The HyperTexts
Ted Cruz Quotes: The Man in His Own Bigoted, Intolerant, Homophobic
Words
Ted Cruz's quotes can help us better understand the man, and what he intends to
do to us, if he is appointed President of the United States by American voters.
Here are a few interesting facts about Rafael Edward Cruz that may (or may not)
surprise you, before we examine what his words have revealed about his
intentions for the American people ...
Cruz was born in Calgary, Canada, so he is not a "natural-born" American in the
geographic sense.
Cruz's father, by his own admission, was a recruiter and fundraiser for Fidel
Castro and his Cuban Communist revolutionaries.
Cruz's childhood nickname was "Felito," a diminutive form of Felix, which means
"fidelity," which leads us back to "Fidel." (Cruz's childhood nickname can be
interpreted as "Little Fidel.")
Cruz's father was an arsonist, gunrunner and recruiter who was trying to join
Fidel Castro in the Cuban hills, when suddenly he decided to sew money into his
underwear and sail to the US to take classes ... why?
Cruz's father was a fundraiser for Fidel Castro in the US, raising large sums of
money from unsuspecting Texans.
Cruz's father then chose to emigrate again, to Canada, where he had "Little
Fidel."
Cruz's father and mother appear on Canada's voting rolls in 1974, strongly
suggesting that they both became Canadian citizens. Were they loyal to the US,
really?
Cruz has a Canadian birth certificate: should it be accepted as evidence in an
American presidential election?
Cruz's father did not become an American citizen until 35 years
after his son was born ... the
first year that his son became eligible for the American presidency.
Cruz himself did not renounce his Canadian citizenship until age 44, a few
months before announcing his candidacy for the presidency.
Cruz and his father, as far as I can tell, have never formally renounced their
claims to Cuban citizenship!
Cruz, when asked to provide a presidential code name, chose "Cohiba," which
sounds suspiciously like "Cuba" and is the name of a Cuban cigar. (A very odd
choice for an American president!)
Cruz, who has Cuban and Canadian roots, somehow managed to shut down the
American government and has worked long and hard to deny ordinary Americans
basic rights and more affordable healthcare.
Is Rafael Edward "Little Fidel" Cruz a natural-born American, or is he, perhaps,
Castro's Revenge for the Bay of Pigs?
I do not claim to know the answer. I can only ask the questions. But I am about
to make the point that none of this really matters.
I believe there is a much bigger question at stake.
Even if Ted Cruz is truly an American citizen, and even if he is not out to
sabotage our government and way of life ... still the question remains: is he
worthy of our consideration for the highest office in the land? Does he share
our values as Americans? Here, I think I can
provide an answer, and it is a ringing, definitive
NO. It really doesn't matter who Ted Cruz is, or whether he is
eligible to run for president of the United States, if he does not stand for the
things that matter most to the American people. Our nation was established on
the firm foundations of equality and justice for
ALL human beings. Granted, we have not always lived up to that
exalted vision, especially during the dark days when Native Americans were being
ethnically cleansed and African Americans were being enslaved. But in recent
years, we have been getting closer to the ultra-important goals of equality and
justice for everyone. However, it is my contention that Rafael Edward Cruz is
not worthy of the American presidency, regardless of the answer to lesser questions,
because he does not represent real American values. Hell, he doesn't even come
close!
It's not just what Ted Cruz says, it's HOW he says it, and how
OFTEN he says
it. If Donald Trump is the world's most energetic birther, Ted Cruz may be its
most energetic attacker of gay rights, especially their right to marriage
equality ...
"Cruz, a former state solicitor general, repeatedly suggested that he has the
best record of fighting for conservative principles. He pointed the audience to
his website, which touts his record of defending lawsuit restrictions, the
state's marriage laws and Republicans' 2003 congressional redistricting plan in
court. 'I have spent my entire professional life defending the U.S.
Constitution,' he said." [Austin American Statesman, 6/8/11]
And the Cruz Controller ain't just whistlin' Dixie, especially about his
"defense of traditional marriage," which is actually an unrelenting,
heavy-on-the-inflammatory-rhetoric, irrational attack against gays and their
rights. Why irrational?
First, because it's illogical to say that allowing gay
marriage in any way harms traditional marriage. Gay marriage is not an "attack"
on traditional marriage and there is nothing to "defend," since no one is being
forced into a gay marriage, or into any marriage for that matter. No one forced
me to marry my wife: we married each other voluntarily. If you're
married, I'm sure you did the same. If you're not married, then obviously no one
forced you to do anything. So what the hell is the problem? The simple answer is
that there is no problem, except in the twisted little minds of men like Ted
Cruz.
Second, we don't need laws
to protect ourselves from nonexistent threats. We don't need laws to protect
American citizens from other citizens eating broccoli, even if many of us don't
care for broccoli. Laws that "protect" us and our rights from nonsensical things
are nonsensical laws. If you don't like broccoli, then don't eat broccoli. No
one is forcing you. If you don't want to have sex with people of the same sex,
then don't have sex with them. If you don't want to marry them, then don't marry
them. What is the "problem," really?
