Keller @ Large: Battle Over Values

BOSTON (CBS) - Oh my, it's getting testy between erstwhile anger buddies Ted Cruz and Donald Trump.

Cruz has picked up on the fact that in Iowa and elsewhere, evangelicals have not warmed to Trump's Playboy After Dark persona.

In a recent article for cnn.com, the president of something called Florida Family Action noted that "if elected, Trump would be the first president to be married three times to different women, leaving each for the next woman; regularly use [obscenities] in public speech… state publicly that he has never asked for God's (or anyone else's), forgiveness and that he doesn't forgive; [and say] about his daughter that 'if Ivanka were not my daughter, I would be dating her.'"

Cruz summarized all this in a radio interview yesterday by saying: "Donald comes from New York and he embodies New York values."

Oh no, not that!

Trump can take care of himself, but the remark did get me thinking – what exactly are "New York values"?

I know plenty of New Yorkers whose values seem both familiar and admirable – love of family and friends, strong work ethic, commitment to community. In this context, their sports allegiances cannot be held against them.

Come to think of it, what about Massachusetts values?

Some clueless right-wingers like to paint us as a pack of hedonistic atheists, but if that description had legs, Rick Santorum would be president.

Donald Trump may embody New York style in some ways, admirably or not.

But when a pol on the make starts in on someone else's values, I suggest you hold tight to your wallet.

Listen to Jon's commentary: