Former Gov. Bill Richardson (D) said Monday his remark that Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) should not be "defined as a Hispanic" was "misinterpreted" in an interview with Fox News:
SHEPARD SMITH: Over the weekend, you said that the freshman senator out of Texas, Ted Cruz, shouldn't be able to call himself Hispanic. What was that?
RICHARDSON: No, that was a misunderstanding. I said that he shouldn't be defined as a Hispanic. I'm a Hispanic. I don't define myself just as a Hispanic, so that was misinterpreted.
Richardson made the remark in an online interview with ABC News Sunday (at the 2:19 mark):
ABC: 'What does he think of Ted Cruz?'
RICHARDSON: I'm not a fan. I know he's sort of the Republican latest flavor. He's articulate, he seems to be charismatic. But I don't like his politics. I think he introduces a measure of incivility in the political process; insulting people is not the way to go. [...]
ABC: Do you think he represents most Hispanics with his politics?
RICHARDSON: No, he’s anti-immigration. Almost every Hispanic in the country wants to see immigration reform. I don’t think he should be defined as a Hispanic. He's a politician from Texas, a conservative state, and I respect Texas' choice.