Posted on 03/10/2016 11:37:22 AM PST by justlittleoleme
Utah Sen. Mike Lee plans to endorse Ted Cruz Thursday, making him the first U.S. senator to back the Texas senator's presidential bid, sources told POLITICO.
In a blow to Marco Rubio, whose campaign is on life support as he seeks to avoid a knock-out blow in his home state Tuesday, Lee is expected to make the announcement in Rubio’s hometown of Miami ahead of Thursday night’s GOP debate.
-snip-
Lee is close with both senators, and he had resisted jumping into the race and potentially alienating one of them. He sat down with Rand Paul, Rubio and Cruz as the presidential campaign got underway one year ago and told them: “Look: I’m in an awkward spot because I’m really close to all three of you guys.”
“One of the weirdest things that can happen to a person is to have his three favorite co-workers all running for president of the United States at one time,” Lee said during a December interview. “It’s just weird.”
But that neutrality waned as Trump rose and Rubio faltered. With crucial primary votes in just five days, the chairman of the Senate GOP’s conservative Steering Committee still has a chance to make a difference in the race.
Cruz's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Lee's office declined to comment.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Given that I know you to be a flaming dissembler who portrays the evidence dishonestly for effect, I'm not taking anything from you without references.
Mike Lee endorsing Cruz's doubling of green cards:
"Everyone acknowledges that our legal immigration system needs improving. S. 744, however, complicates our legal immigration system by creating even more categories of visas and reducing transparency through a series of exemptions from visa caps. Further, the bill does not make the changes necessary to transform our system into one that is truly merit-based. A rejected amendment could have moved our system in the right direction:"
Cruz 4: Double the annual green card cap from 675,000 to 1.35 million per year, eliminate the diversity visa program and per-country caps, and reduce bureaucracy in the green card system
http://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/blog?ID=c987c046-1f08-48be-aaba-807881f38b96
Mike Lee and Cruz shooting down Session's amendment to limit legal immigration:
"One such amendment, put forth by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), would restrict the legal flow of future low-skilled immigrants to the country because of Sessions' concern that they would depress wages and threaten employment for U.S. citizens. Conservative firebrand and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who staunchly opposes the immigration bill and often characterizes it as amnesty, spoke up in opposition to the measure.
"I intend to vote no on this amendment," Cruz said. "The reason is I think legal immigration is a fundamental pillar of our country. I regret this committee voted last week down each of the amendments that would have put real teeth in the border security provisions and would have made the -- what have gone a long way to making the borders secure. I am an advocate of legal immigration."
He added: "I have two amendments to expand the levels of legal immigration, to make this system work better which has the added benefit of -- as a nation, we need to remain a nation that celebrates legal immigrants around this table -- so many of us are the children of those who risked everything for freedom. I respect my friend from alabama's amendment but is not one that I can support."
In the end the committee voted 1 - 17 to table the amendment, with Sessions' as the sole voice in support.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ted-cruz-opposes-amendment-limiting-legal-immigration
Given that I know you to be a flaming dissembler
You're a pathological liar who hates everyone who disagrees with you.
That doesn't say what you said it does.
Cruz 4: Double the annual green card cap from 675,000 to 1.35 million per year, eliminate the diversity visa program and per-country caps, and reduce bureaucracy in the green card system
Cruz no longer holds that position. Like Trump, he will tie the visas to sector unemployment. UNlike Trump, he has promised to prosecute abusers of the program.
Your other quote no longer represents Cruz' written position.
As usual, you have flamed a conservative for a position they do not hold while I would have NO problem finding illegals in Trump's hotels.
As usual you deliberately distort a paragraph and even insert a reply right in the middle of it. Lee cites Cruz's amendment as a move in the "right direction". It explicitly cites doubling green cards, exactly what I said. You know that too because for some odd reason you decided to read the paragraph and the quote Lee cites as somehow being separate, unrelated statements.
Cruz no longer holds that position.
That's not at issue, you pathological liar. You called me a liar for pointing out that Lee supported doubling green cards and voted with Cruz against Sessions's amendment that would have reduced legal immigration.That is what you disputed. You didn't call me a liar for challenging what Cruz's position is over the past few months.
You know that too, but you are so filled with hate that you choose to deliberately distort my statements.
Cruz reminds me of me when I was a teenager.
That’s why I’m not voting for him, because I hate who I was when I was a teenager.
And of course the fact that the Bushes are putting him on puppet strings now...
I like Mike Lee. Sent him a donation a few months back. Know someone who worked for him here in Utah.
Politics is an ugly business.
Its the amount of influence and pressure on the candidates to the bidding for Club for Growth.
And the fact, most are unfamiliar that the folks that fund them are the cheap labor, free trade and tax cuts for the hedge fund managers are their main goals.
The rest of the issues they recite are window dressing, to disguise the real motive for the lobby they represent.
Mike Lee supported Boehner’s step by step immigration reform.
There’s a couple of threads on it.
Republican Immigration Critic Gets Slapped Down(By Cruz & Lee as lobbyists buzz)[2013]
National Journal ^ | May 14, 2013 | Fawn Johnson
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3373639/posts
Graham’s legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Dan Coats (R-IN), Mike Lee (R-UT), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).
Really bad since this headline writer could’ve been clear with just the addition of one word, “his”.
Indeed
Sen. Mike Lee is one of the few senators I would want to endorse me, if I were running.
Also, check out the huge list of conservative endorsements Ted Cruz received:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3403161/posts?page=19
Too little.. too late.
And from Utah......
Calm down. You Trumpanzees are weird.
Ok so I cannot spell the names of liberal blowhards. I am not a follower like Trump supporters.
Get in line, you win a handshake with Obama and a picture with the Mooch. You lucky devil you
Do not blame you.
It is like my thinking toward Beck, why in the hell did Cruz let this moron near the chuck wagon.
It has to be the "handlers" that come up with some of this crap and once it is done, too late to back up.
Well, ultimately Ted is on the hook big-time with Beck.
He could have backed off quietly, but instead he seemed to think Beck was a plus. Ouch.
As for Christy, my fear is GOPe strategy advise. I’ve seen some folks mention his prosecutorial prowess. He might have a function in that capacity. Just ignore him others wise and he could be an asset.
Beck? What redeeming value there? I actually feel sorry for Beck. I believe him to be a tormented man.
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