Posted on 04/10/2013 8:55:48 PM PDT by Red Steel
On Wednesdays broadcast of Laura Ingrahams radio program, Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz responded to critics who say Republicans should not threaten to filibuster an upcoming gun control package.
Cruz argued the current gun laws are not being enforced, and said in 2010 there were over 15,000 felons and fugitives who tried to illegally purchase guns. According to the Texas Republican, of those 15,000, the Obama Justice Department only prosecuted 44.
I think that is completely unacceptable, Cruz said. I think we need to be devoting law enforcement resources to prosecuting violent felons who are trying to get guns. But instead of doing that, what theyre trying to do is pass laws that would take away the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. And I think thats the wrong approach. I think its a political approach. Its not designed to fix the problem of stopping violent criminals from committing horrific crimes.
Cruz also responded to criticisms from his Republican colleague Sen. John McCain and the Wall Street Journal over a potential filibustering of the proposed gun control laws.
I think the criticism has been silly, he said. The critics have said we need to have a debate, we need to have a vote. We are having a debate and we are having a vote. Were going to have a vote on cloture tomorrow and we are debating it. The only question is, what should the vote threshold be for legislation that would violate potentially the Bill of Rights? I think it should be a minimum of 60 votes. And Ill point out that a lot of Republicans saying they are happy to vote to shut off debate and move to the bill they dont even know what the bill contains. I mean its reminiscent of Nancy Pelosi talking about Obamacare, saying we have to pass it to find out whats in it.
Cruz also predicted that the Democrats push for more gun regulation would ultimately backfire, and may even result in a Republican takeover of the U.S. Senate.
I think the president has shown he is willing to demagogue an issue and I think it is ultimately going to backfire politically, Cruz said. In fact, in my view as a result of their onslaught of the Second Amendments right to keep and bear arms, I think theres going to be a significant political consequence in 2014. I think as a result of this fight President Obama is picking, I think the stage is set for Republicans to take control of the United States Senate because of this fight right now, because of coming after the right to keep and bear arms of peaceful, law-abiding Americans.
I think a number of red state Democrats who are up for reelection in 2014 are going to lose their seats, and I think they should, he added.
Hopefully Cruz is showing that having a spine is not a sin.
RINO Senators should fear that their “lock” on re election may be coming to an end.
I love Ted Cruz!
The man is unflappable.
Amen.
Amen, It will make great 30 second campaign clips.
It will be even better at shining the light on the Obama administration in detail, should anyone choose to watch it.
The media is bound to ignore it.
Agree!
I like Cruz a lot but he is delusional thinking Republicans are going to win anything. I've voted straight ticket Republican for 30 years. No more. I doubt I will even vote for a national candidate. It's time to concentrate all our efforts at the state level. Put together 34 solid conservative states and call a convention.
If I feel this way about Republicans I know there are millions more who feel the same.
Republicans are finished at the national level.
Cruz/Palin or Palin/Cruz 2016. Either way works for me.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Like the Obama leftists did in 2012, I will vote as many times as I can in early voting, and then vote several times at the polls in 3 different counties.
All sarc aside though, Cruz/Palin would be a wonderful ticket.
Republicans are finished at the national level.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I agree 100%, unless there is a conservative take over of the RINO party. That appears unlikely at this point as the GOP National Committee still follow a$$hats like Karl Rove
in policy and strategic decisions, instead of branding Karl Rove and his ilk as losers, hell they are responsible for the the Obama election in 2008 and the debacle of Obama’s re-election in 2012. Yet the GOP still does the same old with Rove and the Country Club gang?
It actually would be quite laughable , if the country was not under dire threat of economic and social collapse , with a consequent devolution to a fascist dictatorship.We are well on our way down that road , we have a Nero fiddling in the White House while “ROME” burns and for the RINO GOP its just “business as usual?”
Thats on the level of cosmic joke.
Yep, and I'm another one.
Cruz is my senator and I was pleased to cast my vote for him in the primary and in the national election. Up to this point, everything he has done has been on point, but I think his hubris and hyperbole have gotten away from him on this one. The GOP will ONLY win seats if there isn't a better candidate from the Libertarians or the Tea Party and there is no one else we can vote for!
Agreed. The GOP is a sick joke.
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