- The Washington Times - Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Economist and conservative thinker Thomas Sowell has endorsed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz for president, saying his Republican rival Donald Trump would lead the party — and the country — to “disaster.”

In an op-ed Tuesday for Real Clear Politics, Mr. Sowell, 85, said the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia “can be catastrophic in its consequences, depending on who is chosen to be his successor.”

He went on to say that “the frivolous rhetoric and childish antics in the televised political ’debates’ are painful to watch. If ever there was a time to choose a president with depth, rather than glitter or glibness, this is it.”

“Whatever the achievements of anyone in some other field, we cannot afford a novice in the complex world of politics and government at a time of grave dangers at home and internationally,” Mr. Sowell wrote. “Some seem to think that Donald Trump’s lead in the polls and in the New Hampshire primary make him the most electable candidate, even if he often acts like an overgrown spoiled brat.

“If, by some miracle, Trump became president, what kind of president would he be?” he asked. “Do we need another self-centered know-it-all in the White House to replace the one we have now?”

Mr. Sowell continued: “If the Republicans are to avoid having Donald Trump lead them — and the country — to disaster, they are going to have to have the majority of non-Trump supporters get behind some given candidate. Senator Ted Cruz has been criticized in this column before, and will undoubtedly be criticized here again. But we can only make our choices among those actually available, and Senator Cruz is the one who comes to mind when depth and steadfastness come to mind. As someone who once clerked for a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, he will know how important choosing Justice Scalia’s replacement will be. And he has the intellect to understand much more.”

• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.

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