Third, what Cruz proposes would open a Pandora's
box of evils. Cruz proposes that someone else's religious beliefs can
trump all my rights. If enough people in my state decide that they really do
believe the Bible verses about slavery, after all, I could be enslaved. Children
could be stoned to death for misdemeanors. Young women could be murdered for not
proving their virginity by bleeding on their wedding nights. Children and
animals could be sacrificed to the gods. What Cruz proposes is, ultimately,
madness and a return to the Dark Ages. Do we really want to go there? If you
want to believe in child sacrifice, believe away, but that does not give you the
"right" to kill my son and sacrifice him to the gods. You will have to be
content with the very strange "god" you believe in, and leave us to believe
something more enlightened. The American founding fathers actually had a very
reasonable solution to the vexing problems raised by competing religions: let
everyone believe whatever they prefer, but let secular laws rule the land. What
Ted Cruz proposes is exactly the opposite: let the beliefs of Ted Cruz rule
everyone, establishing him as de facto God. Is that what we want, really?
But why should I care if Ted Cruz gets to play God, you may ask, as long as I
come out ahead? Yes, I am white. Yes, I am heterosexual. Yes, I am married to a
woman and have a traditional marriage. Yes, I pass all the tests established by
Rafael Edward Cruz to be considered a "good American" in "good standing" as far
as my citizenship and marriage. So why should I care if other Americans don't
pass all those tests? Why should I care if a gay man can't marry the man he
loves, or if some Hispanics and Muslims don't pass the Cruz Controller's tests
and have to be deported?
Well, quite simply, because I do care.
I am not Rafael Edward Cruz, and I do care.
I don't even claim to know why I
care, except that I hate cruelty and I hate bullies. I hate to think of Hitler
harming Jews and Gypsies. I hate to think of Andrew Jackson making Native
Americans walk the Trail of Tears. I hate to think of American slave owners
whipping African Americans. I truly, truly hate the thought of anyone being
treated so unjustly for no reason at all. So I hate the thought of American
children being born gay, and having to live under the bigoted, homophobic thumbs
of people like Rafael Edward Cruz. To be honest, I don't care where Cruz was
born. I don't care if his father was a Communist. I don't care about anything,
really, except the fact that in my opinion he is not really an American because
he doesn't believe in equality and justice for everyone.
That is the bone I intend to pick with Mr. Rafael Edward Cruz. He may have been
the number one ranked debater when he was in college, but I intend to win this
debate, simply by quoting what he said himself. Read'em and weep, Mr. Cruz
Controller, because you are not really an American! You are condemned by your
own stupid, insipid, bigoted words.
Here are
some of the truly crazy things Cruz has said and done. I will
first provide a condensed "index," which will be followed by complete quotes
with citations ...
Cruz was a cosponsor of The Marriage And Religious Freedom Act. [S.1808,
12/12/13]
Cruz was a cosponsor Of The First Amendment Defense Act. [S. 1598, 12/12/13]
Cruz was a cosponsor of The State Marriage Defense Act. [Washington Post,
2/13/14]
Cruz voted against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which would
protect LGBTs from workplace discrimination. [Dallas Morning News, 11/5/13]
Cruz defended the "religious freedom" of Christians to deny LGBTs full equality.
[TedCruz.org, 3/30/15]
Cruz said "religious liberty" and the right to discriminate against gays is not
"some fringe view" but is "the basis of this country." [Dallas Morning News,
4/1/2015]
Cruz called it "encouraging" to see "so many Texans" defending their "religious
freedom" to discriminate against gays. [Texas Tribune, 8/26/13]
Cruz said American citizens may "vote with their feet" and leave states that allow gay
marriage. [FlashReport, 6/23/13]
Cruz, when asked if the GOP should be more welcoming, rejected the idea of a
"big tent." [Des Moines Register, 3/19/14]
Cruz said that a court ruling legalizing gay marriage nationwide would be
"fundamentally illegitimate." [Bloomberg, 4/24/2015]
Cruz said: "Our heart weeps for the damage to traditional marriage." [Mediaite,
2/14/14]
Cruz accused courts of "tearing down" traditional marriage by allowing marriage
equality. [FlashReport, 6/23/13]
Cruz accused the federal government of "waging an assault" on Hobby Lobby, the
Little Sisters of the Poor, and Liberty University. [Liberty University,
3/23/2015]
Cruz, asking rhetorically, "How do we win?" answered, "We defend American
values!" (i.e., denying women choice, gays marriage, Palestinians equality).
[AP, 9/27/14]
Cruz called a federal judge invalidating Texas' ban on same-sex marriage "a
troubling display of judicial activism." [Ted Cruz Press Release, 2/26/14]
Cruz called the Supreme Court's decision to let lower court rulings stand "tragic
and indefensible." [Ted Cruz Press Release, 10/6/14]
Cruz said marriage is "under assault," a "pervasive" assault that "sadly"
includes the Supreme Court. [New Yorker, 6/30/14]
Cruz implored evangelicals to "fall to our knees and pray" in "defense of
marriage and life," drawing "huge applause." [Fox News Latino, 4/26/2015]
Cruz said banning gay marriage is the most important issue facing Christians:
"If ever there was an issue" to pray about "it is preserving [traditional]
marriage." [New Yorker, 6/30/14]
Cruz called President Obama an "enemy of traditional marriage" for supporting
marriage equality. [PBS, 8/31/12]
Cruz called President Obama "hostile" to traditional marriage, lamenting the
"sad trend" to challenge traditional marriages. [Politico, 2/18/14]
Cruz accused the Obama administration of using "force" to legitimize gay
marriage, calling it an "abuse of power." [Politico, 2/18/14]
Cruz described a "consistent assault" to "subvert our democratic system" via
"brute power" with "heartbreaking" results because gay parents are (presumably)
bad parents. [Janet Mefferd Show, 2/17/14]
Cruz also opposes the right of gays to divorce: for instance, having a Texas
divorce judgement vacated, then bragging about it on his website. [Ted Cruz.org,
7/11/14]
Cruz lauded Indiana for "doing the right thing" when it passed a religious
liberty law denying gays full equality. [Dallas Morning News, 4/1/2015]
Cruz blasted Democrats for their "partisan desire to mandate gay marriage
everywhere" and for persecuting anyone with a "good faith religious belief" in
traditional marriage. [Dallas Morning News, 4/1/2015]
Cruz says we have become "utterly unmoored" unless gays can be denied cakes and
women contraceptives, due to other people's faith. [Raw Story, 5/7/14]
Cruz says Texas county clerks should "absolutely" be able to "opt out" of
issuing same-sex marriage licenses since they worship the "Lord God Almighty."
