Cruz targets conservatives as he starts White House run

[webfact]

Cruz targets conservatives as he starts White House run
By PHILIP ELLIOTT

LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — Launching his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas asked Christian conservative voters to imagine a United States without the IRS, Obamacare or abortion rights — and to imagine they can make that happen by supporting him.

His aspirational appeal on Monday, aimed at America's most conservative voters, could quickly run into challenges in winning over moderate voters — and eventually deep difficulties in governing should Cruz win the White House.

But it's a message that Cruz, the first major 2016 contender to declare himself a candidate, is expected to forcefully emphasize in the coming year before voters start to pick nominees.

"God's blessing has been on America from the very beginning of this nation, and I believe that God isn't done with Americans," Cruz declared at Liberty University, a Christian school founded by the late Rev. Jerry Falwell.

"I believe in you. I believe in the power of millions of courageous conservatives rising up to reignite the promise of America. And that is that is why, today, I am announcing that I am running for president of the United States of America."

Cruz won't be the sole GOP contender for long. Two Senate colleagues, Kentucky's Rand Paul and Florida's Marco Rubio, are eyeing campaign launches soon. And former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, are expected to follow, among others.

The 44-year-old Cruz is betting his White House hopes on profoundly conservative voters and their opposition to policies they find abhorrent.

Within such circles, there is deep distrust of the IRS, which was revealed last year to have been scrutinizing tea party groups' nonprofit status.

Scuttling President Barack Obama's health care legislation, called by some "Obamacare," is a rallying cry, as well. And abortion is a major issue for Christian conservatives who have tremendous sway in the lead-off caucus and primary election states of Iowa and South Carolina.

During his 30-minute kickoff speech, delivered like a sermon without notes or cue cards, Cruz made clear he sees electoral potential in his unbending advocacy.

"Today, roughly half of born-again Christians aren't voting — they're staying home," Cruz said. "Imagine, instead, millions of people of faith all across America coming out to the polls and voting our values."

Following his election to the Senate in 2012, the former Texas solicitor general quickly established himself as an uncompromising figure willing to take on Democrats and sometimes Republicans, too. Divisive within his own GOP, he won praise from tea party activists for leading the effort to shut the federal government during an unsuccessful bid to block money for the health law.

He spoke on the fifth anniversary of that law — legislation that prompted Cruz to stand for more than 21 hours in the Senate to denounce it in a speech that delighted his supporters and other Obamacare foes.

Cheers rose Monday in the hall when Cruz reminded the crowd that Liberty University filed a suit against the law right after its enactment.

But the partial government shutdown was not widely popular, and Democrats signaled that it would be central to their criticism of the first-term senator.

"His reckless approach to governing would make life worse, not better, for Americans and he isn't the type of fighter that America's middle-class families need," Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz said in a statement.

The son of an American mother and Cuban-born father, Cruz would be the first Hispanic president.

To the enthusiastic crowd, he urged students to "imagine a president that finally, finally, finally secures the borders."

He also nodded to the tea party, which emphasizes limited federal spending and a libertarian-leaning view of government.

"Imagine a simple flat tax," he said. "Imagine abolishing the IRS."

He left unexplained how the government would collect taxes without the Internal Revenue Service. The flat tax has never gone anywhere in Congress because the only way it can work is either by dramatically cutting spending or significantly increasing taxes for most low- and middle-income families. Now, wealthy families in general pay federal income taxes at higher rates than the rest of the population.

On abortion, Cruz said: "Imagine a federal government that works to defend the sanctity of human life."

By announcing a candidacy that has long been obvious, Cruz triggers accounting and reporting requirements for the money he is raising and spending. To help build his campaign account, he is heading this week to donor-heavy New York.

For his announcement, Cruz bypassed Texas, which he represents in the Senate, as well as early nominating states such as New Hampshire, where Mitt Romney kicked off his campaign for the GOP nomination in 2012, and Iowa.

By getting in early — in a late-night message on Twitter and then his kickoff speech — Cruz was hoping to claim ownership of the influential corner of the Republican Party for whom cultural issues are supreme. It was a move at crowding out figures such as former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a former Baptist pastor, and former Sen. Rick Santorum, who has made his Catholic faith a cornerstone of his political identity.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-03-24

[jamesjohnsonthird]

Launching a presidential campaign from the worlds largest christian university in a town named Lynchburg?

Pretty smart move to target the religious and anti science demographic though.

They will believe just about anything.

The world is 6,000 years old, global warming is a hoax and Ted Cruz will be an excellent president.

Edited March 24, 2015 by jamesjohnsonthird

[NeverSure]

Well, there went Ted Cruz's campaign.

