Cruz blasts Washington Post cartoon depicting daughters

TULSA, Okla. — Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz says a Washington Post cartoon depicting his 5- and 7-year-old daughters as monkeys is inappropriate and that children of candidates should be off-limits in campaigns.

The cartoon, which criticized Cruz for using his children in a TV ad, depicted the candidate as an organ grinder dressed as Santa and his daughters as dancing monkeys. The newspaper pulled the cartoon Tuesday from its website, saying “it’s generally the policy of our editorial section to leave children out of it.”

Speaking to reporters Wednesday in Tulsa, Cruz said he has thick skin but the cartoon “ticks me off.” Cruz said he appreciates the newspaper withdrawing the cartoon.

Cruz is wrapping up a tour through several Southern states with stops in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.