[Texas Tribune, 6/27/2015]
Cruz, when asked about LGBTs being fired, responded that "Bible-believing
Christians are being persecuted" when not allowed to discriminate. [Iowa State
Fair, ABC News, 8/21/2015]
Cruz told Ellen Page that it's okay for florists to give buyers religious
examinations before selling them flowers. [Iowa State Fair, ABC News, 8/21/2015]
Cruz later confirmed florists' rights to apply religious tests to buyers because
"We are a pluralistic nation that tolerates diversity." [Think Progress,
8/21/2015]
Cruz condemned the "war on faith" that would require county clerks not to
discriminate when issuing marriage licenses. [Dallas Morning News, 9/2/2015]
Cruz again reaffirmed the "right" of "people of faith" to deny services to gay
couples. [MSNBC, 9/2/2015]
Cruz blasted former Dallas mayor Tom Leppert for marching in two gay pride
parades: "It's not a statement I believe in." [Mother Jones, 8/1/12]
According to PBS, Cruz said: "For the first time in centuries the president of
the United States has officially declared himself an enemy of traditional
marriage between one man and one woman." ["Moyers and Company," PBS, 8/31/12]
According to the New Yorker: Speaking at a Defense of Texas Marriage Amendment
rally, Cruz said, "I'm going to encourage three very simple things. No. 1, I'm
going to encourage each and every man and woman here to pray. If ever there was
an issue on which we should come to our knees to God about, it is preserving
marriage of one man and one woman. And this is an issue on which we need as many
praying warriors as possible to turn back the tide…We need to stand and defend
marriage, and we need to defend the prerogative of the citizens of Texas to
determine what marriage means in the state of Texas." [New Yorker, 6/30/14]
Politico reported that Cruz said he is concerned that women like the owner of an
Indiana pizzeria will suffer because they oppose gay marriage and that liberals
are obsessed with 'mandatory gay marriage in all 50 states.'" [Politico,
4/26/2015]
According to Fox News Latino, "Sen. Ted Cruz and other GOP declared and
prospective 2016 candidates wooed evangelical Christians in Iowa with remarks
that emphasized religious freedom and opposition to gay marriage. The Texas
senator noted that the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in four states'
same-sex marriage cases this week and said that between now and then,
conservatives must 'fall to our knees and pray.' 'We need leaders who will stand
unapologetically in defense of marriage and life," Cruz said in his remarks that
drew a huge applause." [Fox News Latino, 4/26/2015]
Bloomberg reported that "In his first trip to Iowa as a presidential candidate
earlier this month, Cruz stayed laser focused on social issues, including a
potential court ruling to legalize gay marriage nationwide that he said would be
'fundamentally illegitimate.'" [Bloomberg, 4/24/2015]
According to BuzzFeed, at the New Hampshire Freedom Summit: "Cruz was sharper in
his call to promote 'a culture of life' in the country — he avoided the word 'abortion' but on marriage, he didn't go any further than Paul.
'We have 50
states with different values, with different mores, and we would expect
different states to adopt different laws. I don't think the federal government
should be trying to force the states to adopt gay marriage in all 50 states. If
the citizens of the state make that decision, they have the Constitutional
authority to do that.'" [BuzzFeed, 4/13/2014]
According to the Washington Post: "Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike
Lee of Utah introduced the 'State Marriage Defense Act' on Wednesday…If passed,
the bill would cede marriage definition to states for federal purposes, which
would effectively reverse the gains same-sex couples made after the Defense of
Marriage Act was overturned by the Supreme Court in the summer. In a statement
released Thursday, Cruz said, 'I support traditional marriage. Under President
Obama, the federal government has tried to re-define marriage, and to undermine
the constitutional authority of each state to define marriage consistent with
the values of its citizens. The Obama Administration should not be trying to
force gay marriage on all 50 states.'" [Washington Post, 2/13/14]
According to Politico: "Sen. Ted Cruz says President Barack Obama's
administration is "hostile" to traditional marriage, calling it the most hostile
White House in history. The Texas Republican has been plugging his State
Marriage Defense Act, a bill he introduced with Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) to
require the federal government to respect state laws defining marriage between a
man and a woman, on a tour of conservative radio. On Monday, Cruz told David
Barton and Rick Green's 'Wallbuilders Live' that there's been a 'sad trend' in
recent years of advocacy groups using courts to challenge traditional marriage
laws. 'But it's also manifested from the federal government, with the Obama
administration," Cruz said. "This administration is the most
hostile-to-traditional-marriage administration this country has ever seen.'"
