Politically incorrect: The 14 worst insults of the 2016 GOP campaign

The 2016 Republican presidential campaign is stretching the phrase “politically correct” to its breaking point.

With insults and accusations about intelligence, pants peeing, hair color, ear size, hand size, height and sweat whizzing daily across the GOP battlefield, conservative politics right now is anything but politically correct.

Many of the harshest insults have been cast by Donald Trump, but he is not alone in the mud slinging. Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio escalated their attacks in February, lobbing zingers of their own, mostly in Trump’s direction. Even former GOP nominee Mitt Romney got in on the dissing, and he isn’t even running.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich is the only remaining candidate yet to dive into the scrum, a strategy that sets him apart from the pack, but hasn’t helped much in the polls.

In no particular order we present the harshest barbs (so far) of the 2016 Republican presidential campaign. These are the insults that left a mark.

Rubio: "If he hadn't inherited two-hundred million dollars you know where Donald Trump would be right now? Selling watches in Manhattan."

Said: During Feb. 26 GOP debate

Rubio: “He's flying around on Hair-force One and tweeting. … A guy with the worst spray tan in America is attacking me for putting on makeup. Donald Trump likes to sue people. He should sue whoever did that to his face."

Said: On campaign trail in Kennesaw, Ga.

Bush: “Just one other thing, I've got to get this off my chest. Donald Trump is a jerk. You cannot insult your way to the presidency. … Who is he kidding?"

Said: On campaign trail in New Hampshire

Trump: “I think (Jeb) is scared. … He's having a hard time running. He's really had a, he was supposed to be, because of the name, you know everyone thought he was the odds-on favorite and I defined him — I gave him this term — 'low energy.' I said he's a low-energy individual."

Said: On ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’

Cruz: "Donald is throwing yet another temper tantrum, or rather a Trumpertantrum. … It seems his reaction to everything is to throw a fit."

Said: On campaign trail in Goffstown, NH and Twitter

Rubio: "(Trump) wanted a full-length mirror. Maybe to make sure his pants weren't wet."

Said: On campaign trail in Dallas, TX

Romney: "Here's what I know: Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. … His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. He's playing members of the American public for suckers. He gets a free ride to the White House, and all we get is a lousy hat."

Said: During speech at the University of Utah

Trump: "Mitt Romney, who was one of the dumbest and worst candidates in the history of Republican politics, is now pushing me on tax returns. Dope!"

Said: On Twitter

Trump: "Just watched lightweight Marco Rubio lying to a small crowd about my past record. He is not as smart as Cruz, and may be an even bigger liar."

Said: On Twitter

Rubio: “They paid $15,000 for this course. … If they really wanted the real secrets of success, they had to pay even more money, and so they did. And you know what they got in these courses? Stuff you can pull off of Zillow. When they finally realized what a scam it was, they asked for their money back.”

Said: During March 3 GOP debate

Trump: “@JebBush is a sad case. A total embarrassment to both himself and his family, he just announced he will continue to spend on Trump hit ads!”

Said: On Twitter

Trump: "Rubio has won nothing. He couldn't get elected dog catcher in Florida. They hate him in the state of Florida. … They cannot stand him."

Said: On campaign trail in Bentonville, Ark.

Trump: "I call him lightweight Rubio … I see him starting to sweat like, I have never seen anything like it. Thank god he has really large ears. The biggest ears I've ever seen. Because they were protecting him. I have never seen any human being sweat like this guy."

Said: On campaign trail in Bentonville, Ark.

Rubio: "He’s always calling me ‘Little Marco’ ... He has the hands the size of someone who is five-two. Have you seen his hands? And you know what they say about men with small hands. You can't trust them."

Said: On the campaign trail in Salem, Va.

This story was originally published March 4, 2016 at 9:57 PM with the headline "Politically incorrect: The 14 worst insults of the 2016 GOP campaign."