Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Ted Cruz's Closest Counselors Are Neocons
The New American ^ | 15 October 2015 | Joe Wolverton, II, J.D.

Posted on 01/31/2016 5:26:31 PM PST by VitacoreVision

There's a lot about Ted Cruz that should worry constitutionalists considering voting for the senator in the presidential election of 2016.

Recently, Infogram published brief but illuminating biographies of several of Cruz's key foreign policy advisors. The information disclosed in these revelations could trouble many constitutionalists otherwise keen on the senator and who rely on him to restore the rule of law to the White House.

The first person highlighted in the article is the chairman of Cruz's foreign policy team, Chad Sweet.

Sweet's professional and political background betrays Cruz's claims of being someone who promises "not to continue going in the same direction" and to "bring power out of Washington, and back to we the people."

Infogram's biography of Chad Sweet includes the following associations, demonstrating that he is very much a step in the "same direction":

With a diverse background, starting as Director of the CIA, Chad Sweet went into the world of big banks -- from Investment Banker at Morgan Stanley to VP with Goldman Sachs. He would then work for the Department of Homeland Security in the Bush Administration. Currently he is the Co-Founder of Chertoff Group.

Sweet cofounded Chertoff Group with former Bush and Obama administration Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff. Hardly the pedigree of an outsider. In fact, his neocon bona fides could not be better.

As a leader of the Chertoff Group, Sweet "advocated for expanding NSA metadata collection." Again, this belies Ted Cruz's public position on the NSA's unconstitutional surveillance of Americans. 

"One of the most troubling things we have seen in recent years is an expansion of federal government authority into surveilling American citizens. I am proud to be a co-sponsor of the USA Freedom Act," Cruz said during a speech in Austin in November 2014.

Despite such public declarations, it's little wonder that a key member of the Cruz foreign policy team would support dragnet surveillance of Americans given that one of the principals of the Chertoff Group is General Michael Hayden, director of the NSA until 2005.

These sorts of inconsistencies have sunk other campaigns, particularly those of candidates who fly the flag of the Constitution as proudly as Ted Cruz.

When it comes to ending the federal government's collection of personal data on millions of Americans in direct contravention of the Fourth Amendment, it seems Ted Cruz's lips draw nigh to the Bill of Rights, but his heart (and his personally chosen counselors) are far from it.

Next up on the roster of Ted Cruz's neocon inner circle is Victoria Coates.

As was the case with Chad Sweet, Coates's connections with the neocon elite are strong and numerous. From Infogram's bio:

Having served as director of research for former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and as an adjunct fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Coates has a track record of supporting a neoconservative foreign policy. In 2012, she was an advisor to Rick Perry, whose campaign was in support of sending troops back into Iraq.

This record of rubbing shoulders with a who's who of neocon luminaries cannot be comfortable for the constitutionalist wing of the Cruz camp.

Apparently, Coates is no neocon neophyte. Her record reveals that she's a true believer in the neocon doctrine of using the U.S. military to spread democracy around the world. 

In 1979, Jeanne Kirkpatrick wrote an essay called "Dictatorships And Double Standards" where the Reagan administration official equated Reagan-era support for anti-communist dictators with the promotion of human rights. 

Daily Beast reported in July 2014 that Victoria Coates "asks interns to read that essay when they start working for [Senator Cruz]."

On his campaign website, Ted Cruz promises to "restore our Constitution" and to follow the Founders in looking to the Constitution "to act as chains to bind the mischief of government."

One would imagine that restoring the Constitution and being bound by its chains would include not using the U.S. military to topple governments -- no matter how tyrannical -- or to funnel funds from taxpayers to the coffers of the "moderate" extremists who declare their allegiance to the American side in foreign conflicts.

Someone committed to that constitutional tack would certainly not choose neocon interventionists with the resumés of Chad Sweet and Victoria Coates.

All of this should be sufficient to give pause to patriots inclined to support Ted Cruz's run for the White House. Surprisingly, this is just one layer of the neocon nest surrounding Ted Cruz.

Cruz's foreign policy advisor is James Woolsey, a player who would be drafted in the first round of any neocon fantasy team owner.

The Infogram bio is enough evidence to convict Woolsey of being neocon to the core:

Woolsey was a national security specialist and former Director of the CIA under the Clinton administration. He heads up many Neoconservative groups including being the Chairman of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and Founding Member of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

More than just academic advocacy of the military-industrial complex and the global deployment of American troops to force democracy on the world, Woolsey has no problem putting the noose around those who act against the growth of the government.

In a December 2013 interview with Fox News, Woolsey made the following shocking statement when asked about NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden: "I think giving him amnesty is idiotic," Woolsey said. "He should be prosecuted for treason. If convicted by a jury of his peers, he should be hanged by his neck until he is dead."

That's not just think-tank rhetoric, that's reign-of-terror-type talk.

Some readers familiar with the associations typical of such neocon movers and shakers might be surprised to not have read the words "Council on Foreign Relations" yet in this piece.

The wait is over.

Ted Cruz's choice of Elliot Abrams to help craft his foreign policy is disappointing. Like his colleagues on Cruz's council, Abrams is a leader in the neocon world, and he is a leader of what is perhaps the most powerful and pernicious group in the neocon network: the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).

