Presidential Candidates - #11 Ted Cruz

In an earlier post, I mentioned hearing Ted Cruz' father, Rafael Cruz, speak.  We caught up with Senator Cruz himself at the Iowa Grassroots Coalition's Candidate Honest Assessment Summit in Waterloo, Iowa.

Ted Cruz arrived before his scheduled start time to allow for people to meet him.  My sister and I noticed as soon as he walked in the door, so we had just about the easiest time we've ever had getting photos with a candidate.  A line formed soon after.  (I was sure to take the Cruz sticker off when the next candidate arrived...oh the joys of being undecided!)

Cruz was given a brief moment to speak before answering questions from the audience.  Audience members lined up at 3 microphones to ask questions.  The Q&A session was moderated by Trevor Loudon.  Mr. Loudon addressed each person when it was his or her turn to speak, and tried to make sure all questions were satisfactorily answered.

Miscellaneous Facts:  Ted Cruz is 44 years old.  His mother is an American of Irish and Italian descent, and his father is a Cuban who moved to the United States in 1957.  Cruz is a Southern Baptist, has been married to Heidi Nelson Cruz since 2001, has 2 children, and is 5 feet 8 inches tall.

Created with www.readwritethink.org's Timeline Generator.  Click to enlarge.

Q & A's with Ted Cruz

Cruz's Opening Remarks

Politics comes from the original Greek as poly-ticks, or many blood-sucking parasites.  We need to have an election like the election we had in 1980: the Reagan Revolution, a peaceful overthrow of the government.

Q: Iowa seems to be treated as a province instead of a state.  Why do states not have power to decide not to take refugees the federal government brings in from Syria?  Is it because they receive federal funding?  Constitutionally, could our governor place national guardsmen on the border to keep the refugees out?  

A:  Accepting Syrian Muslim refugees into our country is absolute lunacy.  77% of the refugees moving into Europe are able-bodied young men.  Are they ISIS? We don't know.  It makes no sense to admit Muslim refugees who may be terrorists.  They should be re-settled somewhere in the Middle East, not here.  The situation is different for Middle Eastern Christians.  There is no danger from them; they're persecuted.

States' rights have almost entirely disappeared.  The Constitution was to serve as chains to bind the mischief of the federal government.  But when Nancy Pelosi was asked where Obamacare was authorized in the Constitution, she asked, "Are you serious?!"

Moderator: I believe the question was, constitutionally, can states stop immigrants from entering their states?

A:  Immigration is a power Constitutionally given to the federal government.  The federal government is failing to do a good job.  It should work with states, not jam refugees down their throats. 

Q:  I'm from Texas, and let me say we're happy to have you as our Senator, but we'd gladly give you up for the Presidency.  What is your stance on Israel?

A:  America should unapologetically and unequivocally support Israel.  Last year I introduced a bill in response to Iran appointing a known terrorist as its ambassador to the United States, that allowed the President to block the visas of any ambassadors that are known terrorists.  It was passed unanimously; Obama signed it, and they took a picture of President Obama, me, and the devil with hell freezing over.

Q:  Can you explain the reasons why what Kim Davis did was the right thing?

A: What happened was an atrocity.  Six months ago if I had heard that a Christian would be imprisoned for her beliefs in the United States, I would have dismissed it as a conspiracy theory.  I visited with and thanked Kim Davis.  The Supreme Court decision was fundamentally lawless.  The federal judge who ordered her to prison was arrogant and imperious.  This should serve as a wake-up call for Americans.  2016 should be an election for religious liberty.

Q:  You've said evangelicals will decide this election.  How is that going to work with many evangelicals not even registered to vote?

A:  In 2004, the conservatives voted; in 2012, 54 million evangelicals stayed home.  Evangelicals are 80 to 20 Republicans, a large conservative voting  block.  Another important group are Reagan Democrats/Blue-collar Catholics.  

We need to inspire and motivate Christians by standing for life, marriage, and religious liberty.  We need to stand with a welcoming spirit and a smile, like Ronald Reagan.  We have the leaders we have because believers are staying home.  We, the Body of Christ, need to rise up and vote our values.  

Q: President Cruz, I'm upset about so much power being given to the UN.  How do we undo Agenda 21?

A:  I agree that Agenda 21 is a threat to our sovereignty.  I will resist international law and Sharia law.  

