The latest MSNBC rant against Sen. Ted Cruz and his tea party principles came Wednesday, with on-air host Martin Bashir likening the Texas Republican lawmaker to a cult leader who led dozens of his followers to kill themselves.
“Do you think Ted Cruz is a bit like the David Koresh of the Republican Party? He’s a bit like a character who believes himself to be anointed, believes himself to be a prophet, ignores everything and torches the place in the process,” Mr. Bashir said during his show.
Koresh died during an FBI siege at his Waco, Texas, compound in 1993 — along with dozens of his followers, women and children included. He thought he was the final prophet of the Branch Dividians religious group.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives camped out at the compound for 51 days in the belief the leader had stashes of firearms in violation of law.
After AFT attempted to raid the ranch, Koresh led a 51-day siege that eventually ended when the FBI stormed the facility and it caught fire. Among the dead: Koresh, 54 of his adult followers and 28 children.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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