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Posted on 02/12/2016 10:51:01 PM PST by SoConPubbie
As a member of several libertarian-leaning social media groups, I see a lot of staunch support for the libertarian’s libertarian, Rand Paul. Unwavering in their support, even after he dropped out of the race, many Paul supporters seem to dislike Ted Cruz intensely. I’m not sure where this comes from–given Cruz’s record of defending constitutional liberties–but in this piece, I’d like to make an argument as to why libertarians should lend their support to Ted Cruz this primary cycle.
Few people understood–or understand–what net neutrality means, but Jeffrey Dorfman explains the argument against net neutrality plainly:
“More choices are good for consumers. We win from having multiple flavors of ice cream in the store. We benefit from the large variety of cars available for purchase. The fact that most people cannot afford some of those models does not mean they should be removed from sale. Similarly, the fact that some businesses or consumers may choose to pay for better access to the Internet is not a bad thing. Some people pay more to fly first class, but they do not interfere with my travel in coach. As long as the government enforces the antitrust laws and ensures that consumers can choose among methods and providers for how they connect to the Internet, consumers can pick winners and losers by voting with their time, their eyeballs, and their dollars. No government needed, thank you very much.”
In November 2014, Cruz made the simple but effective argument against net neutrality:
“The worst thing that could happen is letting a whole bunch of politicians come in and regulate every aspect of what you're doing. The reason the Internet has had the dynamism, the opportunity, the freedom, the diversity is because it [hasn’t] been plagued by excessive regulation…Your smartphone, the Internet, the apps–all of this is outside Title 2. The innovation is happening without having to go to government regulators and say 'Mother, may I?' What happens when the government starts regulating a service as a public utility–it calcifies everything and freezes it in place…The last thing you want is for five unelected bureaucrats in Washington to take charge of regulating the Internet as a public utility.”
Rand Paul also stood against Net Neutrality.
In his review of Senator Cruz’s life, Glenn Beck writes:
“Cruz won a huge Second Amendment victory in the District of Columbia versus Heller, drafting the amicus brief signed by the attorneys general of 31 different states and presenting the oral argument. This victory struck down a D.C. handgun ban as infringing upon the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.”
This is huge. Ted Cruz didn’t simply stand by and watch D.C. disregard our constitutional rights, he went on the attack, and won.
Rand Paul stands against D.C.’s still restrictive gun laws as well.
Texas’ Rider 8 prohibits state funds from going to abortion clinics. Cruz also led the charge for defunding Planned Parenthood nationally. Like with D.C. v. Heller, he didn’t just talk about the issue, he did something about it, and won with Texas’ Rider 8.
Rand Paul stood against national funding of Planned Parenthood.
United Liberty writes:
“The latest version of the USA FREEDOM Act…would end the National Service Agency's bulk metadata collection program as well as add a civil liberties panel to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to provide some much-needed oversight…”
Some argued the bill wasn’t enough, including Paul, however:
“…the USA FREEDOM Act boasts the support of the American Civil Liberties Union, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and FreedomWorks. While the bill isn't perfect, those three groups explain that the new version of the measure is a good start towards reform and confirmed that it would end the NSA's bulk collection of Americans' phone records.”
Cruz helped put chains on the federal government’s illegal spying on citizens. They may not have been as strong as some preferred, but he did the best he could to defend the Fourth Amendment within the realistic confines of the situation.
Ted Cruz took the extremely unpopular decision to go against the ethanol lobby while campaigning in Iowa, the de facto ethanol Capitol of the U.S.
Not only that, but in front of an audience of hundreds of Iowans, including Governor Terry Branstad–who told people not to vote for Cruz because of his opposition to ethanol–Cruz flatly said he was against any and all energy subsidies.
He then won Iowa.
Rand Paul stands against energy subsidies.
You may not agree with Ted Cruz on everything; few of us will ever agree with a chosen politician on every one of their positions. That being said, while Ted Cruz is a constitutional conservative–not a libertarian–his record shows that he’ll fight for the free market, as well as our constitutional liberties.
