Ted Cruz Tells Reporters "I'm a Christian First, American Second"

Yahoo News ^ | 25 Jan 2016 | Tom McKay

[mandaladon]

According to presidential candidate and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, there's one thing that more important to him than the country he's running to lead: his God.

In a remarkable exchange in New Hampshire, Politico reports, Cruz told reporters "I'm a Christian first, American second, conservative third and Republican fourth."

"I'll tell ya, there are a whole lot of people in this country that feel exactly the same way," he added.

Cruz, currently ranked second in GOP candidate polls according to RealClearPolitics, enjoys wide support among evangelical Christians in important, early-voting primary states like Iowa, where Cruz is locked in a tight race with current frontrunner Donald Trump. Cruz repeatedly accused Trump and his support of "more deal-making" and enjoying the support of unpopular "establishment" Republicans.

By proclaiming himself a Christian first and an American second, Cruz is professing higher loyalties than the United States — odd for a candidate who has repeatedly accused Muslims of doing much the same thing.

[pollywog]

Thank you for sharing your opinion.
I disagree with you, but must thank you for treating me with respect and sharing your views, unlike some have treated me lately.

[jimbo807]

I consider it distasteful in all cases. Whether or not one is a Christian has no bearing on whether or not one can be a good president.

[Hoodat]

Uh, no. Not even close.

[elpadre]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5HXItQ5Sro

[ETL]

I was partly joking when I commented:
Trump: “I’m a BILLIONAIRE First, American Second”

But when he (Trump) was asked why he gave that endorsement of communist Bill De Blasio for mayor of New York City, his excuse was something like: “Well, I’m a businessman, I own a lot of expensive property in New York”.

In other words, he was quick to sell us out to a communist so that HE could be on good terms with him.

[greene66]

Heck, since American culture has turned all putrid and depraved, and we have a government that now regards two perverted homos the same as a husband-and-wife, I can’t say I particularly care to identify myself as an American much anymore. The country I loved and pledged my allegiance to no longer exists.

[elpadre]

here is another good reason fro Cruz to win: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5HXItQ5Sro

[gbscott1954]

That’s right, all us Christians need to shut up and let everyone else say and do what they want! Seems like we have been doing way too much of that for years!

[Mechanicos]

Thank you for quoting Scripture to me. Although it was done in an attempt to malign and attack me, the issue was his stealthy private associations with unrepentant wealthy homosexuals for funding reasons. I return the favor by providing the following regarding associating with unrepentant wicked.

Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. Romans 16:17

But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 1 Cor. 5:11

I do not sit with deceitful men, Nor will I go with pretenders. Psalms 26:4

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. 2 Thessalonians 3:6

I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude 1:4

You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18”A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Matthew 7:16-17

[Hoodat]

One either trusts God, or one does not. It is clear that Ted Cruz trusts God. It is also clear that many here do not.

Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.

Proverbs 16:3

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths

Proverbs 3:5-6

[Hoodat]

You are making a heck of a lot of assumptions there. First and foremost, can you tell me what Ted Cruz said to the people he met with? I have asked twice now. Instead of an honest answer, I get dissension, hinderances, and unsupported accusations of binding and deceit.

[Jacquerie]

<>Muslims say I am a Muslim first an American second and he says that’s wrong?<>

Its a shame that a freeper draws moral equivalency between Christianity and beastial islam.

The Framers recognized TWO higher entities. The first is the sovereign people, the civil society that created the American republic.

Above all is God himself, and everyone is subject to His laws and the Laws of Nature at all times.

Nations get into trouble, as ours is, when they attempt to disregard the Laws of Nature and Nature's God.

So yes, it is keeping with the American tradition to hold Christianity first above any government.

[jimbo807]

Granting you your point about Islam for discussion purposes...

What if a Catholic held allegiance to the pope in higher esteem than the constitution? Would that be OK?

[Mechanicos]

Probably same as what he said to his other similar gay activist mega donors to get their money. http://www.texastribune.org/2012/07/03/ted-cruzs-gay-billionaire-donor-draws-criticism/

[CA Conservative]

I consider it distasteful in all cases.

That's not what I asked. I asked if you came out against Trump just as forcefully when he did the same thing, or are you just reserving your indignation and invective for candidates not named Trump??

[Hoodat]

Good post. For proof of this, one need not look past Amendment I of the Bill of Rights. This Amendment does not grant rights, but instead places a limit on the power of the Federal legislature. The unwritten assumption here is that our rights to free speech, assembly, petition, religious exercise, and press are granted solely by our Creator.

[Hoodat]

So in other words, you don’t know what he said.

[Mechanicos]

So in other words I am not letting you change the subject.

[jimbo807]

I found it distasteful, but the angle then was that there was no way Trump is a Christian, so I defended him against that. There is no call for anyone to sit in judgement on whether or not someone has faith.

Cruz, OTOH, is obviously a Christian, so his brazen use of it to curry political favor is more distasteful to me. I am also concerned that his allegiance to the constitution is secondary. He will have to swear an oath to it should he be elected, you know.

[Mechanicos]

http://orthodoxnet.com/blog/2013/11/twenty-five-signs-that-youre-arguing-with-leftists/