While the CFR is the most notorious of the associations of Abrams, it isn't the only one. He is also a member (or former member) of the Center for Security Policy, Hudson Institute, National Endowment for Democracy, and many more.

It is likely that it is because of the membership of Abrams in the CFR that George W. Bush chose him to be his deputy national security adviser for Global Democratic Strategy and that Ted Cruz has chosen to follow his advice on questions of foreign policy.

In fact, it is probably the experience of all these people that compelled Ted Cruz to choose them to be his closest advisors. The problem isn't that his inner circle is composed of men and women of vast foreign policy experience; the problem is that their experience is in growing government, supporting surveillance, and using American troops as global peacekeepers. As constitutionalists know, each of these endeavors -- pursued over and over by Cruz's chosen advisors -- is unconstitutional and not at all consistent with Ted Cruz's public statements.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: New York; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 2016election; 4thamendment; canadian; cfr; chadsweet; chertoffgroup; cruz; dailybeast; donaldrumsfeld; edwardsnowden; election2016; elliotabrams; fourthamendment; foxnews; goldmansachs; hahahaha; hudsoninstitute; ineligible; jameswoolsey; jeannekirkpatrick; michaelchertoff; michaelhayden; morganstanley; neocon; neocons; newyork; nsa; rickperry; tedcruz; texas; trump; usafreedomact; victoriacoates
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-85 next last
Comment #41 Removed by Moderator

To: VitacoreVision
Ted Cruz's Closest Counselors Are Neocons

I take it you mean "Jews." Yeah, there are at least a few in there. Smart people, and some are on the right side.

This seems a bizarre campaign. Do we have to remind ourselves that politics ain't beanbag and never was?

We all should be thanking God we have some plain-speaking, brilliant Constitutional conservatives like Cruz and an anti-PC gorilla like Trump on our side. This is what the 7th Cavalry looks like, folks. They might be rough around the edges, but that's the kind of toughness and sheer ego it takes to get the job done.

Don't complain. Enjoy it.

42 posted on 01/31/2016 6:04:27 PM PST by SamuraiScot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hollyweed

Trump supporters? This article is about who is advising Cruz? Some of these people I use to like and trust. I do NOT use religion or ethnicity to determine who is trustworthy.

Pretty sad what Cruz brings out in people.


43 posted on 01/31/2016 6:05:05 PM PST by Just mythoughts (Jesus said Luke 17:32 Remember Lot's wife.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: DrewsDad

It’s nice that he changed it from his previous plan, where he supported a 500% increase in H1B, but he still did support the earlier stance. You guys get your panties in a twist over when Trump said something 15 years ago, so I figure what Cruz was saying last year probably has some relevance.


44 posted on 01/31/2016 6:05:46 PM PST by perfect_rovian_storm
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy

Good one! : )


45 posted on 01/31/2016 6:07:56 PM PST by Petrosius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: goodwithagun
Well screw them, it's synonymous with Trotskyites who bought expensive suits and American flag lapel pins because the handwriting was on the wall and they knew the Soviet Union would never follow the Trotskyite doctrine but they didn't change their politics, woldview, or goals a bit.

If you friends say all Trotskyites are Jews, that's a whole different issue.

46 posted on 01/31/2016 6:13:16 PM PST by Rashputin (Jesus Christ doesn't evacuate His troops, He leads them to victory !!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: over3Owithabrain

Exactly right ...


47 posted on 01/31/2016 6:16:52 PM PST by Neu Pragmatist (Trump is the only one who will secure our borders . Vote Trump)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: goodwithagun

I have donated twice to Trump’s campaign, and I gave the same amount that I give to FreeRepublic.com, every month, to the Trump Foundation for the veteran’s benefit.


48 posted on 01/31/2016 6:22:28 PM PST by SubMareener (Save us from Quarterly Freepathons! Become a MONTHLY DONOR!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: browniexyz

What really sealed it for me was when Businessman deal maker Trump who also owns Goldman Sachs stock
http://www.freerepublic.com/focua/f-news/3386879/posts
While promoting a misrepresentarion of an opponents loan from a source he has investments in.

Here he sides with the GOPES, to get their endorsements and even advocates expanded mandated Ethanol. Because he thinks dumping this government mandated junk inro your gas tank will help him carry IOWA . Which also begs the question of Just how heavily invested is he in Ethanol ?

Apparently those prefering a candidate who marches away from key conservative principles that also includes supports and wants more government mandates and subsides especially for a product like enthanol which is a boon doggle means nothing to them.
Well it does to me....and it should to them.


49 posted on 01/31/2016 6:23:51 PM PST by mosesdapoet (My best insights get lost in FR's because of meaningless venting no one reads.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy

There actually are NO NEOCONS, or so few as to be irrelevant. One might easily say this label is a dodge for calling someone a Jew, or at least “jewsymp”, in the sense that someone is accusing someone else of being only “con” enough to support Israel. Those occasionally mentioned by name as being leaders of neocons are such unfamiliar names that I haven’t heard of them from any other sources.