That’s only the beginning. Look to Cruz’s fight against Obama’s illegal amnesty, his efforts to protect religious liberties, and his position on marriage as a state right–respecting the Tenth Amendment.
Before you scoff at this article and dismiss it as Cruz propaganda–I know how easy that would be–please consider its merits. More than that, look to Cruz’s record, examine it–going all the way back to his time at the FTC–and don’t simply buy into the lies. Find multiple sources, and don’t only look to rhetoric.
We need to defeat Donld Trump, Marco Rubio, and the Democrats. Ted Cruz is a strict constitutionalist who supports liberty, and he’s the only one who can take them down.
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Rand Paul supporters backed one loser. They might as well back another one in Cruz. They are use to throwing away their votes.
Does your comment really advance the conversation?
Paul supporters should be more attracted to Trump, as Trump is the only candidate not seething with lust for a conflict with Russia and other countries
Here in Cali we will probably have recreational marijuana on the ballot as a proposition. It will probably pass. So while libertarians will express their inner 10th amendment and say aye to such an initiative they won't extend that to issues of abortion or marriage.
But I've found I can at least talk to these people to a certain degree. The litmus test I use for sniffing out a true libertarian vs. a liberal is asking if they would repeal the Civil Rights Act.
When this whole thing started way back when (man, how long ago was that? It feels like a long time ago, since of late every day is day to day with the race on the top tier, I am a Trump supporter), way back when I didn’t have a clear favorite other than I for sure hated Jeb Bush.
So early on I was spreading my donations around, frankly right off I gave the most to Rand Paul, and then soon after to Trump and Cruz. The story of trying to later “unsubscribe” to the Cruz soliciations became a comedy actually, no matter what I did they would not stop sending me “emergency, give money” emails and solicitations no matter how many times I would “unsubscribe” and now I have finally given up and simply ignore them.
But back to the point, I started off donation to Paul, then Trump and Cruz, then was really turned off by Cruz and no need to get into the details, and more and more I realized Trump is the guy.
But the reason I mention this, is no way in my opinion would most Paul supporters switch over to Cruz. It has to do with the Iraq War, too much US interventions, and I can tell you the carpet bomb thing isn’t going to win over the Paul voters. Never mind the snooping stuff from the government, Cruz just lost the Paul voters with that snooping app of his campaign that is snooping on anyone who installed it and data mining their contacts et all, the Paul people I have heard from now think Cruz is cruddy, and definitely snoopy. You can pretend that I don’t know what I am talking about, but in fact I do know the Paul supporters, one of them is my boss. I am not say NO Paul supporter would flip to Cruz, but believe me, most won’t. Trump will have better luck picking the Paul voters than Cruz. Sorry Cruz supporters, watch me be proven right.
“But I come here and what do you asked me about? Legalizing pot.”
It’s understandable. If the government is willing to arrest you for it, and take away your other rights (like owning a gun) that tends to make it a priority for those who use it.
All good points. Also, wasn’t Cruz against or not present for the vote to audit the Federal Reserve? I seem to remember Paul hammering him on that at some point.
To be fair Cruz has been on the same side as Trump and Paul on that. The rest of them agree with Hillary.
Ted sponsored one bill that has become law.
I’m a Rand Paul supporter and I’ll be voting for Donald Trump.
Shouldn’t the title read “5 Reasons that Rand Paul Supporter...”
#6 Ted Cruz is for going back to the gold standard...which makes him a kook, just like Ron Paul and Rand Paul.
Cruz stabbed R.Paul in the back when he voted against the “audit the Fed” bill.
So, I think not.
Now, NO ONE in the Republican Party has taken up the issue. It leaves an issue for Elizabeth Warren or some other dem to run with if the dems smarten up and dump the hildabeast.
The other thing I don't understand is how intense Rand was against Trump. What was the point? He should've appreciated that someone came along to shake this up.
Total bafflement.
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