Transcript: Bob Schieffer's interview with Texas Senator Ted Cruz

CBS News Face The Nation ^ | January 26, 2014

[Kaslin]

***RUSH TRANSCRIPT**

BOB SCHIEFFER: We want to turn now to the President's State of the Union speech on Tuesday and we're going to Houston and the Tea Party Republican, Ted Cruz who led the shutdown of the government last fall because the president wouldn't agree to shut down Obamacare.

Senator, thank you for coming. You have already released a list of issues you want the president to address in his State of the Union speech including you want a new investigation into the Benghazi controversy and into the IRS. You want him to admit that his economic program has failed, that it was a mistake to pass Obamacare on a party line vote. Senator, that sounds like you want a confession, not a speech.

SEN. TED CRUZ: Well, what I've put out are the questions that I'm hearing from Texans all over the state. I've spent a lot of time traveling the state of Texas, listening to Texans. And the questions they raise over and over again, they say, "Why are jobs are economic growth so dismal?"

We've got the lowest labor force participation in over three decades, since 1978. And if President Obama wants to give an honest, candid State of the Union address this week, he'll address the fact that his economic policies are not working and that they're exacerbating income inequality. They're hurting the people who are struggling the most.

See, each of the questions I've put up are questions that the people are asking. Now, I think the odds that the president will answer them are not high, but it's what he should if he was listening to the concerns the people are raising.

[nascarnation]

Here’s what I would have loved to hear Sen. Cruz say:

“Bob, you’re 76 years old, making $2.5 million a year, and solidly in the one percent group. Why don’t your retire and let CBS hire a couple of fresh journo grads from Columbia with $120 grand in student loans?”

[1010RD]

The entire GOP needs to talk about jobs, jobs, jobs, economic growth and jobs.

Pick the top 5 on that list and talk about them incessantly. If they ask you about immigration reform answer that right now we're working on the economy, jobs, reducing the deficit, defending against terrorism (control our borders) and making social security financially sound.

If they persist toss in improving education, making Medicare financially sound and reducing health costs (repealing Obamacare and implementing free market reforms via the Commerce Clause - since most health care problems originate at the local, county and state level).

[1010RD]

Being interviewed by Schieffer is no different than being interviewed by John Podesta or Mary Matalin’s husband. He’s neutral like a car without any breaks going downhill.

[ballplayer]

Ted Cruz is the Man!!!!!!!

[1010RD]

Cruz sounds so good. He’s in the zone right now. He just needs to stay there. He has the media in his lap and he’s petting them. I suspect they’d be represented by one of those mewling bald cats, but he own’s them.

[1010RD]

BOB SCHIEFFER: --if you didn't threaten to shut down the government, who was it that did? I mean, but we'll go on--

That's Bob taking it to him. He'd be interviewing Hillary the same way over Benghazi if he got the chance.

What a partisan hack, but Cruz handled him like cold, overcooked spaghetti.

[elcid1970]

Skeletor Schieffer is the half-life of Walter Cronkite, and for him LBJ & the Great Society never died. I’m sure he looks at Ted Cruz and sees Joe McCarthy.

[onyx]

PLEASE Support Free Republic!

Make Your Donation Today & GO Monthly if you possibly can!!!!

[TomGuy]

They are basically all parrots, parroting back the political talkingpoints for whichever party they claim to represent.

There was a time, decades ago, when these Sunday morning news talk programs basically set the news agenda for the coming week. Now, they just summarize what has been repeated over and over during the previous week(s).

[jeffc]

...Ted Cruz who led the shutdown of the government last fall...

Spin, spin, spin. Dingy Harry shut down the government by not allowing the Senate to vote.

[Kaslin]

He sure did

[Kaslin]

Correct. It was the rats who shut the Government down, just like they did in 1994

[cynwoody]

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/transcript-bob-schieffers-interview-with-texas-senator-ted-cruz/

[RedMDer]

[Lakeside Granny]

They thought it worked for them then so said let’s try it again.

They lost seats, if I remember right. Let’s make sure they loose the Senate this time.

[onyx]

Thank you so much.
Ted Cruz is OUTSTANDING.
Free Republic ROCKS!

[plain talk]

Based on the transcript Cruz absolutely destroyed Schieffer and the dems. He was kicking butt and telling it like it is. He needs to run for President.

[kitkat]

BUMP

[amihow]

Smarter and more dignified than Newt. No one can outmatch him. Holding truths deep in your soul make him a superhero.