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.

[conservativegamer]

Ted Cruz is the ONLY candidate willing to call these RINOs out for what they are. Every other person running for president wants to play ball with these traitors. One party is socialist, the other party is Democrat lite. Like Cruz said, what would a Harry Reid senate or Pelosi led house have done differently???? Nothing.

We need to really behind Ted. He’s the only one that knows how these traitors work behind closed doors AND willing to fight them. Paul is buddies with McConnell. Rubio wants to please the establishment. Bush is right there with him. Kasich is only “Christian” when it helps liberals (when have you seen him speak out against planned parenthood for instance). Carly is in the pocket for Muslims. Trump supports socialized healthcare and attacks constitutional advocates like Pam Gellar. Carson is bad on immigration and is out of his depth. The rest of the candidates aren’t catching fire for better or for worse and should drop out.

[DoughtyOne]

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

Budget: Cruz has made massive financial deals, has put tens of thosuands of people to work, has run a billion dollar business, and protected a bottom line.  Next flight of fantasy...
Civil Liberties: Trump has said he'll round up and deport illegal immigrants, build a wall that is 60 feet tall along our border.  This results in his red marker on civil liberties.  No sale.
Free Market: The "FREE MARKET"...  Nothing in life is free.  The cost of this "FREE MARKET" has been tens of millions of U. S. jobs.  Trump wants to bring them back.  That warrants a red marker.  LOL
Health Care and Entitlements: Trump has proposed a private sector replacement of Obamacare.  He wants to reduce entitlements as part of getting the budget under control.  This red marker is simply proposterous.
Moral issues:  What moral issues?  Good grief.  Name one moral issue Trump has a problem with.
Second Amendment:  This is simply a fraud.  Trump has a paper on Second Amendment rights, and it's recognized as a good one.
Taxes, Economy, and Trade:  Trump's tax position is good.  His economic experience is second to very few U. S. Citizens.  His trade view are more solid than any other candidate's.

In Cruz's favor, his free market mark isn't deserved either.

Trump is the go to guy because of his economic experience.  He is solid on other issues as well, but second to illegal immigration, our national debt and related matters are vitally important and need to be addressed.  Trump is the only candidate with the experience necessary to do that.

Cruz supporters are pleased to drop this bomb on the forum.

It isn't an accurate display on Trump.  As such it's actually a smear on Cruz when his supporters tout it as a reason to support Cruz.  What they should be doing is pointing out the obvious flaws in this ranking.  And RANK is the proper word here....

[Dick Bachert]