Cruz: GOP leaders pressured PACs to cut off his funds after Obamacare fight

Dallas Morning News ^ | March 28, 2015 10:31 am | Todd J. Gillman

[SoConPubbie]

GREENLAND, N.H. – Sen. Ted Cruz continued his two-day presidential campaign swing through New Hampshire on Saturday morning with a speech to the Seacoast Republican Women.

. . .

Before entering the room, Cruz expanded on an allegation he aired Friday, that GOP leaders had cut off his access to campaign donations as retribution for his role in the 16-day government shutdown in October 2013.

“In 2013 we got quite a bit of money from DC PACs, and when the defund fight happened that dropped to almost zero,” Cruz said, asked to clarify the allegation he aired Friday.

Who does he blame?

“It was leadership,” he said, declining to specify whether that meant his fellow Texan, Sen. John Cornyn, the deputy GOP Senate leader, or Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, then the minority leader and now the majority leader. “It was a very explicit direction from leadership, both [Utah Sen.] Mike Lee and I – funding all but disappeared from Washington.”

Pressure was applied, he said.

“We had multiple reports from the DC community that they had been told in no uncertain terms, do not write a check to these guys. It’s how leadership disciplines people. That’s always been the case.”

Cruz had just been elected in 2012. For Lee – Cruz’s wingman in the fight to scrap Obamacare — cutting off funding could have more immediate implications. He’s up for reelection next year in Utah.

[SoConPubbie]

"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

[SoConPubbie]

Ted Cruz Ping!

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

Please beware, this is a high-volume ping list!

CRUZ or LOSE!

CRUZ or LOSE!

[trisham]

It’s an allegation that is easy to believe, given the overall lack of leadership in the GOP.

[EagleUSA]

Weak Washington GOPe parasites trying to beat down a candidate that shows them for what they are.

[SeafoodGumbo]

They say that sunshine is the best disinfectant. Cruz is that sunshine for the shadowy cesspool of Washington.

More sunshine!

[Diogenesis]

The EXEMPT GOP cannot be trusted by conservatives.

They LIE.

They LIE without remorse.

They LIE, again,

Then, the EXEMPT GOP Backstabs conservatives.

[grania]

I wasn't going to donate to Ted Cruz's campaign yet. But I did donate $25 today. It's in protest to the vile treatment he's getting from the elite in government (across the political spectrum) and the media. It's also a statement that "little folk" can support a candidate.

Ted Cruz talks about the potential for the US and for its people. The others talk about downward limits which will be subsidized. It's only by talking about potential and believing in a better future that things will get better.

[SoConPubbie]

you’re right grania!

[lucky american]

You know this statement is so true. And if Cruz or Walker is not the nominee and someone here on Free Republic wants me to vote for a RINO like Jeb .... Ain’t happinin

[Lurkinanloomin]

It not lack of leadership, it’s leadership that is at odds with most of their voters and their own platform. Leadership that is working for the other side, even.

[EagleUSA]

“Then, the EXEMPT GOP Backstabs conservatives.”

This is going to be an interesting primary race. Hoping that it will be a re-run of Reagan’s success.

[trisham]

That’s a good point.

[hosepipe]

The republican party has been PENETRATED at the highest levels by traitors and collaborators..

much like Myth Romney..

WHO? just RE-elected Boehner and McConnell in Congress..
WHO?... did it?... well those are drones at fault..

You might be surprised BY the ones that voted for them..
BUT not surprised by the ones that didn’t.. the ones with principles..

[Georgia Girl 2]

Don’t worry about Mike Lee he has a 64% approval rating. He will sail through re-election and live to tweak Mitch’s nose for another 6 years.

[Iron Munro]

Sooner or later the GOP and Communist party democrat party are going to merge like the AFL & CIO did.

Then regular people can focus on getting the Conservative party fired up to oppose the republicrat party.

[libbylu]

I am going to call Cornyn’s office Monday about this. I already told a man with a nice voice to pass my disapproval to NRSC couple of years ago. Lol. They quit calling and writing. Cornyn ticked me endorsing Crist on day of his announcement, fool.
Will donate another bit to Cruz also.

[G Larry]

Hope the PACs responded to the GOPe:

“No, We’re cutting off YOUR funding!”

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

Who does he blame? “It was leadership,” he said

At this point, it's probably impossible for the Establishment to hate him any more than they do.

So Cruz figures, "What the hell."

I like that approach.

[SaraJohnson]

They are leading plenty in the GOP. It’s just they are leading to the other side of the aisle and hate their voters.

[P-Marlowe]

Just how did that government shut down hurt any republican's re-election in 2014?

Maybe they did so well because they were blamed for the shutdown.