Before the haters jump in, give the man the same right to freedom of speech, freedom of expression - freedom to his own opinions as if he were any other person. No need to hate.

If a gay man jumped into the race and made it all about gays he probably wouldn't win either because his base would be too narrow. He could win if he hit on issues that affect the majority and just happened to be gay. Same for a woman if she built her whole platform on womens' rights. She'd need broader appeal.

Anyone is welcome to run but anyone who has a narrow view and platform which isolates him from the majority is doomed out of the gate.

See ya Ted.

[Credo]

Launching a presidential campaign from the worlds largest christian university in Lynchburg?

Pretty smart move to target the religious and anti science dempgraphic.

They will believe just about anything.

The world is 6,000 years old, global warming is a hoax by 95% of the worlds scientists and Ted Cruz will be an excellent president.

He should have booked the Westboro Baptist Church for his campaign launch.

[sdanielmcev]

He's consolidating his power base, so he gets some say in the nomination. And who else would he be going for? He's a well meaning guy, (I've met him), but yeah too far right.

[siampolee]

"God's blessing has been on America from the very beginning of this nation, and I believe that God isn't done with Americans," Cruz declared at Liberty University, a Christian school founded by the late Rev. Jerry Falwell.

Interesting view on matters indeed an interesting base for a presidential election campaign if one wishes to lead the lunatic asylum.

Religion in all its perverted ideals and its assorted proponents if we cast our eyes back over the worlds history are the most dangerous threat to the continued existence of mankind.

[jamesjohnsonthird]

Launching a presidential campaign from the worlds largest christian university in Lynchburg?

Pretty smart move to target the religious and anti science dempgraphic.

They will believe just about anything.

The world is 6,000 years old, global warming is a hoax by 95% of the worlds scientists and Ted Cruz will be an excellent president.

He should have booked the Westboro Baptist Church for his campaign launch.

....Or Wrestle-mania !

He could have announced in between the Hulk Hogan vs The Undertaker match!!

Certainly most of his fan base was tuning in.

[KarenBravo]

Firstly, I'm not an American basher. On the whole I admire the country and it's people.

But, I have never understood the wide-spread aversion to Universal Healthcare. Is it right that an average family who have worked and saved all their life are then forced to sell there home and go bankrupt due to illness?

The argument about abortion was settled in Europe years ago. It's a woman's right to choose. For those that say abortion is murder, that bunch of cells is not human, it is only a potential human.

Even Ireland, a still staunchly Catholic country has now legalized abortion.

Do Americans really want to go back to back-alleys and wire coat-hangers?

Thank heaven that the majority of Americans are pragmatists and that this man will never be president.

Edited March 24, 2015 by KarenBravo

[zaphod reborn]

I'd rather imagine an America without the conservative Christians, religious right, or Moral Majority, however they are going to rebrand themselves this time 'round. They have a very narrow platform: abortion, same-sex marriage, school prayer, etc. They have no solution for the real issues: the debt, healthcare, and immigration. The staying power of this 30% of America makes me proud to be an ex-pat.

[Queenslander]

I reckon he should double-up with Sarah Palin and we would have another Lucie & Dezi comedy show - way to go, bring laughter back to politics…

[Publicus]

Well, there went Ted Cruz's campaign.

Before the haters jump in, give the man the same right to freedom of speech, freedom of expression - freedom to his own opinions as if he were any other person. No need to hate.

If a gay man jumped into the race and made it all about gays he probably wouldn't win either because his base would be too narrow. He could win if he hit on issues that affect the majority and just happened to be gay. Same for a woman if she built her whole platform on womens' rights. She'd need broader appeal.

Anyone is welcome to run but anyone who has a narrow view and platform which isolates him from the majority is doomed out of the gate.

See ya Ted.

give the man the same right to freedom of speech, freedom of expression - freedom to his own opinions as if he were any other person. No need to hate.

I read that before my morning coffee and I'd thought it was a leftist radical posting for Prez Obama then the avatar caught my eye

No one is denying these Constitutional rights to Sen Ted Cruz or to anyone else, to include especially and in particular the perpetually and rhetorically wild right political sector of American society.

Somehow I suspect Ted Cruz is one of those guys in high school we taped a "Kick me" sign to his back. I suspect also he's long since become quite used to it happening to him.

