CLEVELAND, Ohio—Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.) said Sen. Ted Cruz’s speech at the Republican National Convention "did not serve him well," and called for party unity.
Blackburn was the featured speaker at a women in politics event hosted by the Atlantic at the Republican National Convention, Thursday. Moderator Alex Wagner asked Blackburn’s reaction to Cruz’s remarks, in which he declined to endorse Donald Trump, drawing loud boos in the arena.
"I thought the situation last night with Senator Cruz who was asked to come and accepted the invitation to come and then not to endorse, I thought that was most unfortunate and it did not serve him well," Blackburn said. "I think as he lets time and space play its course, he will look back at that at some point and say, ‘Why did I choose to do that?"
"I would have preferred to see everybody come together," she said. "It does not matter if it’s community, a state, our nation. We need to. We are going to achieve more when we agree on the things that unite us and Republican women will take a lead in reuniting our party and encouraging these guys."
Blackburn added that Republicans busy fighting each other need to "get over" themselves.
"As I said several times this week, same thing I would tell my kids when they were growing up, get over yourself," she said. "Or as Taylor Swift would say, ‘shake it off.’ Let's go, let's move on, we've got bigger goals to achieve."
Blackburn, an early supporter of Trump, spoke highly of the Republican nominee, saying he "has tapped into the frustration and anger of the American people this year more than anyone I have seen."
"He is a terrific listener and he is interested in what you do," Blackburn said, speaking of her friendship with Trump, which dates back to 2008 when she was a surrogate for John McCain.
"He is also interested in what you accomplish, he is very interested in how D.C. works and always had good, solid questions to people that were on his team," she said.
"As you talk to people that have worked in his organization, they talk about how engaging he is and how curious and Donald Jr. spoke to that, they talk to people who have a PhD in common sense," Blackburn said.
Blackburn also blasted liberals for holding a double standard when it comes to sexist attacks against conservative women.
"I had a reporter yesterday at MSNBC that said something about, 'Don't you think all of this against Hillary is so out of control,’" she said. "I looked at him and said have you read my Facebook or my Twitter feed?"
"Let's go talk about how mean liberals can be to conservative women," Blackburn said. "We are at the bottom of the rung in the pecking order and much of it is because of the callous and disrespectful and distasteful nature in which men and liberal women many times will discount a Republican or a conservative female's point of view."