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Ted Cruz finds a core of support among social conservatives frustrated with GOP
Washington Post ^ | September 30 at 7:58 AM | Sebastian Payne and Robert Costa

Posted on 09/30/2014 7:52:05 AM PDT by SoConPubbie

While there is not yet a front-runner in the early race for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) is quickly becoming the favored contender of social conservatives, riding a recent wave of fiery speeches and standing ovations at right-wing conferences.

Cruz’s core supporters on the right are the activists and high-powered interest groups determined to keep faith-infused positions at the center of the Republican Party, regardless of a push by some in the GOP to seek distance from socially conservative stands on marriage and abortion.

Greg Mueller, a conservative strategist who has worked on three Republican presidential campaigns, said what’s fueling Cruz’s rise is a fierce determination by social conservatives not to be dictated to in 2016, as he believes they were in the past two elections and told to rally around more centrist nominees.

“Many social conservatives feel their issues have been kicked to the side and they are frustrated. Someone like Cruz taking the nomination in 2016 would give them a voice again,” he said. “It’s still early, and there are many potential candidates that could appeal to this base, but there is no question Senator Cruz has some early momentum with them. He hits all of the main themes the conservative base want to hear.”

Conservatives see an opening in the disarray in the GOP establishment, which has yet to settle on its preferred candidate amid former Florida governor Jeb Bush’s indecision about running and the troubles of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has seen his administration embroiled by a scandal over last year’s politically motivated closure of traffic lanes near the George Washington Bridge.

There is a brewing sense on the right that if a well-financed establishment Republican isn’t surging ahead, conservative Republicans could capture the nomination, with a consensus candidate eventually

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: cruz; tedcruz
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"If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton

 

"We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan

 

"A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792

 

"It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams

 

"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams

 


1 posted on 09/30/2014 7:52:05 AM PDT by SoConPubbie
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To: SoConPubbie; Kale; Jarhead9297; COUNTrecount; notaliberal; DoughtyOne; RitaOK; MountainDad; ...
Ted Cruz Ping!

If you want on/off this ping list, please let me know.

Please beware, this is a high-volume ping list!
2 posted on 09/30/2014 7:52:28 AM PDT by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: SoConPubbie

Here’s what will happen:

Ted runs. He arouses passion in the base. he doesn’t get nominated. Base gets pissed. Base claims it will never vote GOP again. Some in base will bemoan “but if you don’t vote for the nominee then Hildabeast will win the WH and what about Congress?” Base votes for Jeb Bush. Jeb Bush slaughtered in the General.

Rinse. Repeat.


3 posted on 09/30/2014 7:54:03 AM PDT by RIghtwardHo
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To: RIghtwardHo

Nice scenario.

Given the circumstances - I might could vote for Jeb. But if it were Christie or Romney, then I stay home.

And endure the flames of many FReepers who would claim that I helped Hillary get elected. That it was my fault.

And to that I say...(self edit)


4 posted on 09/30/2014 7:59:11 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (NO LIBS. This Means Liberals and (L)libertarians! Same Thing. NO LIBS!!)
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To: Responsibility2nd

Yeah Romney needs to walk away from the White Horse prophecy.


5 posted on 09/30/2014 8:02:02 AM PDT by RIghtwardHo
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To: SoConPubbie

I want a candidate that boldly speaks the truth.
That’s not “politic”, but I’m betting they’d have far more success than any “political advisers” would think.


6 posted on 09/30/2014 8:03:38 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: RIghtwardHo

Thousands of GOP voters in SW Missouri stayed home when Jim Talent ran for reelection. The result was Claire mcCackle.


7 posted on 09/30/2014 8:03:49 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Rip it out by the roots.)
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To: RIghtwardHo

Sounds like the democrats have got a lot of Rino’s into the GOP and the moles have gained the trust of the chimps who vote for them.
I think the greatest problem is the lack of voter turn out in the republican base the dems are good at it.


8 posted on 09/30/2014 8:03:52 AM PDT by Vaduz
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To: RIghtwardHo

Same scenario of any election. It’s always hard to give up emotionally vested interest. If the other candidate is worth a damn, they can win over converts. Look at Hillary voters in 2008 or McCain voters in 2000. Contested primaries do not mean a loss in the general.