[Politico, 2/18/14]
According to Politico: "Cruz cited the administration's decision to recognize
same-sex marriages performed in Utah before a Supreme Court order halted gay
marriage in the state once more. 'The administration has been using the
authority of the federal government to try to force states, to force federal
recognition of marriages that state law prohibits,' Cruz said. 'The Obama
administration came into Utah and said, 'We're not going to listen to what the
U.S. Supreme Court said. We, the federal government, are going to recognize
marriages in the state of Utah and Utah state law explicitly does not recognize
as marriage' and that was really, in my view, an abuse of power.'" [Politico,
2/18/14]
Speaking to conservative radio host Janet Mefferd, Cruz said, "It is a
consistent assault, and it's an assault that really comes from the use of power
to subvert our democratic system. It is from advocacy groups that don't have the
patience to actually win an argument with the people and make the case to the
American people. If they want to advocate for their views, the First Amendment
gives them the right to advocate. But they don't want to wait for that. Instead,
they want to use brute power to force the states to take down marriage laws that
have been in place for centuries, and that's inconsistent with the Constitution,
and it's not right, and it's heartbreaking. Because you and I both know that the
best environment for children to be raised is a loving home with a mother and
father." [Janet Mefferd Show, 2/17/14]
According to the New Yorker, speaking at a Defense of Texas Marriage Amendment
rally: "Marriage is under assault…It is under assault in a way that is
pervasive. We're seeing marriage under assault in the courts, including, sadly,
the Supreme Court of the United States." [New Yorker, 6/30/14]
According to Mediaite: "Cruz appeared on Washington Week, a radio show hosted by
the conservative Family Research Council's Tony Perkins, to explain his stance
on the issue. 'Our heart weeps for the damage to traditional marriage that has
been done,' Cruz said." [Mediaite, 2/14/14]
According to the Texas Observer, at an event for Conservative Republicans of
Texas, Cruz said that marriage is 'under assault in a way that is pervasive and
unrelenting,' and the assault was emanating, first, from President Obama. Three
things needed to be done to beat him back, Cruz said. Prayer was one.
Legislation to protect state laws on marriage was another. And the third was to
win elections, including the presidential election in 2016." [Texas Observer,
6/6/14]
According to the Des Moines Register: "U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas believes
Republicans must continue making the fight against abortion and same-sex
marriage a campaign priority, a position that separates him from Rand Paul,
potentially a main rival in the 2016 presidential sweepstakes. […] Cruz, in an
interview with The Des Moines Register on Tuesday, said that Republicans 'should
continue to defend life and that we should continue to defend traditional
marriage.' […] On Tuesday, the anniversary of the national GOP's post-election
report examining its failings in the 2012 election cycle, the Register asked
Cruz whether Paul is right about how to be more welcoming. 'Look, I am a
conservative,' Cruz answered. 'I'm a fiscal conservative. I'm a social
conservative. I think we've seen that in order for the Republican Party to
succeed, we need to be a big tent. ... There are some who say the Republican
Party should no longer stand for life. I don't agree with that. There are some
who say the Republican Party should no longer stand for traditional marriage. I
don't agree with them, either.'" [Des Moines Register, 3/19/14]
According to the Associated Press: "Cruz, an evangelical favorite who
overwhelmingly won last year's Values Voter presidential straw poll, drew
applause for chastising those in the GOP who encourage Republican candidates to
downplay 'family values.' How do we win? We defend the values that are American
values,' Cruz said. 'We stand for life. We stand for marriage. We stand for
Israel.'" [Associated Press, 9/27/14]
"U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, today issued the following statement regarding the
Supreme Court's decision to reject requests from five States to review state
laws that prohibit same-sex marriage. 'The Supreme Court's decision to let
rulings by lower court judges stand that redefine marriage is both tragic and
indefensible,' said Sen. Cruz. 'By refusing to rule if the States can define
marriage, the Supreme Court is abdicating its duty to uphold the Constitution.
The fact that the Supreme Court Justices, without providing any explanation
whatsoever, have permitted lower courts to strike down so many state marriage
laws is astonishing. This is judicial activism at its worst. The Constitution
entrusts state legislatures, elected by the People, to define marriage
consistent with the values and mores of their citizens. Unelected judges should
not be imposing their policy preferences to subvert the considered judgments of
democratically elected legislatures.'" [Ted Cruz Press Release, 10/6/14]
In a press release, Cruz said, "Marriage is a question for the States. That is
why I have introduced legislation, S. 2024, to protect the authority of state
legislatures to define marriage. And that is why, when Congress returns to
session, I will be introducing a constitutional amendment to prevent the federal
government or the courts from attacking or striking down state marriage laws.'"
[Ted Cruz Press Release, 10/6/14]
In a press release, Cruz said, "Traditional marriage is an institution whose
integrity and vitality are critical to the health of any society. We should
remain faithful to our moral heritage and never hesitate to defend it.'" [Ted
Cruz Press Release, 10/6/14]
According to the Washington Post: "Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike
Lee of Utah introduced the 'State Marriage Defense Act' on Wednesday. Rep. Randy
Weber (R-Tex.) introduced similar legislation in the House in early January. If
passed, the bill would cede marriage definition to states for federal purposes,
which would effectively reverse the gains same-sex couples made after the
Defense of Marriage Act was overturned by the Supreme Court in the summer."
