“He actually dodged the question not once but two maybe 3 times. I don’t understand that because I thought Cruz for sure would be for that. I am not so sure he is really as strong as his words say.”
You must have watched some other debate.
In the one I watched, Ted said it was not torture but instead is an enhanced and vigorous interrogation technique and would consider its use in selective cases if really necessary.
Pretty clear answer.
No dodging at all. He appeared to me to take care to be precise and unambiguous in what he said. While watching, I wondered if he might have been making sure he didn’t cross over into divulging classified information.
Here’s the question and his reply:
So Senator Cruz, you have said, quote, “torture is wrong, unambiguously, period. Civilized nations do not engage in torture.†Some of the other candidates say they don’t think waterboarding is torture. Mr. Trump has said, I would bring it back. Senator Cruz, is waterboarding torture?
CRUZ: Well, under the definition of torture, no, it’s not. Under the law, torture is excruciating pain that is equivalent to losing organs and systems, so under the definition of torture, it is not. It is enhanced interrogation, it is vigorous interrogation, but it does not meet the generally recognized definition of torture.
MUIR: If elected president, would you bring it back?
CRUZ: I would not bring it back in any sort of widespread use. And indeed, I joined with Senator McCain in legislation that would prohibit line officers from employing it because I think bad things happen when enhanced interrogation is employed at lower levels.
But when it comes to keeping this country safe, the commander in chief has inherent constitutional authority to keep this country safe. And so, if it were necessary to, say, prevent a city from facing an imminent terrorist attack, you can rest assured that as commander in chief, I would use whatever enhanced interrogation methods we could to keep this country safe.
Actually, compared to Trump’s blunt answer, Cruz’s remarks (as you’ve reported) are pretty lawyerly and evasive.