If Ted runs and runs well, I don’t see anyone else who’s going to beat him so far. Romney? nope. There was no one in 2012 that is 25% of the candidate Cruz could be. Hell, McCain beat Romney in 2008. The ones that could beat him are sitting governors who also run well. A Scott Walker or Jindal for example. If either of them ran, I see no issues getting voters out in November. Christie or Jeb, yes...but that’s on them.


9 posted on 09/30/2014 8:05:42 AM PDT by ilgipper
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To: SoConPubbie

Social Conservatives...

Good grief. Now even labeling someone a Conservative (read that terrorist in today’s vernacular) isn’t enough. Now you have to add in “Social”.

Ted Cruz will get along just fine as long as he adheres to the Constitution and does things that return this nation and it’s government to their proper role.


10 posted on 09/30/2014 8:07:29 AM PDT by DoughtyOne (Obama and the Left are maggots feeding off the flesh of the United States.)
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To: Responsibility2nd
Tend to agree with you..but we've been down this road before. Vote for GOPe scum or stay home....I dont have the answer for sure and Im just as frustrated as the rest here.

In the primaries we need to get behind one candidate. SC loaded there field up and Nancy Graham easily won.

NC is running Tillis and the GOPe brings in the most hated Rs to help! Christie and Bush!!!! This race should have been a cakewalk but the establishment Rs think they know best. The RAT, Hagan, is hated and yet still will most likely win. Even with the anti incumbant mood

11 posted on 09/30/2014 8:09:26 AM PDT by rrrod (at home in Medellin Colombia)
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To: SoConPubbie
... riding a recent wave of fiery speeches and standing ovations at right-wing conferences.

So when was the last time that the comPost branded a meeting of democrats as a left-wing conference?

12 posted on 09/30/2014 8:11:34 AM PDT by El Cid (Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house...)
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To: RIghtwardHo

Cruz will sweep the GOP. He appeals to the grassroots. The old leaders will oppose him, but he will push them aside. That’s how it always happens when the right man comes along.


13 posted on 09/30/2014 8:13:50 AM PDT by oldbrowser (We have a rogue government in Washington)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

Well here’s the thing ... we are not in a static situation. Not to put too fine a point on it but Conservatives are dying off and not being replaced by anything. It’s time to go all in with a marginal hand before we go all in with nothing at all ... or just play it to the river with a crap hand.


14 posted on 09/30/2014 8:15:16 AM PDT by RIghtwardHo
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To: DoughtyOne

“Social Conservatives” Yeah the WP just had to throw that in. Cruz is respected by all conservatives not just “Social Conservatives”. Personally I see him more as a Constitutional Conservative than a Social Conservative.


15 posted on 09/30/2014 8:16:31 AM PDT by jpsb (Believe nothing until it has been officially denied)
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To: oldbrowser

Cruz will sweep the GOP. He appeals to the grassroots. The old leaders will oppose him, but he will push them aside. That’s how it always happens when the right man comes along.


AMEN!
I’m sick of our pessimism here.


16 posted on 09/30/2014 8:20:37 AM PDT by CincyRichieRich (In Times of Universal Deceit, Telling the Truth Becomes a Revolutionary Act.)
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To: SoConPubbie

Ted is the only one I would give a dime to, and I’d give him thousands of dimes.

Not a penny to any RINO PAC, though. Ever.


17 posted on 09/30/2014 8:21:26 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("The man who damns money obtained it dishonorably; the man who respects it earned it." --Ayn Rand)
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To: RIghtwardHo

Agree.
Jim Talent lost the support of purists. They, in turn, gave us two terms with the screeching harpy.


18 posted on 09/30/2014 8:22:40 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Rip it out by the roots.)
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To: oldbrowser

There is history to what you say...the “old leaders” didn’t like Ronald Reagan!!!


19 posted on 09/30/2014 8:27:25 AM PDT by ontap
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To: SoConPubbie

I’m not properly a “Social Conservative”, and I’M frustrated with the GOPe.


20 posted on 09/30/2014 8:30:44 AM PDT by Uncle Miltie (When Amnesty was granted 30 years ago, they promised to close the borders and enforce the law)
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