[Washington Post, 2/13/14]
In a press release, Cruz said, "I support traditional marriage. Under President
Obama, the federal government has tried to re-define marriage, and to undermine
the constitutional authority of each state to define marriage consistent with
the values of its citizens,' said Sen. Cruz. 'The Obama Administration should
not be trying to force gay marriage on all 50 states. We should respect the
states, and the definition of marriage should be left to democratically elected
legislatures, not dictated from Washington. This bill will safeguard the ability
of states to preserve traditional marriage for its residents." [Ted Cruz Press
Release, 2/13/14]
According to The Hill: "Cruz said that marriage is a 'question for the states'
because of the country's federalist system. 'This is something we've seen over
and over again, which is the federal government and federal courts deciding they
don't trust the people,' Cruz said. 'They look down on the people, they don't
trust us to make judgments about our own lives, so the federal government and
federal courts are going to step in and impose their own policy preferences.'"
[The Hill, 10/30/14]
In a press release, Cruz said, "Today's ruling by a federal judge invalidating
Texas' ban on same-sex marriage, is a troubling display of judicial activism.
Our Constitution leaves it to the States to define marriage, and unelected
judges should not be substituting their own policy views for the reasoned
judgments of the citizens of Texas, who adopted our marriage law directly by
referendum. The court's decision undermines the institution of marriage, and I
applaud Attorney General Abbott's decision to appeal this ruling to the Fifth
Circuit Court of Appeals." [Ted Cruz Press Release, 2/26/14]
According to The Tonight Show: "Cruz also touched on a pair of hot-button social
issues that have crowded the headlines throughout 2013, standing by his
opposition to same-sex marriage and universal background checks for gun buyers.
'I support marriage between one man and one woman,' he said. 'But I also think
it's a question for the states. Some states have made decisions one way on gay
marriage. Some states have made decisions the other way. And that's the great
thing about our Constitution, is different states can make different decisions
depending on the values of their citizens.'" ["The Tonight Show," NBC, 11/9/13]
According to Right Wind Watch: "Cruz: On marriage there is no issue in which we
need to be more on our knees because the momentum is with the opponents of
traditional marriage. We saw a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court, a decision
that some have heralded, even some conservatives have heralded, I think that
decision was an abject demonstration of judicial activism. ... We're facing an
assault on marriage. As pastors, each of you has a special responsibility and a
special ability to speak to your congregations and to mobilize the people, and
mobilize them more than anything to pray." [Right Wing Watch, 7/26/13]
In a press release, Cruz said, "The family is the fundamental building block of
society, and I strongly support traditional marriage between one man and one
woman." [Ted Cruz Press Release, 6/26/13]
According to FlashReport: "Cruz: ... people can vote with their feet. They can
choose to live in a state that most closely reflects their values." [FlashReport,
6/23/13]
According to FlashReport: "Cruz: I support traditional marriage between one man
and one woman. I do not think it is the role of the courts to be tearing down
traditional marriage and in particular, the case before the US Supreme Court
right now." [FlashReport, 6/23/13]
According to the Dallas Morning News: "Sen. Ted Cruz said Tuesday that he was
against same-sex marriage and hoped the U.S. Supreme Court would continue to let
individual states grapple with the issue. 'I support traditional marriage
between one man and one woman," Cruz said after speaking to the Richardson
Chamber of Commerce." [Dallas Morning News, 3/26/13]
According to the Dallas Morning News: "'Faith and freedom are under assault
right now,' Cruz said, preaching to the choir. 'This president is the first
president in modern history to put the stamp of the presidency behind gay
marriage,' he said, then added the health care law, government spending and the
mandate that religiously affiliated institutions provide contraception in
employee insurance plans to his list of President Barack Obama's political
sins." [Dallas Morning News, 8/26/12]
According to the Dallas Morning News: "Cruz, in his bid for attorney general,
which he abandoned to run for Senate, accepted $250,000 from Peter Thiel, a gay
activist and businessman who is fighting efforts in California to outlaw gay
marriage. 'Ted's opposition to gay marriage -- and his proven record fighting to
defend traditional marriage -- is clear and unwavering,' Bernsen said. 'Over
13,000 donors have contributed to Ted's campaign and not every donor agreed with
Ted on every issue.'" [Dallas Morning News, 3/15/12]
In a press release, Cruz said: "The decision whether or not to make sexual
orientation a protected legal class is a choice best left to the states, and
elected legislatures in all 50 states have reached different conclusions on that
question. A one-size-fits-all federal statutory right, which would invite
abusive lawsuits and which contains insufficient protections for religious
liberties, is the wrong approach." [Ted Cruz Press Release, 11/7/13]
According to the Texas Tribune: "A proposal to include sexual orientation and
gender identity in San Antonio's non-discrimination policy has turned the city
into a new gay rights battleground. […] U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz also weighed in on
the issue earlier this month. 'Any attempt to bar an individual from public
service based on a personal religious conviction is contrary to the liberties
guaranteed us under our constitution and should be emphatically opposed,' Cruz
said in a statement. 'It is encouraging to see so many Texans standing up to
defend their religious freedoms in light of the misguided proposal put forth by
the local city council.'" [Texas Tribune, 8/26/13]
In Cruz's announcement speech, Cruz said, "Instead of a federal government that
wages an assault on our religious liberty, that goes after Hobby Lobby, that
goes after the Little Sisters of the Poor, that goes after Liberty University,
imagine a federal government that stands for the First Amendment rights of every
American. Instead of a federal government that works to undermine our values,
imagine a federal government that works to defend the sanctity of human life and
to uphold the sacrament of marriage." [Liberty University, Ted Cruz Presidential
Announcement, 3/23/2015]
"I want to commend Governor Mike Pence for his support of religious freedom,
especially in the face of fierce opposition. There was a time, not too long ago,
when defending religious liberty enjoyed strong bipartisan support. Alas, today
