Ted Cruz: I Took Money From Those Gays But I'm Still Against Same-Sex Marriage UPDATE: Maybe It Wasn't A Fundraiser?

Earlier today the New York Times reported that Sen. Ted Cruz held a fundraiser this week in the Manhattan penthouse of multimillionaire gay hoteliers Ian Reisner and Mati Weiderpass (above). As you can imagine, that report has caused a furor in Teabagistan and tonight Cruz had to rush out a reassuring statement.

Ted Cruz was forced to reiterate his stance against same-sex marriage in a Thursday night statement after a news report of comments he made at a fundraising event on Monday in New York City cast some doubt. Cruz, who hopes to court evangelical voters to support his presidential bid, stood by what he reportedly told a small group, hosted by "two prominent gay hoteliers," according to The New York Times. The Times reported his remarks seemed to signal a softening of his beliefs on same-sex marriage, a charge Cruz dismissed.

"It speaks volumes that The New York Times considers it newsworthy that a Republican who believes marriage is between a man and a woman would meet with people who hold a different view," Cruz said in a statement. Earlier on Thursday, the Times -- a frequent rhetorical target of Cruz on the stump -- published an account of an event on Monday evening in which Cruz said he would treat his young daughters the same if one of them told him she was gay. Cruz agreed with that reporting, but ridiculed the suggestion in the article that he was somehow shaping his views to suit the audience's. The Texas senator said he told the crowd that he opposed same-sex marriage. The Times reported that he did not mention that belief, only noting that he believes marriage is a state issue

News about the fundraiser has also ignited the gay blogosphere and a Facebook group calling for a boycott of the hoteliers' properties already has 1000 members.

UPDATE: There are conflicting reports at whether the event with Cruz was a fundraiser.  CNN is saying that it was, but the New York Times is saying this "Mr. Cruz was on a fund-raising tour of New York City, although the dinner was not a fund-raiser." Reisner's statement in the post above this one does not say.

UPDATE II: I should have identified Mati Weiderpass in the above photo posted to the Facebook boycott page.