Here I pause to say I know nothing of Ted Cruz's record of honesty. I have no idea whether he is better or worse than any other politician. I'm focusing on his physical appearance and Trump's persuasion. And on those levels, Lyin' Ted simply looked like a liar. The reality might be very different, but that doesn't matter to our story today. What matters is that the Lyin' Ted nickname stuck like glue. It was fresh political wording, it was provocative, it had a visual element in Cruz's liar-looking face, and it was designed to get stronger over time with confirmation bias. You can't engineer persuasion better than that.
In discussing Ted Cruz's persona, the author expresses a clear uncertainty regarding Cruz's honesty compared to other politicians. Instead, the focus is on Cruz's physical appearance and how Donald Trump's persuasive tactics shaped public perception. The nickname "Lyin' Ted" became an effective political tool, resonating deeply with voters due to its imaginative and provocative nature.
The author notes that while the reality of Cruz's honesty may differ, the impact of the...
