Ted Cruz Said Republican Leadership Are 'Effective' Democrats (Meet the Press with Video)

NBC News ^ | Oct 18 2015 | Leigh Ann Caldwell

[Isara]

Watch the video at the link.

Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz, R-Texas, unloaded on Republican leadership in the House and Senate and vowed to follow through on his promises should he be elected president.

In an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," Cruz said Republican leaders, especially in the Senate, are "making it easier for Barack Obama and [Senate Minority Leader] Harry Reid to add trillions in debt."

"The truth of the matter is Republican leadership are the most effective Democrat leaders we've ever seen. They've passed more Democratic priorities than Harry Reid ever could," Cruz said. But even after House Speaker John Boehner announced he would relinquish his position and retire from Congress, Cruz would not go so far as to call for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to step down.

Cruz was elected to the Senate with little establishment support among the tea party wave in 2010. Since then he has built notoriety for bucking his party's leaders and fighting for his agenda regardless of consequence. He played a leading role in the government shutdown in 2013 over Obamacare.

As Congress is set to grapple with the debt limit, the Congressionally determined limit of federal borrowing, Cruz said Republicans should get something - "anything" - out of agreeing to lift it.

"You know, to be honest, what I'd like to see on the debt limit is Republican leaders fight for something, for Pete's sake. Anything," he said.

Cruz, now a presidential contender, said he is more qualified than any of his competitors to take on "the Washington cartel," which includes the Republican establishment.

"When it comes to promising, what I promised is that I would fight with every breath in my body to stop the outta control spending and the debt that is bankrupting our country, to stop Obamacare, to protect our nation," he told moderator Chuck Todd.

The latest fundraising numbers show Cruz with an impressive haul, raising more than $12 million and having $13.8 million on hand, which is more than the other Republican candidates, including Jeb Bush.

He said the success behind his campaign is that people are "furious" with Washington.

"And I think the reason why our campaign is seeing incredible momentum and enthusiasm is-- is people recognize, they want someone who'll just do what he said he would do," Cruz said. "It-- it ain't that complicated."

Cruz polls consistently in the second tier of candidates, behind front runner Donald Trump. In the latest NBC News online poll released last week, Cruz was tied for fourth garnering 6 percent of support.

As for Trump, Cruz said he has been good for the Republican primary because he is someone "who will stand up to Washington."

But Cruz noted that once his supporters become "educated," they would start backing him.

"Well, the natural follow up if that's the question is, who has actually stood up to Washington?" Cruz said. "If you're looking for a candidate who the career politicians in Washington will embrace, I'm not your guy. "

But Cruz has made few friends in Washington, which some say could impact his ability to get things done as president. His response: "if you're looking for someone who's running to be a member of the club, that's not me."

As for the race for Speaker of the House, Cruz refused to weigh in. He also refused to call Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis, the reluctant leading contender, conservative enough.

"I have said consistently I'm gonna stay outta that," he said.

As for foreign policy, Cruz said he opposed any involvement in Syria, even as Russia has begun a military campaign to help boost Syrian president Bashar Asad.

"Look, we have no business sticking our nose in that civil war," he said.

[Isara]

FYI

[gwgn02]

He’ 100% right.

[Dr. Sivana]

Cruz was elected to the Senate with little establishment support among the tea party wave in 2010.

Cruz was elected in 2012. NBC News is pathetic.

[Spok]

Cruz gets it. Trump is drowning out his message.

[stars & stripes forever]

Hopefully there will be new blood in the house and the senate to implement the changes needed to get America back on track.

CRUZ 2016

[skeeter]

The stooge Kevin McCarthy a classic example - undermining as he did the Benghazi hearings just as the incompetent clown and accessory to the deaths of four Americans is trying to scam her way into the White House.

[cripplecreek]

Yup.

There is a lot of salvageable material within the party but leadership isn’t among them.

[americas.best.days...]

Yes, that timing was incredible wasn’t it? Right before the debates and the hearings.

Wonder if the check has cleared yet?

[Starboard]

Hopefully there will be new blood in the house and the senate to implement the changes needed to get America back on track.

*****************
The Republican Party is working hard to ensure that doesn’t happen. Trust me, there is a quid pro quo for people who receive resources and support from the various party apparatuses. Politics is all about control and the GOP has been playing the game for a long time. I wouldn’t get my hopes up.

[stars & stripes forever]

Some have done so much damage while they have been in office - especially MARK KIRK.

[tflabo]

We need the field of candidates to be narrowed down so more attention can be focused on the words of Ted Cruz. He’s a fiery fighter and a conservative educator rolled in together. Trump, Cruz and Carson , that’s it — everyone else take a hike and get out of the race already.

[Isara]

We need the field of candidates to be narrowed down so more attention can be focused on the words of Ted Cruz. He’s a fiery fighter and a conservative educator rolled in together.

Have you heard what NH Conservatives did yesterday?

Cruz runs away with first-ever conservative activist caucus, Carson second

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3349868/posts

[MNJohnnie]

Bravo Senator Cruz. Well done. Keep the pressure on them.

[whinecountry]

The look in Chuck’s eyes is telling: he is completely out of his depth with Cruz and he knows it.

[stars & stripes forever]

[Trump, Cruz and Carson , that’s it]

BEN CARSON is not a conservative - especially on abortion and immigration. Every Freeper who touts him as a conservative should bone up on his positions and statements.

https://www.conservativereview.com/2016-presidential-candidates

[Isara]

Presidential Candidates Comparison (Cruz vs. Carson vs. Trump)

Budget, Spending & Debt
Civil Liberties
Education
Energy & Environment
Foreign Policy & Defense
Free Market
Health Care & Entitlements
Immigration
Moral Issues
Second Amendment
Taxes, Economy & Trade

More at Conservative Review: https://www.conservativereview.com/2016-presidential-candidates

[Georgia Girl 2]

I watched that interview and Ted is 100% correct. Harry Reid never pushed the Democrat agenda through as smoothly as Mitch McConnell does.

[Lopeover]

Agree with Cruz statement, but he came out of the gate in his campaign with his social/moral agenda first & formost, which turned off a lot of people. Then supported the Corker Bill, TPA which gave the tin pot dictator in the White House more power! Cruz can’t win a general election. Americans are sick of a fundamentalist Moslem in the White House, they won’t turn it over to a fundamentalist Christian next time. Tough words but true.

Trump came out on Illegal immigration which will end a number US ills. People gravitated to him on this issue first & formost.

There is NOTHING more conservative than stopping a permanent democrat/marxist voting majority and doing whats best for the people and the country. By virtue of Mr.Trump’s position on illegal immigration he “Trumps” all others conservatism.”

[Fitzy_888]

If you had their NSA files you’d be “effectively” anything Obama wanted.

[erkelly]

I agree with you, Ben Carson is way out of his depth. He is also a member of a quasi-Christian cult. All that being said, I admire his accomplishments very much. I would definitely like to see him in a Trump/Cruz administration. The way I see it is this, we need President Trump to put President Cruz in the White House in 4-8 years, and we need President Trump to empower Vice President Cruz and then set him loose. I like what Cruz is saying and doing very much.