50 posted on 01/31/2016 6:24:25 PM PST by Bethaneidh (Likely to annoy someone every time. Get over it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: browniexyz

What really sealed it for me was when Businessman deal maker Trump who also owns Goldman Sachs stock
http://www.freerepublic.com/focua/f-news/3386879/posts
While promoting a misrepresentarion of an opponents loan from a source he has investments in.

Here he sides with the GOPES, to get their endorsements and even advocates expanded mandated Ethanol. Because he thinks dumping this government mandated junk inro your gas tank will help him carry IOWA . Which also begs the question of Just how heavily invested is he in Ethanol ?

Apparently those prefering a candidate who marches away from key conservative principles that also includes supports and wants more government mandates and subsides especially for a product like enthanol which is a boon doggle means nothing to them.
Well it does to me....and it should to them.


51 posted on 01/31/2016 6:27:09 PM PST by mosesdapoet (My best insights get lost in FR's because of meaningless venting no one reads.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: VitacoreVision

Lets see NR is now a traitor magazine... btbthe john birth society publication is A ok ?

What a world...


52 posted on 01/31/2016 6:31:21 PM PST by Bidimus1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: over3Owithabrain

I don’t take any pleasure in not trusting Cruz. I wish he were like the deceased Georgia congressman Larry McDonald was. However, with the people and advisors around him being from the CFR and the usual globalist/ internationalist make-up he is most certainly compromised and will turn out to be business as usual or worse. I wish I could trust Cruz but I don’t and I think history clearly shows Republicans like Eisenhower who gave wonderful conservative speeches but with a large contingent of globalists and establishment insiders around them implemented an arguably treasonous and thoroughly globalist agenda. Every indication is Cruz would do the same.

Some recent evidence of how a Cruz Presidency would unfold.

He was all in favor outwardly of homeschoolers but then basically just pushed a bill with Cornyn that will effectively destroy them. He had to know what he did.

“Why has Sen. Cruz attached Title I portability to his S 306, targeting private schools and homeschools to receive ESEA Title I federal funds? Title I portability is a F5 tornado that pulverizes all schools and now he has made sure that it will sweep through homeschools as well. Why has Sen. Cruz added Title I portability to his bill when it is not in the Messer bill?
The key to understanding the re-write of ESEA that passed in December, is actually reading the Reauthorization legislation which I am convinced not many people have. When Sen. Ted Cruz added his S 306 to the already heavy-handed federal legislation in the Reauthorization of ESEA, a very ugly monster storm begins to emerge out of D.C. – total control of all schools with one national curriculum, with one set of national standards, and one national test in the United States. I believe Sen. Ted Cruz knows very well why he included homeschools in the Title I federal agenda.”

Read more at http://freedomoutpost.com/2016/01/ted-cruzs-federal-education-choice-kills-the-america-dream/#OZXe115HvfBwfhE0.99


53 posted on 01/31/2016 6:36:11 PM PST by Sheapdog (Chew the meat, spit out the bones - FUBO - Come and get me)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Sheapdog

I mean I wish he spoke more like the the now deceased Larry MacDonald did and was tougher and took a stand against specifically the globalists and CFR members. The way I stated myself it sounds like I wish Cruz were dead which is not the case at all.


54 posted on 01/31/2016 6:39:00 PM PST by Sheapdog (Chew the meat, spit out the bones - FUBO - Come and get me)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: VitacoreVision
This is Our Time #CaucusForCruz

55 posted on 01/31/2016 6:49:06 PM PST by Aquamarine (Vote Conservative.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: perfect_rovian_storm
Likewise Trump supporters should stop pretending that Trump has been consistent on immigration even in the recent past.

"Congress must protect our borders first. Amnesty should be done only if the border is secure and illegal immigration has stopped."

56 posted on 01/31/2016 6:51:34 PM PST by DrewsDad (Choose Cruz - The Consistent Constitutional Conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: DrewsDad

That plan was proposed after his increase H visas 500% started getting flack. And that plan is rhetoric without teeth and lets in more too.

He has no heart for the Americans who are hurting. We do not need another globalist.


57 posted on 01/31/2016 6:54:34 PM PST by amihow (l)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: DrewsDad

We need to secure the border. Any bill this body passes should have border security first & then legalization. Not the other way around.

— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) June 19, 2013


58 posted on 01/31/2016 7:04:02 PM PST by perfect_rovian_storm
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: momincombatboots

“Scared of a girl who might treat him unfair.. hiding g behind veterans, throwing a rock party.”

The sad thing about a post like this is:

1. The poster is so stupid as to think he is being original.

2. The poster is so stupid as to think it will affect someone less stupid than he is.

3. The poster is so stupid that he thinks repetition will change someone’s thinking.

4. I’ve got to read past it, but I have to see some of it to read past it, and it is about as pleasant as looking at a pile of ordure.


59 posted on 01/31/2016 7:20:40 PM PST by odawg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: VitacoreVision

Somehow I think that weare going to get the New Boss as in the old saying- Meet the New Boss, same as the Old Boss.


60 posted on 01/31/2016 7:29:51 PM PST by arthurus (Het is waar. Tutti i liberali sono feccia.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-85 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson