Writing in Psychology Today, eminent neurologist Richard E. Cytowic, M.D. claims that Ted Cruz’ atypical facial expressions make him “uneasy”. Dr. Cytowic is truly an eminent neurologist. Reading this article in Scientific American, one understands that this guy has a really, really big brain. So, if Ted Cruz’ facial expressions make him “uneasy” we must believe what he writes… right? Not so fast there, doc.

From the article:

The Senator’s atypical expressions leave me uneasy.

Before I say why, note how many colleagues and former associates “loathe” him. A Bush alumnus told the New York Times’ Frank Bruni, “Why do people take such an instant dislike to Ted Cruz? It just saves time.” Former Senate Majority leader Bob Dole says, “Nobody likes him,” while Rep. Peter King sees “malice.” According to The Washington Post, screenwriter Craig Mazin, Cruz’s former Princeton roommate, has called him a “huge asshole,” and “creepy.” He’s Tweeted, “Getting emails blaming me for not smothering Ted Cruz in his sleep in 1988.” The distaste for Cruz even extends beyond the US: Germans say Backpfeifengesicht, meaning a face in need of a good punch.

First things first, the Germans didn’t invent backpfeifengesicht to describe Ted Cruz. As a matter of fact, there is no evidence that a German has even used backpfeifengesicht to describe Ted Cruz. There is, however, a Twitter meme for backpfeifengesicht and Ted Cruz that goes back to May, 2013.