we are facing a concerted assault on the First Amendment, on the right of every
American to seek out and worship God according to the dictates of his or her
conscience. Governor Pence is holding the line to protect religious liberty in
the Hoosier State. Indiana is giving voice to millions of courageous
conservatives across this country who are deeply concerned about the ongoing
attacks upon our personal liberties. I'm proud to stand with Mike, and I urge
Americans to do the same." [TedCruz.org, Press Statement, 3/30/15]
The Dallas Morning News reported that in an appearance at Morningside College in
Sioux City, Iowa, "Cruz lauded Indiana for 'doing the right thing…. We're seeing
in the news right now a lot of noise because the state of Indiana bravely stood
up and passed a law defending religious liberty.'" [Dallas Morning News,
4/1/2015]
The Dallas Morning News reported that "In the hour-long appearance at
Morningside College in Sioux City, in Iowa's conservative northwest corner, Cruz
kept a tight focus on social issues even as he presented himself as a candidate
who can appeal to many facets of the GOP. 'Religious liberty is not some fringe
view. It is the basis of this country,' he said. He blamed gay rights activists
and Democrats for the recent uproar over an Indiana law that would protect
businesses who refuse to provide certain services on religious grounds. 'Because
of their partisan desire to mandate gay marriage everywhere in this country,
they also want to persecute anyone who has a good faith religious belief that
marriage is a holy sacrament, the union of one man and one woman and ordained as
a covenant by God,' he said." [Dallas Morning News, 4/1/2015; VIDEO]
According to Right Wing Watch: "Cruz, speaking at a panel moderated by
conservative talk show host Steve Deace….told the crowd of homeschooling
activists that they should fear 'the jihad that is being waged right now in
Indiana and Arkansas, going after people of faith who respect the biblical
teaching that marriage is the union of one man and one woman.' By condemning
this gay 'jihad,' Cruz said, he could 'bring people together' to defend
religious freedom." [Right Wing Watch 4/10/2015]
Asked at the Houston Baptist University Forum on Faith in the Public Square what
he thinks Christians should be required to do if asked to provide services such
as baking a cake for a same sex wedding that they disagree with, Cruz said,
"'Look, I work in the U.S. Congress. But at the same time, I don't think the law
should be forcing Americans to violate their religious faith.' Cruz offered a
pending legal case [involving nuns providing contraception to employees] as an
example.… 'Now, these Catholic nuns don't want to [provide contraception], and
the idea that the federal government would be going after Catholic nuns, trying
to force them to violate their religious faith, really demonstrates how utterly
unmoored we have come from the constitutional liberties this country was founded
on,' Cruz said." [Raw Story, 5/7/14]
At Faith and Freedom Coalition's Road to the Majority, Cruz said, "But I want to
talk about an issue that I think that will be front and center in 2016 and that
is religious liberty. I believe 2016 will be the religious liberty election.
Religious liberty has never been more threatened in America than right now
today." [Faith and Freedom Coalition, Road to the Majority,, 6/18/2015, VIDEO]
According to the Texas Tribune, "U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz on Saturday said county
clerks in Texas should "absolutely" be able to opt out of issuing same-sex
marriage licenses if they have religious objections. 'Ours is a country that was
built by men and women fleeing religious oppression,' Cruz said in an interview
with The Texas Tribune, 'and you look at the foundation of this country — it was
to seek out a new land where anyone of us could worship the Lord God Almighty
with all of our hearts, minds and souls, without government getting in the
way.'"[Texas Tribune, 6/27/2015]
Asked at the Iowa State fair about LGBT people being fired for who they are,
Cruz responded: "well what we're saying right now is actually we're saying
Bible-believing Christians are being persecuted. So for example one of the
couples…" Page responded: "Yeah, for discriminating against LGBT people" Cruz
continued: "No, for living according to their faith. So for example […] So, one
of the couples tonight whose going to be featured in the [inaudible]. They're
from Grimes, Iowa. They're a wonderful couple. They own a historic Lutheran
church. Many years they hosted weddings in their church. A couple years ago two
men came and wanted to have a same-sex wedding ceremony in their church. Now the Odgaards are devout Mennonites. And so they respectfully explained that it would
be contrary to their faith for them to celebrate in their church a wedding that
was contrary to their religious beliefs. The Odgaards were promptly sued. They
were dragged in protracted litigation. They ended up spending $5,000 to settle
the case and they made a promise to never again to host another wedding in their
church. Driven out of business. This month, they laid off their employees. That
is fundamentally inconsistent with who we are." [Iowa State Fair, ABC News,
8/21/2015]
In a discussion at the Iowa State Fair with Ellen Page, Cruz said: "Let's take
the other side, no one has the right to force someone else to abandon their
faith or their conscience. Imagine, hypothetically, you had a gay florist. And
imagine that two evangelical Christians wanted to get married and the gay
florist decided, you know what? I disagree with your faith. I don't want to
provide flowers." Page responded: "I would say that's—I would say they should
provide the flowers. Just like gay people should be able to get married…" Cruz:
"And I would say the gay florist has every right to say if I disagree with your
faith and don't want to participate, you know what, there's lots of other people
you can buy flowers from. Just like, we don't have the right to force a Jewish
rabbi to conduct a Christian wedding ceremony. We don't have the right to force
a Muslim Imam to conduct a Jewish wedding ceremony. We are a country that
respects pluralism and diversity and there is this liberal intolerance that says
that anyone that dares follow a biblical teaching of marriage, that is the union
of one man and one woman must be persecuted, must be fined, must be driven out
of business." [Iowa State Fair, ABC News, 8/21/2015]
In an interview with Newsmax, Cruz said: "Imagine if this were inverted. Imagine
if there were a gay florist — now I know that's hard to imagine, a gay florist —
but just go with the hypo[thetical] for a second. Imagine if two evangelical
Christians came to a gay florist and they wanted to get married, and the florist
said, "You know what? I disagree with your faith. I have problems with your
faith." You have no entitlement to force that florist to provide flowers at the
Christians' wedding. We are a pluralistic nation that tolerates diversity."
