Sen. Ted Cruz has endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump for President four months after dropping out of the race for president, returning to his work in the U.S. Senate, and beginning to campaign for re-election in 2018.
A statement from Cruz read:
This election is unlike any other in our nation’s history. Like many other voters, I have struggled to determine the right course of action in this general election.
In Cleveland, I urged voters, “please, don’t stay home in November. Stand, and speak, and vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket whom you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution.”
After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump.
I’ve made this decision for two reasons. First, last year, I promised to support the Republican nominee. And I intend to keep my word.
Second, even though I have had areas of significant disagreement with our nominee, by any measure Hillary Clinton is wholly unacceptable — that’s why I have always been #NeverHillary.
Six key policy differences inform my decision. First, and most important, the Supreme Court. For anyone concerned about the Bill of Rights — free speech, religious liberty, the Second Amendment — the Court hangs in the balance. I have spent my professional career fighting before the Court to defend the Constitution. We are only one justice away from losing our most basic rights, and the next president will appoint as many as four new justices. We know, without a doubt, that every Clinton appointee would be a left-wing ideologue. Trump, in contrast, has promised to appoint justices “in the mold of Scalia.”
For some time, I have been seeking greater specificity on this issue, and today the Trump campaign provided that, releasing a very strong list of potential Supreme Court nominees — including Sen. Mike Lee, who would make an extraordinary justice — and making an explicit commitment to nominate only from that list. This commitment matters, and it provides a serious reason for voters to choose to support Trump.
Second, Obamacare. The failed healthcare law is hurting millions of Americans. If Republicans hold Congress, leadership has committed to passing legislation repealing Obamacare. Clinton, we know beyond a shadow of doubt, would veto that legislation. Trump has said he would sign it.
Third, energy. Clinton would continue the Obama administration’s war on coal and relentless efforts to crush the oil and gas industry. Trump has said he will reduce regulations and allow the blossoming American energy renaissance to create millions of new high-paying jobs.
Fourth, immigration. Clinton would continue and even expand President Obama’s lawless executive amnesty. Trump has promised that he would revoke those illegal executive orders.
Fifth, national security. Clinton would continue the Obama administration’s willful blindness to radical Islamic terrorism. She would continue importing Middle Eastern refugees whom the FBI cannot vet to make sure they are not terrorists. Trump has promised to stop the deluge of unvetted refugees.
Sixth, Internet freedom. Clinton supports Obama’s plan to hand over control of the Internet to an international community of stakeholders, including Russia, China, and Iran. Just this week, Trump came out strongly against that plan, and in support of free speech online.
These are six vital issues where the candidates’ positions present a clear choice for the American people.
If Clinton wins, we know — with 100% certainty — that she would deliver on her left-wing promises, with devastating results for our country.
My conscience tells me I must do whatever I can to stop that.
We also have seen, over the past few weeks and months, a Trump campaign focusing more and more on freedom — including emphasizing school choice and the power of economic growth to lift African-Americans and Hispanics to prosperity.
Finally, after eight years of a lawless Obama administration, targeting and persecuting those disfavored by the administration, fidelity to the rule of law has never been more important.
The Supreme Court will be critical in preserving the rule of law. And, if the next administration fails to honor the Constitution and Bill of Rights, then I hope that Republicans and Democrats will stand united in protecting our fundamental liberties.
Our country is in crisis. Hillary Clinton is manifestly unfit to be president, and her policies would harm millions of Americans. And Donald Trump is the only thing standing in her way.
A year ago, I pledged to endorse the Republican nominee, and I am honoring that commitment. And if you don’t want to see a Hillary Clinton presidency, I encourage you to vote for him.
During the first Republican presidential primary debate, all the candidates on the stage were asked if they would support whichever candidate won the Republican nomination. Only Trump expressed at the time that he could not yet make that commitment. Cruz was on that stage. Eventually, each candidate present at the first debate made the pledge to back the Republican nominee. Cruz re-affirmed that pledge in March as the race tightened.
Trump invited Cruz to speak at the Republican National Convention in July, where Trump was officially named and accepted the Republican nomination for president of the United States. Rumors flew around the convention speculating on whether Cruz would seize the public opportunity to endorse Trump. But while Cruz congratulated Trump on winning the nomination and made several indictments of Democratic nominee-to-be Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama, he stopped short of endorsing Trump, instructing those listening rather to “vote your conscience.”
That statement was made in this portion of Cruz’s RNC speech:
We deserve leaders who stand for principle. Who unite us all behind shared values. Who cast aside anger for love. That is the standard we should expect, from everybody.
