The other Ted vying for Texas Senate is demanding a mysterious pop-up Super PAC stop blasting out mailers and campaign ads supporting him, including ones calling incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz a “cuck” and “spineless simp.”
Libertarian Texas Senate hopeful Ted Brown ripped into the Save Western Culture PAC for distorting some of his views, particularly on immigration, and expressed dismay that his name is being put on ads he didn’t approve.
“The problem is that they’re they’re misstating my message. And I don’t want people to think that I’m like one of these right-wing anti-immigrant people when I’m not,” Brown vented to The Post.
“I don’t want them to think that I run hit pieces on people on TV,” he added. ” I’m a very polite person.”
The Save Western Culture PAC has emerged as a late-stage player in at least a dozen competitive House races as well as the Senate contests in Texas and Maryland, often backing what some consider spoiler candidates.
The group registered with the Federal Election Commission on Oct. 11, ensuring that its donor information will remain likely under wraps through Election Day.
Thus far, Save Western Culture has shelled out over $1 million to help boost Libertarian candidates in tight races, available evidence indicates. GOP operatives are suspicious that left-leaning groups are behind the PAC.
Based on flyers and ads The Post has seen, Save Western Culture has generally worked to portray Libertarian aspirants as being more Trump-aligned than Republican candidates in tight races.
When The Post previously attempted to contact the Save Western Culture PAC, the number it listed on FEC forms was inactive.
Brown wasn’t able to get in touch with the PAC either but told The Post the message he sent.
“This is Ted Brown, the Senate candidate you have been ‘helping’ with your independent expenditure ads,” his message to the PAC read in part. “That is really not something I want my name on. I don’t know what else you have up your sleeve, and I know you can’t coordinate with a candidate, but I don’t like attack ads.”
Over recent days, Brown says he has gotten some backlash from voters who were disgruntled with some of the ads the PAC has bankrolled in his name.
One flyer that was sent out complained that “the border is overrun with illegals and criminals” and taunted incumbent Cruz, suggesting he needs to “man up.”
An angry Texan emailed Brown pictures of a commercial he claimed appeared on the Weather Channel from his Roku device, calling it “truly tasteless” and “one of the most disturbing ads I have ever witnessed in my lifetime.”
That spot similarly went after Cruz’s manhood, calling him the “Cucked King” and bashing the Lone Star State senator over his infamous trip to “Cuck Cun,” a play on Cancun, when Texas endured a 2021 cold snap that led to widespread power outages. It further suggested that Cruz’s wife Heidi must think he’s a “Cucked soy boy.”
A text blast backed by the PAC hailed Brown as a “conservative libertarian”
“The Texas way of life is under threat. The WOKE MOB is destroying us while ILLEGALS CROSS OUR BORDER. Senator TED CRUZ SUPPORTED a plan that would’ve allowed over 11 MILLION ILLEGALS TO STAY in the United States,” the text claimed.
“TED BROWN is running for Senate and HAS MOMENTUM. He’ll END THE IMMIGRATION INVASION with free-market solutions.”
Cruz is perhaps the Democrats’ No. 1 Senate target this cycle as his seat is widely seen as the most competitive among incumbent Republicans. He is facing stiff competition from Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas).
The Post contacted both Cruz’s and Allred’s campaigns for comment.
“I wouldn’t call it cheating. I mean, all is fair in love and war. It’s like politics 101 — try to depress the other guy’s vote,” Brown reflected. “If they’re going to be sending out something with my name on it, I wish it would reflect my views.”
Still, at this stage, Brown isn’t anticipating that he will take legal against against the enigmatic super PAC.
Brown also shrugged off concerns that he would function as a spoiler in the Senate race.
“They always say that about Libertarians and about Green candidates,” he said. “You can’t spoil something that’s already rotten and rotten already.”
Maryland Senate hopeful Larry Hogan’s team raged against the Save Western Culture PAC’s meddling in that race, with a spokesperson stressing that “lying to voters while asking for their trust is a slap in the face to our most sacred democratic processes.”
This week, The Post obtained audio of a phone banker associated with the PAC, highlighting its antics against Hogan.
“Lockdown Larry said Biden won the 2020 election, closed our jobs and our schools, called President Trump outrageous and unacceptable, and said conservative values are absurd and dangerous,” the call said.
Notably, the candidate the PAC is backing in that race — Libertarian Mike Scott — has similarly told The Post he had no connection to the group. Moreover, Scott has been a fierce critic of former President Donald Trump.
In Iowa District 1, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) was hit with ads from the group bashing her for backing legislation that supported Muslim countries.
“Marianeette Miller-Meeks thinks our tax dollars should be sent to an Islamic State,” a flyer from the group chided.
The Cook Political Report rates the seat as a Republican toss-up.
“RINO Marianeette Miller-Meeks supported using our tax dollars to arm an Islamic State, providing weapons to a Muslim nation. American leaders should be fighting to contain the spread of Islam and prevent Sharia Law,” a text blast from the PAC read.
“Every election cycle, national Democrats set up dark-money groups designed to confuse voters and prop up third-party candidates who have no chance at winning,” National Republican Senatorial Committee Communications Director Mike Berg previously told The Post.
“This seems to be more of the same, and voters should reject this disingenuous tactic.”
