Ban flights from Ebola-stricken nations [Ted Cruz Op-Ed]

TribTalk ^ | Oct. 15, 2014 | Ted Cruz

[SoConPubbie]

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa presents an urgent public health threat to America. The loss of life and the growing epidemic are heartbreaking and tragic. And we need serious leadership in the United States to protect our citizens today.

To date, roughly 8,000 people have contracted Ebola in West Africa. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that under worst-case-scenario conditions, the number of Ebola cases could reach 1.4 million by January. Of those, over 50 percent would likely lose their lives.

We need to do everything we can to contain this outbreak, to help the people who are suffering in Africa and to prevent this epidemic from spreading. But our first priority must be to protect the health and safety of American citizens. The Constitution sets forth the federal government’s responsibility to “provide for the common defense.” That should be the president’s focus.

Already, one Liberian citizen, Thomas Eric Duncan, was able to fly on a commercial flight to Texas, arriving at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport infected with Ebola. Duncan lost his life, but not before transmitting the disease to a Dallas nurse, Nina Pham, who bravely put her life in jeopardy caring for him in his final days. Officials announced on Wednesday that another health care worker had been diagnosed with the virus. Our prayers are with that worker, Pham and Duncan’s grieving family.

We all very much hope the virus will not spread any further in Texas. But hope is not a strategy. Given the gravity of the threat, common sense dictates that it’s time to ban flights from the countries afflicted by Ebola.

The federal government has implemented screenings at five major American airports for passengers arriving from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. Notably, the screenings don’t include other airports like DFW, where Duncan arrived.

[luvie]

He’s right! Go Ted! Stand up for America when others won’t!

[ohioman]

What Cruz is doing is not cheap talk. He is the single best representative of the Conservative Right in America. If we go with a squishy GOP-E candidate then we are screwed.

[SoConPubbie]

What questions?

Please provide the relevant sections of the U.S. Constitution that clearly and unambiguously define "Natural Born" as requiring two U.S. Citizens at birth.

Lacking that, Please provide the relevant sections of U.S. Federal Law that clearly and unambiguously define "Natural Born" as requiring two U.S. Citizens at birth.

Lacking that, Please provide the relevant rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court that clearly and unambiguously define "Natural Born" as requiring two U.S. Citizens at birth.

You won't because you can't because they don't exist anywhere except in your mind and in sources that are not legal or constitutional in nature.

[SoConPubbie]

(despite questions about his citizenship, fair-is-fair, many of us challenged Obama’s, Cruz has issues),

What questions?

Please provide the relevant sections of the U.S. Constitution that clearly and unambiguously define "Natural Born" as requiring two U.S. Citizens at birth.

Lacking that, Please provide the relevant sections of U.S. Federal Law that clearly and unambiguously define "Natural Born" as requiring two U.S. Citizens at birth.

Lacking that, Please provide the relevant rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court that clearly and unambiguously define "Natural Born" as requiring two U.S. Citizens at birth.

You won't because you can't because they don't exist anywhere except in your mind and in sources that are not legal or constitutional in nature.

[CatherineofAragon]

Welcome to FR.

Per the CATO institute---and the owner of this site---Cruz has no "issues" with citizenship. For your education:

CATO Institute: Yes, Ted Cruz Can Be President

[CatherineofAragon]

Do you have a preferred candidate for 2016?

[SoConPubbie]

Where is some action? SENATOR Cruz should be in Washington with his SENATE and HOUSE colleagues doing something. They could craft a bill banning direct and indirect traffic from Africa, close the border, etc. Nope, they like to talk, not act.

Where have you been, hiding under a rock?

Senator Cruz makes every attempt to do things constitutionally, first by going through existing channels and trying to persuade, then by attempts at legislation.

That is his consistent pattern.

Research before you spew!

[ontap]

He’s perfectly eligible to be president. Speaking out against the president and drawing attention to this insanity will do more than introducing a bill that Harry Reid would never let come up for a vote!!!

[buckeye49]

Please add me to the list. I now have a tagline!!!!

[buckeye49]

Please add me to the list. I now have a tagline!!!!

[buckeye49]

Please add me to the list. I now have a tagline!!!!

[SoConPubbie]

Please add me to the list. I now have a tagline!!!!

Three times or just once?? ;)

[Reno89519]

No. And I’m not worried about that at the moment. We have 2 more years of Obama and our senators and representatives need to start acting as such. Less talk, more action.

[free me]

From the article:

“The question is simply whether we should continue to allow non-U.S. citizens to fly in commercial airliners out of West Africa, connect in Europe and arrive in the United States. We should not. Doing so imposes an intolerable risk, and the federal government should immediately suspend all travel visas from affected countries until the outbreak is contained.”

[CatherineofAragon]

"No. And I’m not worried about that at the moment. We have 2 more years of Obama and our senators and representatives need to start acting as such. Less talk, more action."

Okay. How about that CATO Institute link---did you check it out? What do you think?

[Kozak]

Already happened.
As of Oct 5 no one from US allowed to travel to Cape Verde....

[firebrand]

They do try.

[DownInFlames]

No, ban all passports and visas.

[CatherineofAragon]

*crickets*

[sr4402]

Ted Cruz has balls and will operate upon principal. Why have we not seen this from others in a long time?