Posted on 04/23/2015 12:04:19 PM PDT by VinL
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz took to the Senate floor on Thursday to urge his Republican colleagues to vote against attorney general nominee Loretta Lynch.
When the final confirmation vote came a few hours later, Cruz — a candidate for the 2016 presidential nomination— skipped the vote.
Cruz’s communications direction Amanda Carpenter did not provide a reason for the senator’s absence but said in an emailed statement that his “opposition to the nomination has been clear,” noting that earlier in the day he had voted to filibuster her nomination. That key procedural vote ended up passing, clearing the way to her eventual confirmation.
“He voted against her in committee and opposed cloture. That is why he spoke on the floor about it, has given numerous interviews, and written an op-ed the topic. Once cloture was invoked it was clear she would be confirmed and Cruz strongly chastised his Republican colleagues who supported her.”
Carpenter added that his vote against cloture was “the only vote that mattered.”
“After that it was done deal,” she said.
Cruz had opposed Lynch’s confirmation on the grounds that she, like outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder, would continue to support President Obama’s executive action on immigration.
“The Republican majority, if it so chose, could defeat this nomination, but the Republican majority has chosen to go forward and allow Loretta Lynch to be confirmed,” Cruz said on the Senate floor. “I would note there are more than a few voters back home that are asking what exactly is the difference between a Democratic and Republican majority when the exact same individual gets confirmed as Attorney General, promising the exact same lawlessness, what’s the difference?”
Disagree. The duty to his constituents was to be there for the vote. He failed. The campaign trail is his personal ambition and as such should be done on personal time.
John Conryn argued forcibly AGAINST her nomination on the Senate floor, repeatedly questioning her fitness for SOS, then voted AYE when the floor vote came up.
Jim DeMint argued forcibly FOR her nomination in committee hearings, treating her with kid gloves and gushing over as a person who would likely become one of our "greatest" Secretary of States, then voted NAY when the floor vote came up.
Basically, Conryn was against her before he was for her, and Demint was for her before he was against her.
People are beginning to catch on to these procedural shenanigans, thanks to our Tea Party Reps and Senators.
No, you’re mistaken. His constituents gain from him pursuing the Presidency also.
It would be childish to stay there and vote knowing the outcome, and take a pass doing something else productive.’
There’s no point to be made. He voted against her coming to the floor for a vote. His voice was heard.
You mean on the order of Scott Walker coming out against legal immigration? I don’t think so, my friend, but you could be right. We’ll see.
Here’s the Democrats in R jerseys that voted for her
Sens. Kelly Ayotte (N.H.),
Thad Cochran (Miss.),
Susan Collins (Maine),
Jeff Flake (Ariz.),
Lindsey Graham (S.C.),
Orrin Hatch (Utah),
Ron Johnson (Wis.),
Mark Kirk (Ill.),
Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
I do not wish them all well.
Totally agree...we can't just pick and choose who we make excuses for. Seems once some people back a candidate, they think they have to excuse in that person, what otherwise they would have criticized in another.
I live in a Democratic district...even though I know there's no chance the Republican will win the election, does that mean I don't show up to vote?
I'm suspicious of Congress critters not voting on a bill or confirmation. Makes me wonder if they're going to use it to their advantage somewhere in the future...I seriously don't think Cruz would do that or what advantage there would be in saying I didn't vote against Lynch. Guess it's just my general mistrust of even a good guy like Cruz, once they get to Washington.
Ted Cruz Explains Why He Skipped Lynch Confirmation Vote
Why bother? He’s outnumbered about 5-1 by RINO’s.
Republican traitor list bump for later...
Note the overlap of the ones who supported Rubio’s Gang activity last year.
It looks like if they needed 60 that she would have failed, but its always possible that more would have voted for her then.
I heard about the deal they go on the abortion part of the bill in return for this vote and it didn’t sound too great.
Ron johnson the only real suprise.
>> we can’t just pick and choose who we make excuses for <<
You’re asking for consistency? You gotta be kidding!
I hear ya. And I may be in the minority here. But the Constitution is not such a simple document that one can say “follow the Constitution”. That was the founding Father’s genius ... it is simply not black and white.
Having said that, I just don’t trust him to do that but ... I respect those that do. That’s just one man’s opinion. I simply do not like him. *shrug*
Who do you like for 2016.
A senator takes an oath of office to uphold the Constitution. Loretta Lynch told our Congress that she would not. So how could Ted Cruz vote for this and not break his oath?
IMO he was the only Senator who did the right thing. The rest of them all broke their oaths.
Listen to his speech that he gave before the vote. It’s clear why he did it.
Yes. What Republicans voted for that one besides Cornyn? That’s more telling because they facilitated it and then, as they found out there were enough votes to confirm her without their support, they covered their backsides by voting no.
“Ron johnson the only real suprise.”
Nope. He has been voting with McCain and the dems quite a bit since he got to DC. I’ve been following him closely since I am from WI and he has been a huge disappointment.
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