's opposed to the move to create new, non-gendered bathrooms open to anyone, calling that push "discriminatory in a certain way" and "unbelievably expensive for businesses and the country."

The AP report concluded by saying, “Ted Cruz is criticizing Donald Trump for opposing North Carolina's new bathroom law, saying his rival is giving in to ‘political correctness.’

“Cruz supports the North Carolina measure and says, ‘Grown adult men, strangers, should not be alone in a bathroom with little girls.’ He says his view is ‘basic common sense.’”

CBS quoted Cruz, speaking at a rally in Frederick MD, as saying, "Donald agreed with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in attacking the state of North Carolina for passing their bathroom ordinance. And Donald on television this morning said gosh he thought men should be able to go into the girls bathroom if they want to. Now let me ask you: have we gone stark raving nuts?"

The Gayly – April 21, 2016 @ 11:10 a.m.