And to those listening, please, don’t stay home in November. If you love our country…stand, and speak, and vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution.
@ yamit82:
indeed
@ honeybee:
YES, WHY NOT??????????????
Austin Said:
An emotion that never darken my door.
Austin Said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8daS2j04NzA
yamit82 Said:
Yes !!!!!!!!!!! don’t forget the red boots
honeybee Said:
In or out of uniform??????
yamit82 Said:
I should do your homework ??????????????
yamit82 Said:
I shall have to ponder on it. Send photos.
yamit82 Said:
I wasn’t !!!!!!!!!!
honeybee Said:
Only the good ones claim that. NAME 5 if you can??
honeybee Said:
No I was kidding. 😛
honeybee Said:
men in uniform or naked men???? do u have a preference???
robert sklaroff Said:
Your attempt to impugn me has failed. Your boy Cruz is all tangled up in big oil, ag. and the Bush family, And he was born in Canada.
@ honeybee:
I will parse this, and then cease, for you cannot document your assertions…let alone their intended impact.
honeybee Said:
Your facts/opinion are askew.
honeybee Said:
Most ethical/referenced/industrious/accomplished guy you’d ever encounter.
honeybee Said:
An anti-Trump super-PAC published the photos that he had, previously, touted; legally, there can be no interaction with such an entity, particularly if it were pro-Cruz.
honeybee Said:
Even were this true, the interaction with JFK is fanciful.
Austin Said:
Yawls input is always welcomed.
robert sklaroff Said:
Only tiresome because I am correct. Cruz [who is a mean little s-b] threw the first punch by publishing risqué photos of Mrs. Trump. Cruz’s Father was a member of ” Justice for Cuba” in the 60ties.
Austin Said:
You Sir, were testing [teasing] me. I’ll have you know I was once a School Marm.
@ honeybee:
As usual, these back-and-forth comments have grown tiresome; it turns out that the two of them spoke on Friday, but The Donald refused to rescind his attacks on wife/father…adhering to the arrogance that remains a turn-off.
robert sklaroff Said:
Atone ?????? for what. The hair ????? Being smarter the other candidates ?????
@ honeybee:
No he’s TOO clever; was paying you a half-Texan compliment…..
Shhh…wuz the semmmy collum inth’rite plase…
Sorry for interrupting a very humourous exchange.
@ honeybee:
Oh now yere throwin’ all this gramer, grammer, grammar stuff at me are yuh. An’ you a Texas lady shud be ashame’ uv yerself
@ honeybee:
I suppose then that they call themselves “Jewkees” or say they “Cherish” the Torah….. at a long distance awey of course.
yamit82 Said:
True Dat !!!!!!!!!
yamit82 Said:
Oh but I love a man in uniform or out!!
honeybee Said:
Not as clever as you Lol
@ honeybee:
knock yourself out he is of NO CONSEQUENCE@ honeybee:
knock yourself out… 😛
@ honeybee:
Just some “jumped up Military guy speaking. Says he spent three decades in uniform. I bet that uniform had to be burnt when he retired.
yamit82 Said:
Arn’t you just to clever!!!!!
honeybee Said:
OY
live stream now trump rally Va
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeQ7Dgd7TWM
Austin Said:
You ended your sentence with a proposition.
@ yamit82:
Because I am not alone; The Donald must ATONE rather than ignore [and upwards of 6M voters didn’t sign a pledge to support the eventual nominee…and to campaign for him…so we have yet to be activated].
Articles on both sides of this issue are @ RedState and TheResurgent.
Austin Said:
Every Hollywood movie Star has a Jewish Grandmother and a Cherokee Grandfather.
yamit82 Said:
I care !!!!!!!!!!! I care about every rumble in Robert’s gut and every creaking turn of his mind. His vote determines the fate of the world !!!!!!!!! Why else would he tell us ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IzZZjljkWk
robert sklaroff Said:
who cares??? 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDUwXFvTJfA
@ honeybee:
I regard it as your inalienable right as a Texas Lady to say what you want tand spell it the way you want to. After all, Texas is bigger than many countries, and it’s history shows that it is a very different State to all the others, so you get to make up your own form of language.
What did you think of my info that Thackeray’s house is now the Israeli Embassy…With my feeling towards him and his writings, I though it very poignant… Next we may hear that he had a Jewish grandmother or something…..
Austin Said:
Spell check has betrayed me once again.
Bear Klein Said:
This is “killing” the land rich ,cash poor family farms and ranches. It leaves land open for wealthy investors with no emotional ties to the land. Rather like the 1880’s.
