Posted on 04/23/2015 12:04:19 PM PDT by VinL
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz took to the Senate floor on Thursday to urge his Republican colleagues to vote against attorney general nominee Loretta Lynch.
When the final confirmation vote came a few hours later, Cruz — a candidate for the 2016 presidential nomination— skipped the vote.
Cruz’s communications direction Amanda Carpenter did not provide a reason for the senator’s absence but said in an emailed statement that his “opposition to the nomination has been clear,” noting that earlier in the day he had voted to filibuster her nomination. That key procedural vote ended up passing, clearing the way to her eventual confirmation.
“He voted against her in committee and opposed cloture. That is why he spoke on the floor about it, has given numerous interviews, and written an op-ed the topic. Once cloture was invoked it was clear she would be confirmed and Cruz strongly chastised his Republican colleagues who supported her.”
Carpenter added that his vote against cloture was “the only vote that mattered.”
“After that it was done deal,” she said.
Cruz had opposed Lynch’s confirmation on the grounds that she, like outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder, would continue to support President Obama’s executive action on immigration.
“The Republican majority, if it so chose, could defeat this nomination, but the Republican majority has chosen to go forward and allow Loretta Lynch to be confirmed,” Cruz said on the Senate floor. “I would note there are more than a few voters back home that are asking what exactly is the difference between a Democratic and Republican majority when the exact same individual gets confirmed as Attorney General, promising the exact same lawlessness, what’s the difference?”
The uniparty leaders agree.
Alexander
Burr
Capito
Corker
Cornyn
Gardner
Hatch
Roberts
Rounds
Thune
Tillis
Cochran
Ayotte
Graham
Flake
Portman
Kirk
Johnson
Collins
McConnell
Hatch
Everyone should remember these names and primary them out. They are Democrats in R jerseys advancing the left’s agenda under the guise of being Republicans.
Yep, why participate in McConnell’s farce?
You show up to vote so that the people who voted for you know where you stand. You show up to vote because that is your job ... the one you were elected to do.
I show up to vote because that’s my job as a citizen ... to vote for the person or initiative I believe in. I may not have had a presidential candidate I believed in ... but I did have down ticket candidates I believed in .. and I voted for them.
I am not at the point where I’m going to stay home and admit defeat. It’s disheartening that here in WA state we have little say in the candidates who get the nomination for POTUS ... but I still due my duty ... my job and get my vote turned in.
If Ted Cruz or any other politician doesn’t like the group he finds himself in ... then find a way to change it or resign and let someone else get in there and do something. Ted’s from Texas ... there must be other Republicans/Conservatives who actually want to be in the Senate?
Don’t get me wrong... I totally get the frustration with the current crop of jack rabbits running the Congress. I’m not a fan of how things are going. I just don’t personally believe giving up is a great option.
maybe he had to go to the bathroom...
I suppose one might vote for cloture if you knew the final vote for approval would not pass. Then 0bmama could appoint someone else and we could move on.
I hope he publicly explains why he didn’t vote.
He had a commitment to get to in Texas and had to catch his flight. He would have stayed if his vote could have made a difference. As it was, the cloture vote sealed the deal. I wouldn’t put it past McConnell, who likely knew of his flight, to delay the vote until Cruz had to leave. They stood around scatching their behinds for three hours!
I expect Mitch knows that if Cruz were President his days as majority leader would be numbered. He may also suspect that if Cruz doesn’t win the White House, he is still going to have some competition.
Oh well, that’s OK. Because he’s Ted Cruz and stuff.
I agree, he probably was disgusted they had the votes to pass. Probably due to the gang of 8 types.
I don’t see where he given up. I see him running for an office in which he could make a difference.
What I did see is him not participating in confirming an admittedly lawless AG for our lawless president by our lawless senate.
Frankly I have a problem with the senators that voted to confirm this woman.
You can hold his absence against him if you want. it doesn’t seem like a big deal to me.
I’m not sure what anyone can do to stop a rogue senate intent on destroying us while enriching themselves.
And I was wrong. Reading further down the thread, that is the indeed the cloture motion.
This isn't gonna change anyone's mind.
The only thing Cruz could've prevented by voting is the predictable yapping of those who have gotten behind another candidate in this primary.
Well, Dave, that is the vote that matters.
Anything past that is just a dog and pony show.
And here is actual confirmation vote (56-43):
Cruz was the only senator not voting.
Absolutely.
Welcome to the Kingdom of the Inimitable Rino.
"Oh, but he's so much better than the other guy..."
Agreed, skeeter.
My problem is with the repubics who voted for cloture and who voted to confirm.
Big political mistake.
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