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Cruz Fires Back At Rubio on NSA Comments
Politico ^ | 12/4/2015 | Katie Gluek

Posted on 12/05/2015 7:20:58 AM PST by conservativejoy

Sen. Ted Cruz's campaign is ratcheting up its criticism of Sen. Marco Rubio, issuing on Friday the latest salvo in the Republican presidential candidates' battle over the National Security Agency.

In a statement set to go out widely later Friday, the Cruz campaign accuses Rubio of desperation and demands that he "formally correct" recent comments he made about the USA Freedom Act, a measure supported by Cruz but opposed by Rubio that puts restrictions on how the NSA collects data.

At issue is how Rubio described the USA Freedom Act. Earlier Friday, Rubio said on CBS "This Morning" that the act, which passed earlier this year with bipartisan support, "took away the right to collect metadata, which means that we can now not access the phone records of individuals that we either suspect of being involved in terrorism or who carry out an attack to see who they were coordinating or talking to."

Chad Sweet, Cruz's campaign chairman and a former chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security, fired back in a statement. "This particular assertion , that America couldn't target those who have carried out attacks , is beyond the pale and Rubio should correct the record immediately, instead of attempting to instill a false fear among Americans," he said.

"Our campaign is calling on him to formally correct these inaccurate statements and to start telling the truth about America's intelligence capabilities," Sweet continued.

A Rubio spokesman noted that Cruz has recently lauded the fact that telephone metadata more broadly is no longer collected in bulk.

"The truth is that because of Senator Cruz's legislation, the Federal government can only access terrorists' metadata by jumping through hoops that are extensive [and] not conducive to fast-moving investigations," argued Rubio communications director Alex Conant in a follow-up email.

Rubio and Cruz have been heatedly sparring over national security and foreign policy, with the Florida senator suggesting Cruz's NSA vote indicates he's insufficiently tough on terrorism and the Texas senator accusing Rubio of being misguided on foreign policy. The debate has intensified this week, as polls show both senators rising. Cruz accused Rubio’s hawkish approach of smacking of "military adventurism," while a Wall Street Journal editorial took Cruz to task, saying his NSA position "looks dangerous as policy and politics after the terror attacks in Paris."

"The USA Freedom Act was supported by Senator Mike Lee, the NRA, scores of House conservatives, and millions of Americans who believe the federal government can achieve its chief responsibility of keeping Americans safe while also protecting their liberty," the Cruz campaign's statement asserts.

"The falsehood told by Senator Rubio is perhaps the result of a lack of success in attacking Ted Cruz. Rubio and his Super PAC allies have spent tens of thousands of dollars attempting to distort Ted Cruz's strong record on national security and yet have only seen Cruz's support catapult while the Rubio campaign is essentially treading water."

A $200,000 ad buy from a supporter of Rubio's targeting Cruz's backing of the act recently went up in Iowa through a non-profit group.


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: cruz; elections; rubio
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To: conservativejoy
ted Cruz voted to renew the Patriot Act
21 posted on 12/05/2015 8:41:25 AM PST by jpsb (Believe nothing until it has been officially denied, Otto Von Bismarck)
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To: conservativejoy

Rubio shows his true colors as being for a big, controlling, invasive government, and he doesn’t mind twisting the truth (i.e. lying) to get it. Lest anyone think Rubio is trying to earn votes from conservatives, this should dispel that.


22 posted on 12/05/2015 8:46:13 AM PST by FourPeas
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To: conservativejoy

23 posted on 12/05/2015 8:51:39 AM PST by FourPeas
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To: jpsb
Cruz voted for the USA Freedom Act . Link
24 posted on 12/05/2015 8:56:49 AM PST by conservativejoy (Pray Hard, Work Hard, Trust God,,,, We can elect Ted Cruz!)
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To: conservativejoy
"Cruz has recently lauded the fact that telephone metadata more broadly is no longer collected in bulk."

As usual with Cruz, he is trying to have it both ways. He voted for the Patriot Act and yet he is try to take credit for the ban on bulk metadata collection. He two faced on to many issues.

25 posted on 12/05/2015 9:05:54 AM PST by jpsb (Believe nothing until it has been officially denied, Otto Von Bismarck)
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To: jpsb

Cruz voted for the USA Freedom Act, which made a court order necessary for telephone metadata.


26 posted on 12/05/2015 9:12:00 AM PST by conservativejoy (Pray Hard, Work Hard, Trust God,,,, We can elect Ted Cruz!)
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To: conservativejoy

If bulk collection of metadata was effective in identifying terrorists, San Bernadino would not have happened. Senator Cruz is right. Indiscriminate collection of data subject the ordinary citizens of this country to abuse by unscrupulous government.


27 posted on 12/05/2015 10:21:26 AM PST by Tarasaramozart
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To: Tarasaramozart

So nice to get a post from someone who so perfectly nailed it!


28 posted on 12/05/2015 11:02:09 AM PST by conservativejoy (Pray Hard, Work Hard, Trust God,,,, We can elect Ted Cruz!)
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