Iowa-based radio host Steve Deace, a key endorser for Sen. Ted Cruz's (R-TX) presidential campaign, attempted to deflect criticism he received following a vulgar tweet he sent during the December 15 Republican presidential debate by bringing up the deceptively-edited Planned Parenthood videos.

During the December 15 GOP debate, Deace tweeted in response to Carly Fiornia's opening statement, “Wow ... Fiorina goes full vagina right away.” Deace, who has a history of making offensive and intolerant comments, later apologized, saying that his wife told him his tweet was “too vulgar.”

After receiving a media backlash, Deace attempted to deflect from his comments by bringing up the widely debunked and deceptively-edited Planned Parenthood videos produced by the anti-choice fringe group Center for Medical Progress (CMP):

Deace also claimed it was “intellectually dishonest” to link his comments to Cruz.

But Deace has a close relationship with the Texas senator, which began well in advance of Deace's official endorsement in August. Since his endorsement, Deace has helped the Cruz campaign by introducing the candidate at the opening of one of Cruz's campaign offices and was with him prior to the October 28 GOP presidential debate “discussing [the] debate.”