Posted on 08/26/2015 6:26:21 AM PDT by libertarian neocon
I've always liked Ted Cruz, he is the Republican who I agree with most on the issues. He's free market, pro-life and for a measured foreign policy (less aggressive than Marco Rubio but more aggressive than Rand Paul). Most importantly, he would stick to his ideals despite pressure from the establishment. He may have made some tactical errors because of that but I couldn't help but admire him for his idealism. He has been the candidate that I would have voted for if I didn't care at all about electability.
Unfortunately, his interview last night with Megyn Kelly unmasked him as just another smarmy politician. One who thinks the Constitution is maleable, depending on the way the winds are blowing or what is politically advantageous, one who doesn't answer direct questions with direct answers.
When Megyn Kelly asked him about the 14th amendment and birthright citizenship, he said that "as a policy matter, it doesn't make sense anymore". This struck me as the same answer you would get from a liberal with regards to the Right to Keep and Bear Arms after a school shooting.
It seems to me that the text of the 14th amendment is pretty clear on birthright citizenship. It says "all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." It is no less clear than "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
The funny thing is that Ted Cruz actually agrees with me or he used to before it became politically expedient to mirror Trump's views with the goal of getting his supporters when Trump blows up. During the interview Megyn Kelly quoted Ted Cruz back to himself. Here is what he said in 2011:
“The 14th Amendment provides for birthright citizenship. I’ve looked at the legal arguments against it, and I will tell you as a Supreme Court litigator, those arguments are not very good. As much as someone may dislike the policy of birthright citizenship, it’s in the U.S. Constitution. And I don’t like it when federal judges set aside the Constitution because their policy preferences are different.”
But of course that was before he was running for President and so didn't have to worry about his words offending another candidates supporters. He really didn't have a good answer after Megyn Kelly brought out that quote, talking around it rather than explaining why he changed his mind like a normal, honest person would have.
Megyn Kelly then asked Cruz the same question Trump has been asked, whether he would deport with the parents two children of illegal immigrants that were technically citizens of the US. He totally avoided answering that question as he attempted a typical maneuver of a politician, having his cake and eating it too. Without being on record as saying he would deport them, he could pivot later and say he is against deporting children without technically flip-flopping while at the same time not saying anything that would offend the Trumpitistas and those that support Trump's immigration plan. I don't like Trump for many reasons but at least he answers questions directly as he did this question when it was asked of him.
Last night it became clear that Ted Cruz is willing to do anything to become President, which is exactly the opposite of why I always had been fond of him. If I wanted someone who would lie with a straight face and a smile and evade questions I would vote for a Bill Clinton or a John Edwards. Looks like Ted Cruz came to Washington to change it but instead it changed him.
He also left me wondering what other constitutional provisions is he set to oppose for political expediency with the goal of gaining more power for himself?
“Smarmy, i don’t think so.
Graham is smarmy.”
No argument on Graham. I still dont understand why he stays in the race, running for VP or something?
“Did you ever hear Carly praising that bitch hitlary. Glen beck played it on his show.
He didn’t have one of Cruz praising her.”
Carly praised Hillary after she lost the nomination in 2008 when McCain was trying to woo Hillary supporters. Praise isnt the same as an endorsement. A lot of people say nice things about the New England Patriots but still hate them
“Time to dump this Cruz guy because some anonymous (concern trolling) poster on FR (with his own blog, who is supporting Carly Fiona) has stated emphatically that “Ted Cruz is just another smarmy politician”.
I make no secret that I am currently supporting Carly Fiorina but as you allude, Im not married to her. We still have several debates before I actually have to make a decision, so we’ll see how well things shake out and how good her ground game is. I’m not expecting to take my marbles and go home if my one candidate out of 17 doesn’t get the nomination of even the top 3. I want to go with the most conservative electable candidate.
“I still dont understand why he stays in the race”
I suspect he is an attack cat for the GOPe. Graham is more than willing to take one for the team.
14A says nothing about birthright citizenship. It’s an interpretation, and we’ve adjusted these sorts of interpretations when it was clear that the Bill of Rights was becoming a suicide pact.
With a straight face, you equate Cruz to Clinton or Edwards? You fault a *politician* for politicking?
(smh...)
Anyone praising a klinton can’t be trusted. There is nothing to praise those people for.
I suspect this writer never really was a Cruz supporter
For bloggers it is not a courtesy, it is a requirement.
Cruz certainly scares the hell out of you progressive bitches.
And yet another example of establishment Republican sock puppets trying to create a war within the conservative ranks.
Kindly try to recall Reagan’s 11th commandment. Address the issues without name calling.
Thanks for the ping Old Sarge. I love the graphic.
"This amendment, which I have offered is simply declaratory ... that every person born within the United States, and subject to their jurisdiction is by virtue of natural law and national law a citizen of the United States. This will not of course include persons born in the United States who are foreigners, aliens, ..."
I understand, though my issue was more with the fact that Ted Cruz flip flopped on it without actually giving a reason for the flip flop. He was pretty clear in 2011 in his interpretation of the 14th.
The longer they stay in the race the more donations they get.
Many are running just to get donations from rich donors . Bush and Cruz already have over $100 million each in donations from rich donors.
Just to recap how much of a liar you are about how you supported Cruz:
http://freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3322819/posts?page=23#23
http://freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3323423/posts?page=8#8
They should NOT be sequential actions. Self deportation is the fastest and most powerful tool for repatriation of illegals. Turn off the magnet first.
“Just to recap how much of a liar you are about how you supported Cruz”
Please see:
http://libertarian-neocon.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-complete-video-of-ted-cruzs-21-hour.html
http://libertarian-neocon.blogspot.com/2013/08/ted-cruzs-dad-rocks.html
http://libertarian-neocon.blogspot.com/2013/05/great-ted-cruz-speech-on-radical-islam.html
So you decided to crawl back!
So which is it, Trump supporter (you lied, you’re an iCarly guy), Cruz supporter (again, you lied, you are a supporter of the lady who near crashed HP and did crash Lucent), or a Carly supporter?
Oh yeah, you’re a concern troll Carly supporter.
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