During the 2018 midterms race for the junior Senator's seat in Texas, GOP candidate Ted Cruz suffered a bit of an image problem among voters. In comparison to his Democratic opponent, Cruz lacked a "cool factor."
While image issues did not stop Cruz from retaining his Senate seat in deep red Texas, Cruz won by just 2.6%, with 50.1% to Beto O'Rourke's 48.3%. Third party Libertarian candidate Neal Dikeman garnered 0.8% in a state that Republican Donald Trump carried by almost 9%.
And outside of Texas, Cruz's popularity is negligible as evidenced by a request by Cruz for special access to a recent concert in Irving, Texas.
According to Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor, Cruz asked to be added to the guest list. But Reznor had a colorful response for the Senator. The rock star relayed the story to the crowd and an attendee shared it on Reddit.
Watch the video here.
https://www.reddit.com/r/nin/comments/a17x54/trent_asks_the_crowd_who_voted_for_ted_cruz_1127/
Reznor asked for the house lights to be raised so he could check for people “who voted” for Cruz in the 2018 midterms. Reznor said:
"Who voted for Ted Cruz? See the lights aren’t on, I can’t see. Is there any way to turn the lights on? I’d like to see. Raise your hand, you guys, nothing to be ashamed of, just checking."
Reznor then added:
"He might be here tonight, he was bugging to get on the guest list, and I told him to fuck off,"
Reznor claimed VIP access had been granted to Cruz in the past. He stated:
"We put [Cruz] on a few years ago, he drank all the beer, and was just a pain in the ass to be around."
Plenty of people sounded off on Reznor's story.
Most people applauded the choice by Reznor.
@thehill Trent 2020 https://t.co/2iMox8gvRo— Angel Partí (@Angel Partí) 1543446496.0
@thehill @MikeHersh Well done.— Lee Alexander (@Lee Alexander) 1543462162.0
@thehill https://t.co/8u0ZEmldbE— J (@J) 1543446646.0
@thehill Cruz should to listen to Year Zero. Then look up the Viability Index. Might enlighten him.— Edani (@Edani) 1543447560.0
@thehill Yet another reason to break out some old Nine Inch Nails.— Tammy (@Tammy) 1543449398.0
@thehill "Reznor claimed the group placed Cruz on their guest list several years ago, but alleged that “he drank al… https://t.co/FYJ0pFpNN4— Živilee (@Živilee) 1543447162.0
@zivinilee @thehill Which is unsurprising— Lydia Kravitz (@Lydia Kravitz) 1543452106.0
Finally some good news https://t.co/oZgFG23CBh— Visionary Director Scott Wampler™ (@Visionary Director Scott Wampler™) 1543443513.0
Ted Cruz’s weaselly ass getting windmill dunked on by Trent Reznor was precisely the morale boost I needed today. Thank you, @trent_reznor.— Visionary Director Scott Wampler™ (@Visionary Director Scott Wampler™) 1543444621.0
I cannot stop thinking about Ted Cruz getting shut the fuck down by Trent Reznor (Ted Cruz hangs up the phone hav… https://t.co/9GoqX9Mdj7— Visionary Director Scott Wampler™ (@Visionary Director Scott Wampler™) 1543445395.0
(Ted Cruz’s daughters enter the room) Daughters: “Did you get us into NIN or not you sniveling bitch” Ted Cruz: “… https://t.co/L3Sh5BrN8W— Visionary Director Scott Wampler™ (@Visionary Director Scott Wampler™) 1543445683.0
I would like to thank everyone who fav’d this for helping me dunk on @tedcruz.— Visionary Director Scott Wampler™ (@Visionary Director Scott Wampler™) 1543452678.0
@ScottWamplerBMD It’s funny. No one in congress seems to like him, either. You’d think he’d have figured out the co… https://t.co/AZCB3WhXI0— Jessica Dickens (@Jessica Dickens) 1543468540.0
@frangeladuo Ted Cruz had to settle for listening to Vent Reznor https://t.co/CePWjMldKL— Daniel Ninja (@Daniel Ninja) 1543504270.0
While some tried to figure out which songs most appealed to Cruz. And why.
i can only assume he heard tracks like "march of the pigs" and "big man with a gun" and thought they were unironic… https://t.co/4JhRPz9kIX— public anomie (@public anomie) 1543518358.0
"i really like NIN" -Ted Cruz "that's some sellout shit, it's pop, not industrial. fucking Skinny Puppy or gtfo" -P… https://t.co/36EZJpiqIe— public anomie (@public anomie) 1543518883.0
@naxuu No Ted, that's not what Happiness In Slavery is about.— Jeremy Bailin (@Jeremy Bailin) 1543519387.0
@naxuu he's actually just a really big fan of "hurt" and knows trent closes with it every night— goodbye the band (@goodbye the band) 1543519516.0
While a few called for civility to return between "both parties," as if Trent Reznor is now an official spokesman or elected official instead of a private citizen with an opinion.
The Texas GOP Senator has yet to comment on Reznor's claims or say whether he did attend the concert as a paying customer.