Civil Discourse in America

"Sexual assault survivor questioned Cruz during disruption at fancy Washington D.C. restaurant. Cruz ignores her."
"This is a message to Ted Cruz, Brett Kavanaugh, Donald Trump and the rest of the racist, sexist, transphobic, and homophobic right-wing scum."
"You are not safe. We will find you. We will expose you. We will take from you the peace you have taken from so many others."
Smash Racism DC social media

"I'd love to talk to you about Brett Kavanaugh tonight."
"I'd love to know what  your vote is going to be tonight. I know that you're very close friends with Mr. Kavanaugh. Do you believe in survivors, sir?"
"Senator, we have a right to know what your position is on Brett Kavanaugh."
"God bless you, as well. I'm a survivor of sexual assault. I believe all survivors. There are now three people who have come forward and said that Brett Kavanaugh has attacked them."
"Would you talk to him about that?"
Unnamed women in mob group of 12, Fiola Italian restaurant, Washington, D.C.

"I did not try to leave the scene of the accident, though driving drunk, which I did, is a terrible mistake for which there is no excuse or justification or defense, and I will not try to provide one."
"Not right that Senator Cruz and his wife Heidi were surrounded and forced to leave a restaurant last night because of protesters."
"The Cruz family should be treated with respect."

Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Tex.), Democratic Senate candidate opposing Republican Cruz

Ted Cruz confronted in a D.C. restaurant about a mile from the U.S. Senate building. Smash Racism DC / Twitter

First it was President Trump's press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders who was refused a table at a rural Virginia restaurant. The restaurant owner refused to serve anyone who served Trump. Sanders gathered her dignity and her family and departed. As insults go, this was pretty stinging -- and socially indefensible. Last week it was Florida Governor Rick Scott, a Republican whom Mojos Real Cuban in Venice, Florida refused to serve, furious over the scourge of red tide algae presence in the state's waterways.

Senator Cruz and his wife were out for a evening's dining experience in Washington. They had made reservations at a restaurant popular with D.C. politicians of both stripes. Somehow, a motley assembly comprised of members of left-wing groups, a local anti-fascist group and a Democratic Socialists of America branch, and others got wind of the Cruz family reservation. They arrived an hour earlier to sit at the bar awaiting the Cruz's arrival. 

"[Politicians from both parties frequent Fiola often.] Everyone except Donald Trump. We're very bipartisan by nature", later explained a perturbed Maria Traochhi, a co-owner of the popular, upscale restaurant. "We're not trained to deal with this. How do you deal with things like this? It's crazy times", she opined, obviously unwilling to be viewed as supporting the ruckus that erupted leaving her and her staff fearful that violence might ensue. Not, however, from Senator Cruz who was being verbally crucified; his response to all the shrill charges shouted at him was: "God bless you, Ma'am."

His continued response to the ongoing confrontation was unwavering; polite, respectful and non-committal. Challenged by a woman whose odious behaviour he suffered, he remained polite throughout her harangue. That he had stated last week before a second woman declared herself to have been harassed by the candidate for the Supreme Court nominated by President Trump, and supported by him, irrespective of the hysteria now surrounding that nomination, that "These allegations are serious and deserve to be treated with respect", obviously held no currency with the raucous mob verbally assaulting the Senator.

The dozen self-righteous accusers kept flashing the cameras in their cellphones in the Senator's face, repeatedly chanting "We believe the survivors!", "Fascist, racist, anti-gay!", raising middle fingers, chanting continuously, "We believe the survivors!". As the Cruzes made to leave the premises, one of the men in the mob snarled a warning at other patrons in the restaurant, "This is what'll happen to you if you support Kavanaugh".

Police had been called. The restaurant staff stood watching, appalled at the viciousness of the attack on a couple who had assumed they had a right to privacy and a restful night out, enjoying a meal together after the stress of political life in the nation's capital that has become uber-partisan and unrelentingly ugly. The staff was uncomfortable and decidedly of the opinion that their hospitality was being besmirched by a demonstration of incivility unbecoming a civil society.

While the mob of a dozen misfits screamed and shouted at Senator Cruz, he responded with smiles, quietly repeating "God bless". Finally requesting of his attackers that they allow himself and his wife to leave without further ado: "Can you let my wife through?", he asked of the frenzied group. Finally a member of the restaurant staff ordered the mob to "Leave the premises. This is a private space." So by the time police arrived Senator Cruz had departed and the mob had left, mission accomplished.

And Smash Racism DC was quick to post videos of the event on their social media account. 

Last night, a group of protesters unexpectedly entered Fiola with the purpose of confronting Senator Cruz. Recognizing that there was a potential for escalation and concerned for the safety of all our customers, our management did what they could do to diffuse a difficult situation and, as is our policy, if there is ever an event of this nature, the police were immediately called.  We are trained at hospitality not public safety, and our highest priority is always the well-being of our customers. Separated from the protesters, the Senator exited the restaurant and the protesters left soon thereafter.
Fiola owners Fabio and Maria Trabocchi