Let’s Be Serious About Ted Cruz From The Start: He’s Too Extreme And Too Disliked To Win By HARRY ENTEN

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s newly minted presidential campaign is the media equivalent of a juicy rib-eye that robbers use to distract a guard dog during a heist. He’ll get a ton of media attention, and he’ll get to spread his message — which may be all that Cruz is after — but Cruz almost certainly has no shot of winning the nomination, according to every indicator that predicts success in presidential primaries.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/lets-be-serious-about-ted-cruz-from-the-start-hes-too-extreme-and-too-disliked-to-win/

[NeverSure]

Well, there went Ted Cruz's campaign.

Before the haters jump in, give the man the same right to freedom of speech, freedom of expression - freedom to his own opinions as if he were any other person. No need to hate.

If a gay man jumped into the race and made it all about gays he probably wouldn't win either because his base would be too narrow. He could win if he hit on issues that affect the majority and just happened to be gay. Same for a woman if she built her whole platform on womens' rights. She'd need broader appeal.

Anyone is welcome to run but anyone who has a narrow view and platform which isolates him from the majority is doomed out of the gate.

See ya Ted.

give the man the same right to freedom of speech, freedom of expression - freedom to his own opinions as if he were any other person. No need to hate.

I read that before my morning coffee and I'd thought it was a leftist radical posting for Prez Obama then the avatar caught my eye

No one is denying these Constitutional rights to Sen Ted Cruz or to anyone else, to include especially and in particular the perpetually and rhetorically wild right political sector of American society.

Somehow I suspect Ted Cruz is one of those guys in high school we taped a "Kick me" sign to his back. I suspect also he's long since become quite used to it happening to him.

Let’s Be Serious About Ted Cruz From The Start: He’s Too Extreme And Too Disliked To WinBy HARRY ENTEN

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s newly minted presidential campaign is the media equivalent of a juicy rib-eye that robbers use to distract a guard dog during a heist. He’ll get a ton of media attention, and he’ll get to spread his message — which may be all that Cruz is after — but Cruz almost certainly has no shot of winning the nomination, according to every indicator that predicts success in presidential primaries.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/lets-be-serious-about-ted-cruz-from-the-start-hes-too-extreme-and-too-disliked-to-win/

There is a perpetually and rhetorically wild left political sector of American society too. Neither can win a race but again there's no need to hate if they put their hat in the ring. Someone who is more centrist will win so we'll wait and see.

BTW remember, they play to their base to get the nomination and then try to move to the center to win the election. Both sides do. Cruz's base is too small.

[Ulysses G.]

Firstly, I'm not an American basher. On the whole I admire the country and it's people.

But, I have never understood the wide-spread aversion to Universal Healthcare. Is it right that an average family who have worked and saved all their life are then forced to sell there home and go bankrupt due to illness?

I don't think there is a wide-spread aversion to Universal Healthcare in America. There is a wide-spread aversion to Obamacare. It was sold with a series of blatant lies and it is a very flawed law. Personally, I hope for single-payer some day.

As far as abortion goes, IMO the right to lifers probably are closer to having it right, but as you mentioned, I don't want to go back to back-alleys and wire coat-hangers and that is what would happen if it was totally illegal. To me, allowing abortion is the best of some very bad choices.

There are a number of things that I like about Ted Cruz, but he has already been pigeonholed as a loony and IMO, he is too far right and it is almost impossible that he could win a general presidential election.

Edited March 24, 2015 by Ulysses G.

[NeverSure]

Firstly, I'm not an American basher. On the whole I admire the country and it's people.

But, I have never understood the wide-spread aversion to Universal Healthcare. Is it right that an average family who have worked and saved all their life are then forced to sell there home and go bankrupt due to illness?

The argument about abortion was settled in Europe years ago. It's a woman's right to choose. For those that say abortion is murder, that bunch of cells is not human, it is only a potential human.

Even Ireland, a still staunchly Catholic country has now legalized abortion.

Do Americans really want to go back to back-alleys and wire coat-hangers?

Thank heaven that the majority of Americans are pragmatists and that this man will never be president.

"But, I have never understood the wide-spread aversion to Universal Healthcare. Is it right that an average family who have worked and saved all their life are then forced to sell there home and go bankrupt due to illness?"

This is off topic but I'll tell you there is a good argument here that suits most Americans. Americans are very independent too. (There is free healthcare for the poor and has been since I can remember.)

The debate about abortion as you say matters not. Americans don't really care what's been "settled in Europe." I might say they don't give a damn. I can tell you they don't want the very high taxes Europeans pay to have their "FREE" healthcare, LOL. ("There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.")

This presidential race is going to be interesting as many throw their hats in the ring. It's wide open and I think it's possible that neither nominee, Repub or Dem is on the radar yet. Remember how Obama came out of nowhere and knocked Hillary out of the running when she was already anointed as the nominee for the Dems last time.

