Watch Ted Cruz make DOJ nominee answer for targeting firearms companies with ‘Operation...

BizPac Review ^ | November 5, 2015 | Michael Dorstewitz

[Isara]

Watch Ted Cruz make DOJ nominee answer for targeting firearms companies with 'Operation Choke Point'

Sen. Ted Cruz blasted one nominee for associate attorney general Wednesday for his participation in a Department of Justice scheme called "Operation Choke Point," a program that resulted in alleged attempts to run businesses the Obama administration deems undesirable into failure.

The Texas Republican firebrand hammered the nominee, Stuart Delery, at Wednesday's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for his approval of the initiative in which DOJ lawyers intimidated banks into cutting off financial services to businesses such as gun manufacturers and dealers.

The GOP presidential hopeful noted that he himself is an alumnus of the Department of Justice.

Sen. Cruz Questions Associate AG Nominee Stuart Delery on Operation Choke Point (video)

"The Department of Justice has a long and bipartisan tradition of staying out of politics, of defending the law and the Constitution, and not acting simply as a partisan arm of whatever president happens to be in the White House," he began.

But things changed when President Barack Obama came into power.

"I believe the Department ofJustice has violated that tradition of staying out of politics, and indeed, I think it's been worse," Cruz said. "The Department of Justice has an obligation to defend the Constitution, and instead, this Justice Department, instead of defending the Constitution, has consistently violated the Constitutional rights of American citizens," and " has treated the Bill of Rights, unfortunately, with contempt."

Then Cruz got to specifics. He established that Delery gave his approval to the scheme that ultimately undermined the DOJ's integrity.

"The object of Operation Choke Point was to cut off the lines of credit … to lawful small businesses," he said, before asking Delery what legal authority he used to drive lawful sellers of firearms and ammunition out of business.

Delany claimed the scheme wasn't meant to target lawful businesses, but rather to go after "fraud in the payment system."

Cruz cut him off.

"On the list of high risk activities, ammunition sales and firearm sales are included," Cruz said. "Is there any indication that ammunition sales and firearm sales constitute fraud?"

Delery continued to claim that lawful firearm dealers weren't targeted, despite that they're included in to DOJ memo of high risk activities.

Throughout the exchange, Cruz remained firm and resolute, while Delery's voice could occasionally be heard cracking.

Despite evidence to the contrary, Delery claimed that "none of our cases involved firearms dealers of any kind."

"Choke Point was all about using government power to intimidate banks to cut off [businesses'] money even though they weren't violating the law," Cruz said.

The scheme "wasn't targeted on evidence of fraud. This was targeted based on an antipathy of the Obama Justice Department to the exercise of the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms by American citizens."

[Isara]

FYI

[jwalsh07]

Ted for Prez.

[knarf]

I watched this last night and I think the BEST place for Ted Cruz is as Secretery of State

I think President would be a waste of his talent and eventually a boring job for a man that likes to have his ducks in a row and pick them off right before the very eyes of mama duck ..... before she becomes Thanksgiving dinner !

[SoConPubbie]

I watched this last night and I think the BEST place for Ted Cruz is as Secretery of State

B.S.!

With Ted's:

1. Fidelity to the Constitution
2. Fidelity to fighting for Social Issues, including actually presenting methods of defeating Gay Marriage and Abortion(not just mouthing it like Trump)
3. Fearlessness in fighting for what is right constantly without fear of the consequences
4. Consistent conservatism (not a campaign conservative like Trump)

He is head and shoulder's above all of the rest of the field of GOP candidates in proven leadership capabilities from a conservative perspective.

Trump's natural position is Secretary of Commerce until he has proven he is not a campaign conservative and he learns what the Constitution is really all about.

[katana]

For those who complain that Cruz accomplishes nothing, as a Senator he’s one out of a hundred votes. As a president he would control who is nominated in the first place to middling posts like this all the way up to Supreme Court justice. He would determine what was put on McConnell’s plate rather than being told by the same to sit down, shut up, and quit complaining about the thin gruel being served.

[knarf]

I'm a Trump supporter, but I never mentioned him

When you see and here Ted Cruz speak, it is obvious he should be the American Conservative negotiator (as opposed to Trump's animals which will probably scare the rest of the planet into submission)

[libbylu]

Ridiculous. Attorney general he would be excellent or supreme court.
I want him POTUS - in control of ALL.

[factoryrat]

And the response of the obama administration, and his republican sock puppets in congress: so what? We got ours, and there's nothing you can do about it.

If by some chance Cruz or Trump manage to become president, their first order of business needs to be to shit-can at least 3/4 of all of the executive federal bureaucracies. It's the only way to break the cycle of corruption and treachery.

