Posted on 01/14/2016 2:07:42 PM PST by Enlightened1
Cruz struck a different tone when Snowden first went public with classified details about NSA snooping in 2013.
"If it is the case that the federal government is seizing millions of personal records about law-abiding citizens, and if it is the case that there are minimal restrictions on accessing or reviewing those records, then I think Mr. Snowden has done a considerable public service by bringing it to light," he said at an event hosted by The Blaze in 2013.
In his statement to The New York Times, the Texas senator pointed to additional remarks he made in 2013, saying Snowden should be prosecuted if he broke the law.
"If Mr. Snowden has violated the laws of this country, there are consequences to violating laws that is something he has publicly stated he understands, and I think the law needs to be enforced," Cruz said at the time.
Cruz has been hit by GOP primary rival Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) for supporting the USA Freedom Act, which curtailed U.S. intelligence-gathering capabilities in light of the Snowden revelations.
Earlier this week, Rubio slammed Cruz for commending Snowden.
"I never believed Edward Snowden was a good public servant the way that Ted Cruz once said that he had done a public service for America," Rubio said Sunday on ABC's "This Week."
"We cannot afford to have a commander in chief who thinks people like Edward Snowden are doing a good public service," he added.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
Anybody running for president has to get in line with the surveillance state.
I never believed an honest Public Servant would claim that abandoning his office to go for the Brass Ring was a sign of character.
I don’t see anything conflicting about what Cruz said then and now.
Cruz is gaining steam, now the attacks will escalate.
Frankly the damage is done and Snowden ain’t coming back to these shores. Debating this as a Top Ten issue is pretty pointless.
-— I don’t see anything conflicting about what Cruz said then and now. -—
Just use your imagination.
If I’ve learned anything from watching Disney movies, it’s that you can go anywhere in your imagination.
They never seem to debate whether the govt should be monitoring us though do they.
the Laconic answer: if.
Rubio attempts to one up Cruz by being more of a Statist.
Odd that the doesn’t think illegal aliens should face such hardline enforcement. Just Americans.
Gee...maybe he’s got some allegiance issues?
Even if he was born here.
Damn I can’t stand Rubio.
Neocons who want to start wars for no reason should be jailed. No fly zone in Syria anyone?
Big Rubio is watching you.
Rubio, I am sure has a ton of scandals
Cruz is now siding with the Establishment that want a police state and total control.
Anyone that believes the Establishment will stop here and not go any further for an East German Stasi State does not understand history.
What Cruz does not get is that he will be double crosses by the Establishment. They are not loyal. They are using him.
My biggest concern right now is that the Establishment will push Cruz and get him in place to knock out Trump
Then the Establishment will turn on Cruz, and say he is not qualified. They may even judge shop to do it. That way they can slide Rubio or Bush in place after they disqualify Cruz.
I heard Trump 20,000 people see him speak in Florida last night. I don’t see any other candidate getting a crowd that large.
Think Trump should be the nominee and still select Cruz as his VP. I think once Cruz is the VP then it will be almost impossible to play the “your not qualified†game.
Cruz can always flop back. Kind of like how he flipped on the TPP after voting for the TPA (aka the fast track)
The govt will be watching us no matter what. And there are plenty of idiots that give up their info on facebook, twitter, etc. Tracking terrorists and getting warrants on snooping is reasonable. Snowden exposing the extent of government snooping is ok with me.
I don’t see the conflict in Cruz’s statements that The Hill is trying to gin up.
I have said the same thing. To the extent Snowden made Americans aware just how much Big Brother is spying on us, he did a tremendous service for us.
To the extent Snowden leaked classified information to foreign countries, he should answer for his actions.
But he should not be prosecuted for letting U.S. citizens know the extent to which the Federal Goobermint is spying on them.
Cruz supported and voted for the USA Freedom Act which replaced the Patriot Act under which all the intrusive data collection of law abiding citizens was taking place.
Rubio has attacked Cruz for this. He supports the Patriot Act being reinstated as does Trump, Christie and Kasich.
Rubio and Snowden are of the same ilk IMO.
Cruz...get back on message and stop with the purse fight with Rubio.
Your not going to win FL or NH...deal with it and move on.
didn’t read the article.
And it will be no big loss, but i wont read or comment on these posts trying to somehow hurt Trump or Cruz.
I remember high school president races with more class.
the husband of our opponent is a SERIAL RAPIST.
we’re denigrating people that will need the other side’s vote once this is over, based on penny ante articles by our enemies.
I hope whoever wins the nomination wins the generals.
Ironic part is NONE of these HUNDREDS of threads will change ONE SINGLE vote.
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