[Think Progress, 8/21/2015; Newsmax, 8/24/2015]
The Dallas Morning News reported: "But when it comes to the Kentucky county
clerk who is defying a federal court order by refusing to issue marriage
licenses to same-sex couples, Cruz has struck a more measured tone than many of
his rivals. In a Facebook post tonight, he condemned a 'war on faith' and said
there needs to be a way to work around religious objections to federal and state
law. 'We should make it possible for believers, such as Rowan County Clerk Kim
Davis in Kentucky, to hold government jobs without having to violate their
religious beliefs,' wrote Cruz. 'We can work together to come up with
alternative ways to ensure that government functions are accomplished without
infringing on religious liberty.' Other 2016 contenders have explicitly endorsed
Davis' actions." [Dallas Morning News, 9/2/2015]
MSNBC reported that "Sen. Ted Cruz has not weighed in on the Kentucky situation
specifically, but spokeswoman Catherine Frazier said that 'he sticks by what he
said before' on other instances where individuals refused to offer services to
gay couples — 'the federal government and court should in no way be able to
compel people of faith to violate their religious beliefs.' 'These people have a
right to defend their own First Amendment right to religious freedom. He stands
with anyone of being put in a position that is being forced to violate their
religious beliefs because of this marriage decision,' she said." [MSNBC,
9/2/2015]
"The Texas Republican Party would endorse psychological treatment that seeks to
turn gay people straight under a new platform partly aimed at rebuking laws in
California and New Jersey that ban so-called "reparative therapy" on minors. A
push to include the new anti-gay language survived a key vote late Thursday in
Fort Worth at the Texas Republican Convention where, across the street, tea
party star U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz fired up attendees at a rally to defend marriage
as between a man and a woman. […] Cruz ducked a question about his state party's
platform on gays, saying he would leave it up to the 'grass roots at the
convention.'" [Associated Press, 6/6/14]
According to the San Antonio Express-News: "On to Cruz, the former state
solicitor general who prides himself on tough talk but ignored the question I
e-mailed in favor of the one he wanted to answer: 'I believe that engaging in
homosexual conduct is a choice, and I do not believe that unelected judges
should force States to adopt gay marriage, against the wishes of the people.
Marriage is a fundamental building block of our society, and I have a proven
record of standing and fighting to protect traditional marriage between one man
and one woman.'" [San Antonio Express-News, 3/4/12]
According to Mother Jones: "During the primary, Cruz used his opposition to gay
rights as a wedge against lesser opponents like former Dallas mayor Tom Leppert,
noting that his opponent had marched in not one but two pride parades. 'When the
mayor of a city chooses twice to march in a parade celebrating gay pride, that's
a statement. It's not a statement I believe in' [Mother Jones, 8/1/12]
"Republican Senate hopeful Ted Cruz assailed rival Republican Tom Leppert over
the weekend as hypocritical for suggesting that as Dallas mayor he held firm
against the 'agenda' of gay rights activists and advocates for undocumented
immigrants. […] 'You know, just a moment ago Tom Leppert told you how he used
the office of mayor to stand against the gay rights agenda,' said Cruz, a former
top aide to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. 'Somehow, he forgot to mention
that he marched twice in the gay pride parade.'" [Dallas Morning News, 1/31/12]
According to his campaign website: "Ted Cruz has worked hard in defense of
traditional marriage, including his intervention in a case protecting Texas
marriage laws…When a Beaumont state court granted a divorce to two homosexual
men who had gotten a civil union in Vermont, Cruz, under the leadership of
Attorney General Greg Abbott, intervened in defense of the marriage laws of the
State of Texas, which successfully led to the court judgment being vacated."
[Ted Cruz.org, 7/11/14]
The prosecution rests its case. According to his own testimony, time after time,
Mr. Rafael Edward Cruz has demonstrated that he does not believe in real
equality and justice for all human beings. Therefore, he is not really an
American. He fails the tests of the Declaration of Independence, the
Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and English and American common law. Hell, he
fails the test of the Magna Carta, the "Great Charter" signed in 1215 by King
John, which guaranteed ancient Englishmen the right to swift and speedy justice.