[At the mention of resisting Sharia law, Cruz was interrupted by applause and a standing ovation]

While I was Solicitor General of Texas, we fought the case Medellín v. Texas. It dealt with a horrific crime where two teenage girls were attacked and murdered. Medellín was sentenced to death by Texas courts. Then Mexico sued the United States in international court, and the UN declared the cases of 51 murderers had to be re-opened, including that of Medellín. President Bush tried to order the states to obey. Texas found itself opposing the Republican U.S. President, the world court, and the United Nations, and we won, 6 to 3. I will fight every day for our sovereignty.

Q:  What do we do with ISIS?

A:  Kill 'em all. Some might say that answer is too simplistic, and I should offer a more nuanced approach. Here it is: "Kill 'em all quickly!" They are waging jihad against us. We need to launch overwhelming air attacks, and arm the Kurds, who are already fighting ISIS. The Kurds are our boots on the ground; they're using outdated equipment. Everyone needs to know that if you wage jihad against the United States, you are signing your own death warrant.

Q: We are losing our sovereignty to illegal immigration. One of the senators who helped create the 14th amendment wrote explicitly that it did not apply to aliens. What do you believe was the original intent? Anchor babies should not be citizens. Do you agree?

A:  I do. We should end birthright citizenship. Don't incentivize illegal immigration. Scholars disagree on the intent of the 14th amendment. Try to end birthright citizenship with a statute; if that doesn't hold in court, create an amendment.

Q:  26% of the voters this election will be millennials.  What do you want to tell them?

A:  Obama's agenda is terrible, and has resulted in stagnation. I just paid off my own student loans 5-6 years ago. We need to institute a flat tax. We need booming growth and job opportunities for young people as they leave college. Obamacare is a wealth transfer from healthy young people to everyone else. Another thing: would it kill Republicans to occasionally crack a joke? Posters started showing up a while back with my head on a ripped body covered with tattoos, with "Blacklisted and Loving It" written over my head, and a cigarette in my mouth. They were created by a local street artist--my campaign had nothing to do with it. When someone showed me, I said, "There's one glaring error; I don't smoke cigarettes." We need to spread the message of liberty like arsonists; we're fighting for the future of the young.

Q:  How do we turn around the debt?

A:  The secret is economic growth. It's a double-whammy because with growth, people get off of entitlements and become taxpayers. We need a President who will stand against the cartel of career politicians and will veto any budget that includes corporate welfare and pork.

Q:  Nations fall from the inside out.  How can we purge the federal government from people who are destroying our country?

A: We're going to fire them. Rule after rule has been created, killing jobs. President Obama has taken authority that belongs to the legislature. But he's not the only one who's guilty. When the Democrats are in power, there are lots of new regulations. When the Republicans are in power, there are less new regulations, but regulations still grow...slowly. Our motto could be, "We waste less." As President, I will work toward less regulations, not less growth in regulations. On my first day in office, I will rescind every illegal executive order made by President Obama. I'll repeal regulations like the Waters of the United States, and fire anyone not willing to follow my lead. There is only one agency I will expand, the U.S. embassy in Iceland....by transferring 10,000 bureaucrats there!

Closing Statement

Many candidates say good things about standing up to Washington.  But who has stood up to Washington?  My record is different from the others.  I led the fight against Obamacare.  Where were the other candidates?  I led the fight against illegal executive amnesty.  Where were the other nine?  I led the fight in Congress to defund Planned Parenthood.  Where were they, in witness protection?  Drill behind the rhetoric.  If candidates have not stood up to Democrats & Republicans, they won't start when they arrive at Pennsylvania Ave.  You have my word: every single promise I've made, I'll honor; & I'll fight for the Constitution every day.

Further Resources: You can visit Ted Cruz' website to learn more about him and read his stance on the important issues.  You can also read about him on Wikipedia.  Cruz's book is available on Amazon: A Time for Truth (2015).

My Remarks:  Cruz has an interesting support base.  Some Christians seem very strongly to believe Cruz is the man for the job.  One group, 99 Iowa Pastors, is working to enlist a pastor in each county to lead the people to caucus for Cruz.  

Disclaimer: Candidates' speeches are reconstructed from my imperfect notes.  If you notice any mistakes, just let me know.  I would not intentionally misrepresent anyone's position.  I am not endorsing any candidate or candidate's position at this time, and no candidate has endorsed me.  And yes, I do realize that often speeches are to some extent propaganda, but it's interesting to me to see the points candidates consider as most important.
For my personal political views, please see this article.