Ted Cruz has never made a secret of just how much he loves The Simpsons. (Remember when BuzzFeed got him to do a bunch of unimpressive impressions of the show’s characters?) The Texas senator serves as a perfect example of how it’s possible to love something without ever actually understanding it, especially if you are of Cruz’ level of mediocrity.
At this week’s Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, Ben Domenech of the rightwing site The Federalist interviewed Cruz and asked about the teaching moments provided by The Simpsons and the connections one can draw between the show and real-life politics. Specifically, he brought up the episode in which Homer buys a gun, and Lisa insists that the Second Amendment is a “remnant from Revolutionary days” that “has no meaning today.”
Cruz responded with the wild and misguided declaration that “I think the Democrats are the party of Lisa Simpson and the Republicans are, happily, the party of Homer and Bart and Maggie and Marge.”
Where to start with this inanity? Maybe with the fact that Maggie is a baby, so we probably shouldn’t claim to know her political leanings. Or with the fact that when in college, Marge participated in feminist bra-burning rallies, and later was a staunch supporter of presumed Democrat Mary Bailey.
Ted Cruz’s fundamental misunderstanding of this thing he purportedly loves almost makes me feel sorry for him. But then I remember that he’s Ted Cruz. On top of the blatant factual errors in his statement, he spectacularly misses the point of these characters, and beyond that, the entire point of the show. Namely, that yes, Homer is probably a Republican. He might have been grifted into voting for Trump. And in the eyes of the show itself, that’s not a point in his favor.
The entire point of the Simpsons is that Homer is a walking example of what not to do and Lisa is the voice of reason. Ted Cruz is the least self-aware organism on the planet. pic.twitter.com/giiuUz8sOK
— Joe Berkowitz (@JoeBerkowitz) February 22, 2018
Bart sets things on fire and Homer is almost always drunk. Lisa is a hardworking genius who cares deeply about the world.
Thank you @tedcruz for setting the record straight! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 https://t.co/0ci4FaCKIf— Krista Vernoff (@KristaVernoff) February 22, 2018
Lisa is frequently viewed by other characters (especially Homer) as a buzzkill, and yes, sometimes she is. But she’s also pretty much always right. And we, the audience, know that. While Homer is carefree and nearly always wrong, Lisa is his perfect foil. She’s the Penny and Brain to his Inspector Gadget. She does all of the emotional and intellectual work and gets none of the credit.
Yet this is the man Ted Cruz is proud to have represent his party’s base, specifically when it comes to guns:
— Neuter Rifle Advocates (@coreypierceart) February 22, 2018
— Neuter Rifle Advocates (@coreypierceart) February 22, 2018
And oh look, it’s the characters running that party.
We know what characters the Republicans are the party of. pic.twitter.com/fzGqu1nefJ
— Robin LeBlanc, from work (@TheThirstyWench) February 22, 2018
But the biggest facepalm in this whole analogy is the fact that in the future, LISA BECOMES PRESIDENT.
Ted Cruz said that “the Democrats are the party of Lisa Simpson.”
He does know Lisa wins the Presidency, right? pic.twitter.com/ySyIU54gdQ
— Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) February 22, 2018
Not only that, but President Lisa Simpson took office Donald Trump left the country with a major deficit.
Like Amy Poehler, Michael Schur, and the rest of the people behind Parks and Recreation telling the NRA to stop misusing their show’s content, or Dan Harmon telling all those misogynistic trolls that they fundamentally misunderstand Rick & Morty, it must sting to have the creator of your favorite show tell you how wrong you are.
.@TheSimpsons Ted Cruz says Maggie Simpson would vote for him.
I think Ted’s the one who could use a pacifier in his mouth.— Al Jean (@AlJean) February 22, 2018
.@TheSimpsons The way things are going even Mr. Burns is thinking of becoming a Democrat.
— Al Jean (@AlJean) February 22, 2018
Again, I might feel sorry for Cruz but, well, he’s Ted Cruz.
.@TheSimpsons Ted they’re not saying “boo” they’re saying “Cruz”. Oh, wait, they are saying “boo”.
— Al Jean (@AlJean) February 22, 2018
(image: Fox)
Want more stories like this? Become a subscriber and support the site!
—The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—
Published: Feb 23, 2018 01:47 pm