[ggt]

The anti-conservative anti-Christian crowd will make a mockery out of Cruz's run for the White House...

The liberal press will ask loaded questions and present him as being either unresponsive or a fool for answering their inquiries...

He has some good ideas...but I doubt he can mount a serious attempt at the nomination as the deck is stacked against him...

[NeverSure]

The anti-conservative anti-Christian crowd will make a mockery out of Cruz's run for the White House...

The liberal press will ask loaded questions and present him as being either unresponsive or a fool for answering their inquiries...

He has some good ideas...but I doubt he can mount a serious attempt at the nomination as the deck is stacked against him...

He does have some good ideas and one is getting rid of Obamacare. Our friends in Europe might think it's nationalized health care but it isn't free. It's a mandate that all buy health care. There has long been free health care for the poor. Obamacare is a mess, managed 50 ways by 50 different states and it isn't popular.

The IRS isn't popular at all either and Cruz is trying to hit the hot buttons. He's going to miss because he doesn't have enough base to launch at Liberty and say what he said.

[Steely Dan]

Well, there went Ted Cruz's campaign.

Before the haters jump in, give the man the same right to freedom of speech, freedom of expression - freedom to his own opinions as if he were any other person. No need to hate.

If a gay man jumped into the race and made it all about gays he probably wouldn't win either because his base would be too narrow. He could win if he hit on issues that affect the majority and just happened to be gay. Same for a woman if she built her whole platform on womens' rights. She'd need broader appeal.

Anyone is welcome to run but anyone who has a narrow view and platform which isolates him from the majority is doomed out of the gate.

See ya Ted.

After listening to Rubio lay into Obama for his foreign policy stance I would like to see him as the next President.

[sdanielmcev]

I think every candidate, Republican or Democrat will run against Obamacare.

[pitrevie]

The anti-conservative anti-Christian crowd will make a mockery out of Cruz's run for the White House...

The liberal press will ask loaded questions and present him as being either unresponsive or a fool for answering their inquiries...

He has some good ideas...but I doubt he can mount a serious attempt at the nomination as the deck is stacked against him...

Loaded questions I like that bit, do you mean like, "what newspapers do you read?" or perhaps a really difficult one like, "do you think the earth is 6000 years old?" I think Barry Goldwater no leftie by any means said all there needs to be said of the religious right and none of it was complimentary.

[sdanielmcev]

Well, there went Ted Cruz's campaign.

Before the haters jump in, give the man the same right to freedom of speech, freedom of expression - freedom to his own opinions as if he were any other person. No need to hate.

If a gay man jumped into the race and made it all about gays he probably wouldn't win either because his base would be too narrow. He could win if he hit on issues that affect the majority and just happened to be gay. Same for a woman if she built her whole platform on womens' rights. She'd need broader appeal.

Anyone is welcome to run but anyone who has a narrow view and platform which isolates him from the majority is doomed out of the gate.

See ya Ted.

give the man the same right to freedom of speech, freedom of expression - freedom to his own opinions as if he were any other person. No need to hate.

I read that before my morning coffee and I'd thought it was a leftist radical posting for Prez Obama then the avatar caught my eye

No one is denying these Constitutional rights to Sen Ted Cruz or to anyone else, to include especially and in particular the perpetually and rhetorically wild right political sector of American society.

Somehow I suspect Ted Cruz is one of those guys in high school we taped a "Kick me" sign to his back. I suspect also he's long since become quite used to it happening to him.

Lets Be Serious About Ted Cruz From The Start: Hes Too Extreme And Too Disliked To Win

By HARRY ENTEN

Texas Sen. Ted Cruzs newly minted presidential campaign is the media equivalent of a juicy rib-eye that robbers use to distract a guard dog during a heist. Hell get a ton of media attention, and hell get to spread his message which may be all that Cruz is after but Cruz almost certainly has no shot of winning the nomination, according to every indicator that predicts success in presidential primaries.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/lets-be-serious-about-ted-cruz-from-the-start-hes-too-extreme-and-too-disliked-to-win/

A 'kick me' sign? You were a bully as a kid? (Still try, huh?) Though you might not see it now, he was a good ol' boy that would've whomped you upside the head if you did that.

The depths you sink to.

[NeverSure]

Well, there went Ted Cruz's campaign.

Before the haters jump in, give the man the same right to freedom of speech, freedom of expression - freedom to his own opinions as if he were any other person. No need to hate.

If a gay man jumped into the race and made it all about gays he probably wouldn't win either because his base would be too narrow. He could win if he hit on issues that affect the majority and just happened to be gay. Same for a woman if she built her whole platform on womens' rights. She'd need broader appeal.