There is obviously no justice for
millions of Americans in the irrational ravings of Mr. Rafael Edward Cruz. He is
the modern equivalent of a feudal lord or plantation owner, trying to impose his
will on people he considers "beneath" him. Plantation owners thought they were
"better" than their slaves, and could dictate terms to them. Hitler and the
Nazis thought they were "better" than Jews and Gypsies, and could dictate terms
to them. Andrew Jackson thought he was "better" than Native Americans, and could
dictate terms to them. The results were feudal serfdom, slavery, the Holocaust,
and the Trail of Tears. Do we really want to "go there" yet again? No, and so we
need to tell Mr. Rafael Edward Cruz that he is not really an American, at the
polls. Not because of where he was born. Not because of his ancestry and
bloodlines. But because of his failure, despite the brilliance of his intellect,
to grasp the simple ideas of equality and justice for
ALL human beings, without exception.
The Consistent Conservative
It Rafael Edward "Ted" Cruz the only Consistent Conservative in the 2016
presidential election, as he claims to be? In a word, yes. But is that a good
thing, really? Ted Cruz may appear to be brilliant, on the surface. But then so
do rhinestones and glitter. What does it mean to be a "real" American
conservative these days? To be a certifiable conservative means to be ... well
... certifiable, as in a candidate for an asylum ... a lunatic. It means denying
the very real evidence of climate change and global warming, such as rising sea
levels and the sudden and startling appearance of an actual Northwest Passage.
It means denying the very real evidence of human evolution in the fossil record.
Quite obviously, there never was a perfect Garden of Eden where human beings and
animals were immortal until Adam and Eve "fell." We now know beyond a shadow of
a doubt that trillions of animals lived and died, long before human beings
acquired the ability to understand the difference between good and evil. Thus,
the orthodox Christian "explanation" of human origins and the need for
"salvation" make absolutely no sense. And that means Rafael Edward Cruz makes no
sense either. Why does he claim to "know" that traditional marriage is the "will
of God?" Obviously, because he believes the Bible. But the Bible is very
obviously wrong about all sorts of things: slavery is not "good," stoning
children to death is not "good," beating children with rods is not "good," ...
so how can anyone believe that heterosexual marriage is "good" and homosexual
marriage is "wrong," based on the teachings of the Bible?
Yes, Ted Cruz is the most Consistent Conservative in the 2016 presidential
election, but what does that mean, really? It means that he is the most backward
and regressive thinker. It means he doesn't really think at all ... he merely
believes things that are obviously not true ... like a child who believes in
Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.
It may be comforting to believe in fairy tales, but eventually we have to grow
up and face reality. We all know that human beings did not coexist with
dinosaurs. We all know that dinosaurs lived and died long before man walked the
planet. Therefore, Adam and Eve are not responsible for suffering and death
entering the world. Therefore Saint Paul's explanation of the need for
"salvation" was wrong, because he said Jesus came to earth as the second Adam,
to redeem the first Adam. But quite obviously, there was no first Adam and no
fall. And thus Rafael Edward "Ted" Cruz is full of shit. As are the other
Republican presidential candidates. They all claim to "know" things that are not
true.
Is there a God who watches over mankind? The only honest answer is that no human
being really knows. But if such a being exists, please consider this: none of
the best-known American founding fathers were orthodox Christians. George
Washington refused to take communion and did not believe in the deity of Jesus
Christ. Thomas Jefferson did not believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, and
snipped the virgin birth, miracles and resurrection of Jesus from his personal
Bible. John Adams admired some Christian ethical teachings but also did not
believe in the deity of Jesus Christ. Ben Franklin was a Deist and a ladies' man
who obviously did not closely follow Biblical teachings. Although he was not a
founding father, Abraham Lincoln was considered to be an "infidel" like
Washington, Jefferson, Adams, et al. The only possible conclusion is that if God
exists, and had anything to do with the creation of the United States, he
favored rational thinkers over orthodox Christians ...
"We discover in the gospels a groundwork of vulgar ignorance, of things
impossible, of superstition, fanaticism and fabrication ."―Thomas Jefferson
"This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in
it."―John Adams .
"I looked around for God's judgments, but saw no signs of them."―Benjamin
Franklin
"All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish,
appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave
mankind, and monopolize power and profit."―Thomas Paine
"I have generally been denominated a Deist, the reality of which I never
disputed, being conscious I am no Christian."―Ethan
Allen .
"Have you considered that system [Christianity] of holy lies and pious frauds
that has raged and triumphed for 1,500 years?"―John Adams
"Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every
noble enterprise."―James Madison
"There is no mention of Jesus Christ anywhere in his extensive
correspondence."―Paul F. Boller, in his anthology on George Washington
"George Washington's practice of Christianity was limited and superficial
because he was not himself a Christian ... He repeatedly declined the church's
sacraments. Never did he take communion, and when his wife, Martha, did, he
waited for her outside the sanctuary ... Even on his deathbed, Washington asked
for no ritual, uttered no prayer to Christ, and expressed no wish to be attended
by His representative."―Barry Schwartz, New York Press, 1987, pp. 174-175
"He was an avowed and open infidel, and sometimes bordered on atheism. He went
further against Christian beliefs and doctrines and principles than any man I
have ever heard."―Abraham Lincoln's law partner, John T. Stuart
"The Bible is not my book, nor Christianity my profession."―Abraham Lincoln
Related Pages:
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The Best Ted Cruz Jokes,
Ted Cruz Nicknames,
Is Ted Cruz an Anchor Baby?,
Ted Cruz Quotes
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