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Cruz Bows the Knee
“Hail Hydra.”
The principled junior senator from Texas has officially endorsed the guy who claimed Rafael Cruz assassinated JFK. His full, lawyerly, too-clever-by-three-quarters statement from Facebook:
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.
Unbelievably, pasta-spined John Kasich and low-energy Jeb Bush are the only GOP candidates who haven’t caved to the Republican nominee. Trump protégé Omarosa said this week that “every critic, every detractor, will have to bow down to President Trump.” In that case, put me on Team Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Published in General
The God I worship is Jesus Christ, and I don’t bow to any political leaders.
I don’t think so. Cruz has chosen to endorse nonetheless. But regular humans will probably understand why Trump’s insults made it more difficult for Cruz.
Is there something about this I’m not explaining clearly enough? Please let me know so I can clear up whatever problem you are having with it. If it’s just that Cruz has fallen short of your standards, I’ll do my best to let him down gently.
get the sense Jon takes great pleasure in Cruz dropping to Rubio’s level
Well, that’s a low bar to get over.
Full stop. He had no other option; this was not a contract whose terms had been violated or which a counterparty had abrogated. It was a solemnly entered promise.
Indeed. Nevertheless, he took it. Its purported stupidity presents no excuse for welching on it. It is a lesson to be careful about the commitments one makes.
No, it’s Kasich still in his little boy pants still feeling sorry for himself over his hurted feelings.
Eric Hines
I just wish Cruz had abstained at this point. His capitulating–and that’s how Trump will see it–simply adds to Trump’s already outsized ego.
None. I voted for Cruz.
Well unless you are a McMullin fan. Then the plan is to have Trump and her split the vote while you take Utah ending up by throwing it all to the House where you convince some motley crew of Dems and Republicans from 25 state delegations to vote for you.
That said, once you make the determination that both Trump and Hillary are bad and that one will win, there isn’t much reason to try doing anything. You’ve already lost.
I think this political calculation is likely to bite him. (Sorry about that strange metaphor.) Trump supporters seem to be especially unforgiving, so they won’t be enthusiastic Cruz voters. Ardent Cruz Crew types are devastated and disillusioned with him (welcome aboard the USS Devastation and Disillusionment. Hemlock served on the lido deck).
Where will his 2018 support come from?
Cruz appears to have swallowed his pride because he recognizes that his opinion matters. Pretty self-evident, I thought.
Substitute “bows to reality” for “bows the knee” and you have a good headline.
It actually seems worse to me that Rubio’s capitulation to Trump which at least happened early and without fuss. Ted though made everything doubly awkward for himself. While other “lesser” conservatives have yet to give in.
It will come from the short memories of everyone and his incumbency.
Note:
Noted. See self-redaction.Not sure this is the tone you’re striving for here on Ricochet.
Well then, don’t you think it was just a little bit low to suggest that Cruz was bowing down in idolatry (now that you see fit to invoke Jesus Christ?) You’ve thrown the analogies out the window and made it quite serious.
Noted this elsewhere, thought I might as well put it here, too:
Who knows at this point, but two things to keep in mind:
Good for Cruz. I have regained tremendous respect for him because of this statement. He did suffer malicious defamation in the primaries. The one accusing his father came after Trump had won Indiana and was sailing free for the overall win. Trump owns that as a permanent smear on his own character…a wholly unnecessary one. Yet here we have the man who everyone acknowledged had a right to withhold but still came forward for the good of our country. And with his support he produced an extremely logical and indisputable thesis for voting Trump.
Thank you Ted Cruz!
I don’t think less of you, I just literally do not understand the logic of your position. Part of that might be because you (and Jon and others) don’t address Cruz’s six points with any specificity. NeverTrumpers just seem to have this abiding anger at Trump’s primary voters for giving us the Vulgarian as a candidate. It’s done. Now what?
Just as a reminder, here are Cruz’s big six:
SCOTUS
Obamacare
Energy
Immigration
National Security
Internet Freedom
Please explain how the Clinton Machine will be better — more conservative. And please don’t use the “Trump can’t be trusted with nukes” argument. I can’t bring myself to respect such hysteria.
I think his conscience is precisely what led him to his decision, just as anyone else’s conscience might lead them to their own decisions. Why should any of us be surprised that voting one’s conscience might lead to a decision to vote for Trump?
I’m still wrestling with one concept, even though it’s been addressed to a degree above. If Cruz said he would support the nominee, are we supposed to think more of him if he broke that promise?
And the thunder rolls….
So those of us that pledged never to vote for the sob should honor our vow as well…….?? Asking for a friend.
Cruz always seemed to be walking a pretty fine line by refusing to compromise his core principles while engaging in the most blatantly cynical maneuvering when it came to any remotely non-core position. There were some embarrassing flip flops to be sure, but overall I’d say he had done as well as one could hope at balancing the need for consistent conservative advocacy with the imperative to stay viable. That was until today of course. I think Cruz will find that if Trump wins there will be no place for him under the new regime, and if Trump loses that there will be no going back. Either way his ignominy will be well deserved. I wish I could share the cynicism of my fellow Nevers here. The truth is we lost a good man who could have had an important role to play in rebuilding conservatism from the ashes of 2016. As with so much that’s happened within the last year and a half, the proper reaction would seem to be one of mourning.
Every single one of CruZ points here has been litigated to death by the ricochetti. If you don’t know our positions on them by now you’re unlikely to get them from yet another recitation.
Huh? Jon quoted Omarosa’s “every critic, every detractor, will have to bow down to President Trump”, from which the logical connection to the SM&A story is the “have to” bowing down, not the idolatry. How many people, even in those times, would seriously worship a statue of a king just because the king was saying, “You have to bow down or else”? Isn’t a more natural human reaction to not get one whit more worshipful after such a demand, even if one goes through the motions to avoid trouble?
Cruz made a name for himself by his defiance. The lack of defiance is what contrasts with SM&A.
Why? What principle did Cruz violate today?
Yes, and likely refrain from criticizing someone who did the same.
I think my answer about Cruz from reading these comments is that all is forgiven as long as one gets on the Trump Train.
However, this is a pretty imperfect poll. I suspect @gaius is close to right.
It will be interesting to see.
I believe it is quite serious. Cruz is one of the few politicos who has demonstrated an unpopular commitment to principle. But expediency won the day.