@ Bear Klein:
We should never forget that the Democratic Party is directly descended from Tammany Hall. Many years ago I bought Frank Costello’s auto-biography, you know Costello the Mafia Luciano family Boss. Eventually he was allowed to retire “alive” by keeping his nose out of Mafia affairs except as a fatherly advisor. He was also the Boss of Tammany Hall, home and centre of the Democratic Party in New York State, with much influence from there to all the rest of the country. They called him “The Prime Minister” (King of the Underworld) because he had so much influence on political matters and for many years, actually picked the Democratic ticket for elections…… !! Eventually he went to Jail, but not for too long, and died peacefully in is bed.
It hasn’t changed much, and the Clinton era, starting with William Jefferson, has brought back some of the gory underpinnings……..
The rigged primaries in favour of Clinton was par for the course.
Trump is polling around 92% or so of the GOP. If he can get this to 97% or so it will improve his chances greatly.
It helps that Hillary wants a 65% Estate Tax. So if you want to leave your small business to your kids you may not be able to do that because they will be able to afford the estate tax. More socialism.
@ Robert Sklaroff:
I suppose you’re a psychiatrist as well, and a special one at that, an expert at “prognoses” and more likely “diagnosing”; from a distance of thousands of miles, because it was definite statement, with no question mark after it.
“More power to you”, as the drunken Irishman was wont to say…you should start up a radio show, and diagnose ailments just by having the listener putting his little finger on the dial. Big Tent preachers do it and make millions, and here I’m giving you the idea and not asking a cent in compensation. So just say Thank you, and then buzz off.
@ honeybee:
MY favourite Texan throwing around some pure Texan talk. I don’t suppose anyone would bother reading Sklaroff if he didn’t drop a little scurrulous nonsense into it.
Thank you.
Fantasizing Eh…? ! You seem to know all about me…Eh..? Have we met?
It makes no difference if your broadly derogatory speculation is correct or not. He has lived for 70 years and certainly must be well aware of the most pertinent clauses in the Constitution which constantly arise to cause public concern.
As well he most likely has actually read it at the behest of his aides. And if he hasn’t, he will have enough Constitutional experts in his administration, and he obviously must have some right now. You neglect to take into account that Trump is actually a brilliant man, who routinely handles dozens of matters at the same time and has been successfully doing so since youth.
If you are so hot on Cruz specifically promoting the Constitution- and I heard him do it too- if Cruz is satisfied enough to support him, he implicitly implies that he backs Trump to uphold the Constitution. This also implies that he believes that Trump knows the Constitution.
Obama is supposed, or was supposed to be a Constitutional Professor, but it has been shown that he subverts and circumvents the Constitution; and was not even a professor, but a part time non-tenured lecturer, who, by habit at the university, referred to by the title.
Have you publicly complained about Obama flouting the Constitution….? Pray show me the post you mentioned it in… frothing at the mouth no doubt.
Who are you to denigrate and make wild accusations of a matter in which you have no knowledge. I, at least, lay a realistic and believable path to a probably conclusion.
Go away..you bother me, …..
honeybee Said:
Confabulating
robert sklaroff Said:
A scurelist accusation Sir, Austin NEVER fantasizes !!!!!
@ Austin:
You are fantasizing; he doesn’t quote a document he hasn’t read.
@ robert sklaroff:
All I’m hearing from you is a lot of nonsense. Trump has mentioned upholding the Constitution in virtually every speech that he’s made, So do you have selective hearing or what other ailment apart from Trump-dislike.
I have been hoping that most of the Republican leadership, including those who disagree with some of Trump’s announced national policies, would never agree to back a candidate as thoroughly unacceptable as Hillary Rodham Clinton to be our next president. Senator Cruz has not disappointed me in keeping his original promise to back the Republican Party’s candidate in this most vital of elections.
Whether the shrinking remainder of the Republican candidates will follow suit in company with Senator Cruz is, of course, up to them. But any of them who back Hillary Rodham Clinton out of spite or for any other reason will find themselves orphaned from the Republican mainstream.
Arnold Harris, Outspeaker
This has been in-the-works for weeks; it was probably mediated by Conway and triggered by visit with Pence.
He almost did it last Saturday, during his speech to Federalist Society in Austin; how The Donald reacts will be pivotal regarding whether upwards of 6M true-conservatives are activated.
I remain “not yet trump” rather than “never trump” because he must atone for the deceitful primary campaign; he’s obviously preferable to the others, but he must demonstrate fealty to Constitutional rule-of-law as promoted by Cruz [and by none of the other competitors].