Phil Robertson Endorses Ted Cruz, “He’ll Go Duck Hunting”
OutdoorHub Reporters 01.14.16
In a video released by Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign on Wednesday, Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson officially endorsed the US Senator as his choice for the commander-in-chief.
Cruz said he had dinner with the Robertson family last Sunday at their home in West Monroe, Louisiana and bonded over a duck hunt.
“I am thrilled to have Phil’s support for our campaign,” Cruz said in a statement. “The Robertson’s [sic] are a strong family of great Christian faith and conservative values. Phil’s story of starting off with something small and working hard to achieve the American dream is inspiring. Much like my parents, and many other Americans, who started a small business and worked hard to provide for our family. If we as conservatives come together in 2016 and fight for the values that have made this country exceptional, we will win the White House and turn this country around.”
What won over Robertson’s support? According to the founder of Duck Commander and star of A&E’s reality TV show Duck Dynasty, it may have something to do with Cruz’s willingness to get some mud on his boots in a duck hunt.
“My qualifications for President of the United States are rather narrow,” Robertson said in a video, which you can watch below. “Is he or she Godly, does he or she love us, can he or she do the job, and finally would they kill a duck and put him in a pot and make him a good duck gumbo? I’ve looked at the candidates, Ted Cruz is my man. He fits the bill. He’s Godly, he loves us, he’s the man for the job, and he will go duck hunting because today we’re going.”
Being endorsed by Robertson is sure to win Cruz some favor among the patriarch’s fans, but the Robertson family is not united in their choice of candidates. Late last year Phil Robertson’s son and current CEO of Duck Commander, Willie Robertson, announced his support for rival Republican candidate Donald Trump. Willie Robertson appeared at one of Trump’s rallies last September in Oklahoma to endorse the GOP frontrunner.
“I do like me some Trump, I gotta admit,” he said on stage at the rally.
Previously, the younger Robertson spoke in support of Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, who dropped out of the presidential race late last year.
Edit 1-15-2015: Article has been amended to reflect that Bobby Jindal has dropped out of the 2016 US presidential race.
