Posted on 12/23/2015 7:37:29 AM PST by Isara
Oh, I could hear the balloon deflating all the way from the Politico headquarters.
Phllloooooooopppphhtt.
Last week, on the day of the highly-watched GOP presidential debate, someone gave Politico’s Mike Allen an enticing piece of catnip to put in his insidery morning email. Secret audio tape would soon be published on a conservative news site supposedly showing that Ted Cruz talks much differently to NYC moderates than Iowa evangelicals. “These leaks are designed to undermine Cruz’s authenticity,” Allen wrote.
The prospect of a juicy secret recording flew around the Internet.
People reported on the prospect of the audio tape, before ever hearing a word of what Cruz said. All by design, to be sure, just like Allen wrote. The whole intent was to plant the notion that Cruz is a big phony - without a shred of evidence.
Days and days went by. Nothing. Then, finally this morning Politico published the story. The day before Christmas Eve. Aka the holiday news dump. They didn’t have the goods. Someone put one over Mike Allen.
Now that it’s finally out, what did Cruz say? Absolutely nothing he hasn’t said in public before.
“During the question period, one of the donors told Cruz that gay marriage was one of the few issues on which the two disagreed. Then the donor asked: “So would you say it's like a top-three priority for you — fighting gay marriage?”
“No,” Cruz replied. “I would say defending the Constitution is a top priority. And that cuts across the whole spectrum — whether it's defending [the] First Amendment, defending religious liberty.”
The story went on:
“A well-known Republican operative not affiliated with a 2016 campaign said by email when sent Cruz's quote: "Wow. Does this not undermine all of his positions? Abortion, Common Core — all to the states? ... Worse, he sounds like a slick D.C. politician — says one thing on the campaign trail and trims his sails with NYC elites. Not supposed to be like that."
Hilarious. These operatives don’t seem to understand that the Constitution happens to cover religious liberty issues. Like marriage. And, pretty much everything else!
Moreover, as Politico even admits, Cruz has made the exact argument in public places, including during interviews with Stephen Colbert and Jay Leno!
Specifically, when Stephen Colbert suggested that Cruz believed there should be “no gay marriage,” Cruz stopped him and said, “Let’s be precise. Under the Constitution, marriage is a question for the states, if you want to change the marriage law--”
Colbert then interjected the “Constitution doesn’t mention marriage.”
And Cruz explained, “That’s exactly why it’s a question for the states. The 10th Amendment says if it doesn’t mention it, it’s a question for the states. That’s in the Bill of Rights. Everything that is not mentioned is left to the states.”
Cruz went on,
“I don't think we should entrust governing our society to five unelected lawyers in Washington. Why would you possibly hand over the rights of 320 million Americans to five lawyers in Washington to decide these are the rules that govern you? If you want to win an issue, go to the ballot box and win at the ballot box. That's the way the Constitution was designed."
So, there you have it. The secret recordings of Ted Cruz show nothing that was secret at all.
The story someone sold to Mike Allen is a big nothing burger.
If the tapes show anything, it’s that Cruz is willing to talk about a hot button topic many conservative politicians avoid like the plague in front of anyone. And he does that regardless of whether he is in a church in Iowa or at a Manhattan fundraiser.
Which, by the way, Ted Cruz, that fire-breathing conservative, can attract Manhattan donors? While talking about his position on gay marriage? That sounds downright electable.
All in all, it sounds like Ted Cruz not only got a donation from the New York donor who recorded and leaked the audio, but a bonus in-kind contribution too.
This makes me laugh. Cruz, running as a Constitutional Conservative, makes it clear he would follow the Constitution rather then pander by telling certain interest groups what they want to hear!
I can see where the GOP Establishment would have a gibbering fit like this about a GOP candidate who actually plans to follow his stated principals in office.
That’s one way to flush out the moles by letting them take the bait letting them expose what they really are.
If a liberal and this includes GOPe, accuses someone of something, anything, you can bet it is something they excel at. They are befuddled and frightened at the prospect of a decent person as president.
My goodness a politician who has read and understood the Constitution ! No wonder the politicians in Washington don’t like Cruz.
LOL.
Exactly. The Big Deal that wasn't.
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