[11th Commandment]

Amen- these bureaucrats are going crap in their pants if this man is elected President.

[SoConPubbie]

When you see and here Ted Cruz speak, it is obvious he should be the American Conservative negotiator (as opposed to Trump's animals which will probably scare the rest of the planet into submission)

The greatest attribute a President has is his ability to communicate (See Ronald Reagan). Ted Cruz stands Ten-Feet tall in comparison to all of the rest of the GOP field.

You could not be more wrong in your opinions where Ted Cruz is concerned.

[knarf]

Can a President appoint himself as SOS ?

Solves ALL of our concerns

[The Antiyuppie]

“Amen- these bureaucrats are going crap in their pants if this man is elected President.”

I will be expecting all liberals who said they would “leave the country” to make good on their statements. I’m sure that I can find people who will help them pack.

[gr8eman]

I like Trump because he is successful in business, but Cruz is successful in politics. They really should team up somehow.

[Eva]

This week, our county had a very important election, but less than one third of the voters bothered to vote. With that kind of participation , nothing will change.

[hadaclueonce]

I love watching Ted grill people about the constitution.

I get misty eyed know that he will defend the constitution to the very end.

I also get giddy thinking about him “debating” Hillary, that will be a classic.

Ted will have her talking in tongues after 15 minutes...

[Isara]

Reminder: Trump supported TARP, auto bailout and Porkulus bill.

Trump's Record on Free-market Issue: (from the Conservative Review)

Trump has a terrible record on free market issues. The only bright spot is the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing, but this glimmer is countermanded by his repeated support for bailing out Wall Street and the auto industry, and increased stimulus spending. Of particular concern is Trump's belief that the government can use eminent domain powers to seize private property in the name of private economic development. This comes as no surprise, given his support for using eminent domain to profit his own company.

Trump supported the Supreme Court’s 2005 decision in Kelo v. City of London, allowing public authorities to seize private land for economic development by private investors; Trump said, “I happen to agree with [the decision] 100 percent.” (National Review)  This is no surprise given Trump’s attempt to use eminent domain in his own line of work. (Institute for Justice)

Trump supported President Obama’s 2009 stimulus, saying: “The word stimulus is probably not used in its fullest…you know, certain of the things that were given weren't really stimulus. They were pork, as we call it, or they were gifts to certain people. But overall, I think he's [President Obama] doing very well. You do need stimulus and you do have to keep the banks alive.” (CNN) 

Trump supported TARP, saying, "You had to do something to shore up the banks, because ... you would have had a run on every bank." (CNN) 

Trump supported the 2008 auto bailout, saying, “I think the government should stand behind them 100 percent. You cannot lose the auto companies. They’re great. They make wonderful products.” He also said that the federal government could “easily save the companies.” (Daily Caller) 

Trump criticized the Federal Reserve’s intervention in the debt market, saying quantitative easing creates “phony numbers” that mislead the marketplace and “will not ultimately benefit the economy. The dollar will go down in value and inflation will start rearing its ugly head.” (CNBC) 

Donald Trump has a history of using eminent domain to complete business deals. Multiple times Trump has supported the use of government agencies to take possession of homes and businesses for use in his private business plans. Eminent domain seizures are reserved only for public use of property rather than abuse by the government taking property from one individual and giving to another. (Washington Post) 

Donald Trump has sought and received crony capitalist tax breaks for his commercial properties in New York. These tax breaks, and even an abatement, force the property taxes of other property owners to rise at the expense of the connected. Special treatment for one business or industry over another with the tax code conflicts with free market principles. (National Review) 

In 2009, Trump supported Barack Obama's call for limits on the pay of executives. (CNN)

[oldfart]

Like everyone else here, I have no idea who will finally be nominated as the “Republican” candidate. Right now it looks like either Trump or Cruz could get the nod. I would hope though that whichever does get in choose the other as a running mate.

There are already comments about stopping Trump with a bullet. If that should occur it would be nice if Cruz picked up the reins and continued on. I’d also hope that they never travel together on the same aircraft.

Nice country we’ve built here, ain’t it?

[DaveyB]

Cruz is running on his record, Trump is running away form his. Who do I trust to follow their campaign rhetoric with bold action to return us to a nation under the Constitution? Not even close, Ted Cruz has already demonstrated that he is the right man for the job.

[carjic]

A lot of successful businessmen have taken us to ruin... I’ll Take Ted Cruz. Follow the constitution and that’s good enough for me.

[knarf]

Wwe had about a 70 - 80 % turnouit in my little hamlet