Anyone is welcome to run but anyone who has a narrow view and platform which isolates him from the majority is doomed out of the gate.

See ya Ted.

After listening to Rubio lay into Obama for his foreign policy stance I would like to see him as the next President.

Right now he's down in the polls but it's early. Right now polls are about name recognition and he'll have to sell himself if he decides to run. I agree he'd be good.

[Chicog]

If you want a laugh he's on Hannity right now

[Chicog]

He thinks they need to bring back the 'Reagan Demicrats' to the polls. Good luck with that then.

[jamesjohnsonthird]

Firstly, I'm not an American basher. On the whole I admire the country and it's people.

But, I have never understood the wide-spread aversion to Universal Healthcare. Is it right that an average family who have worked and saved all their life are then forced to sell there home and go bankrupt due to illness?

The argument about abortion was settled in Europe years ago. It's a woman's right to choose. For those that say abortion is murder, that bunch of cells is not human, it is only a potential human.

Even Ireland, a still staunchly Catholic country has now legalized abortion.

Do Americans really want to go back to back-alleys and wire coat-hangers?

Thank heaven that the majority of Americans are pragmatists and that this man will never be president.

"But, I have never understood the wide-spread aversion to Universal Healthcare. Is it right that an average family who have worked and saved all their life are then forced to sell there home and go bankrupt due to illness?"

This is off topic but I'll tell you there is a good argument here that suits most Americans. Americans are very independent too. (There is free healthcare for the poor and has been since I can remember.)

The debate about abortion as you say matters not. Americans don't really care what's been "settled in Europe." I might say they don't give a damn. I can tell you they don't want the very high taxes Europeans pay to have their "FREE" healthcare, LOL. ("There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.")

This presidential race is going to be interesting as many throw their hats in the ring. It's wide open and I think it's possible that neither nominee, Repub or Dem is on the radar yet. Remember how Obama came out of nowhere and knocked Hillary out of the running when she was already anointed as the nominee for the Dems last time.

There is no widespread aversion to universal healthcare. There is an unethical, immoral conservative sponsored, fake news channel that might make you think that is true.

The republican plan? According to Mit Romney, their last candidate.."the poor can walk into an emergency room....someone will take care of them"

Thats exactly what he said! Amazing plan for the millions of deadbeats that were uninsured.

[NeverSure]

Our good socialist/communist friends on here are going to be apoplectic if a Rep wins the White House, no matter who he is. We get 20 more months of their rhetoric followed by some heart attacks afflicting the old codgers if a Repub wins.

America isn't important any more, don't you see.

[NeverSure]

There is no widespread aversion to universal healthcare. There is an unethical, immoral conservative sponsored, fake news channel that might make you think that is true.

The republican plan? According to Mit Romney, their last candidate.."the poor can walk into an emergency room....someone will take care of them"

Thats exactly what he said! Amazing plan for the millions of deadbeats that were uninsured.

There is no universal healthcare in the US. Obamacare was a sucker punch that is a mandate requiring everyone to buy health insurance. It is unpopular.

In the context that the US doesn't have universal health care, here is your recent poll:

Monday, March 16, 2015

"Most voters continue to put reducing health care costs ahead of requiring everyone to have health insurance and think keeping the government out of the market is the best way to reduce those costs. But support for tort reform is down.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that when it comes to reforming health care in this country, 59% of Likely U.S. Voters believe reducing the cost of health care is more important than making sure that everyone has health insurance. Thirty-six percent (36%) disagree and feel it is more important to mandate universal health insurance."

LINK

[jamesjohnsonthird]

Requiring everyone to purchase health insurance is unpopular?

Only to the deadbeats that were freeloading at the emergency rooms.

Ask any hospital administrator about the millions lost on servicing these mooches.

Shocking, the republican plan is sending people with a common cold to clog up our emergency rooms.

Edited March 24, 2015 by jamesjohnsonthird

[reptile91602]

What about fixing the deeply screwed up cost of health care and give everyone health care. Yes it can be done but the AMA sure as hell doesn't want it and neither do Republicans. That is a big part of why , us "Amercian haters", hate the US . It's called a screwed up Republican party. Oh yes, the democrats ain't much better but at least they try on occasion to help the people and not just the super rich.

[notmyself]

Cruz has not a chance in Hell because he is too left wing though that is by the by in reality because the Koch brothers will decide as the US is a wholly owned subsidiary of theirs.

[Chicog]

LOL@ tedcruzforamerica.com

Edited March 24, 2015 by Chicog