Posted on 12/23/2015 8:03:10 PM PST by Isara
This morning the Politico came out swinging at Ted Cruz with the headline “What Ted Cruz said behind closed doors” as if to suggest it would be different from what he says publicly:
In June, Ted Cruz promised on NPR that opposition to gay marriage would be "front and center" in his 2016 campaign.
In July, he said the Supreme Court's decision allowing same-sex marriage was the "very definition of tyranny" and urged states to ignore the ruling.
But in December, behind closed doors at a big-dollar Manhattan fundraiser, the quickly ascending presidential candidate assured a Republican gay-rights supporter that a Cruz administration would not make fighting same-sex marriage a top priority.
In a recording provided to POLITICO, Cruz answers a flat "No" when asked whether fighting gay marriage is a "top-three priority," an answer that pleased his socially moderate hosts but could surprise some of his evangelical backers.
In fact it wasn’t a ‘flat no’ as Politico says if you listen to the audio:
Listen to the audio at the link.
Here’s the transcript for those of you on mobile devices:
Male questioner: "Can I ask you a question? So, I’m a big supporter. And the only issue I really disagree with you about is gay marriage. And I’m curious: Given all the problems that the country's facing - like ISIS, the growth of government - how big a priority is fighting gay marriage going to be to a Cruz administration?"
Cruz: "My view on gay marriage is that I’m a constitutionalist and marriage is a question for the states. And so I think if someone wants to change the marriage laws of their state, the way to do so is convince your fellow citizens - and change them democratically, rather than five unelected judges. … Being a constitutionalist is integral to my approach to every other issue. So that I'm very devoted to."
Same questioner: "So would you say it’s like a top-three priority for you - fighting gay marriage?"
Cruz: "No. I would say defending the Constitution is a top priority. And that cuts across the whole spectrum - whether it’s defending [the] First Amendment, defending religious liberty, stopping courts from making public policy issues that are left to the people. …
"I also think the 10th Amendment of the Constitution cuts across a whole lot of issues and can bring people together. People of New York may well resolve the marriage question differently than the people of Florida or Texas or Ohio. … That’s why we have 50 states - to allow a diversity of views. And so that is a core commitment."
But even more than it not being a ‘flat no’, Politico even makes a stunning admission that basically makes the point of this entire article moot:
“While Cruz's private comments to a more moderate GOP audience do not contradict what the Republican Texas senator has said elsewhere…”
Politico is basically trying to make an article out of what they are deeming as nuance, using that to suggest that Cruz is saying something a little different privately than he says to voters when that’s absolutely not the case.
Cruz responded today in a press conference where he said the secret tape contains nothing different than he’s said on TV over and over again and that he finds it amusing that advisors from other campaigns would seize on this to suggest it’s devastating for his campaign:
Ted Cruz Responds to Politico Secret Tape (Video)
Mike Huckabee is one of the ones jumping on this, saying in a statement:
"Conservatives are being asked to 'coalesce' around yet another corporately-funded candidate that says something very different at a big donor fundraiser in Manhattan than at a church in Marshalltown. Shouldn't a candidate be expected to have authenticity and consistency, instead of having to look at a map to decide what to believe and what to say?
"One reason I do respect Trump is that whether you agree with him or not, he doesn't pretend with his principles or change his message depending on his location or audience. If issues like marriage and the sanctity of life are truly issues of principle and not just politics, then there should not be geographical boundaries to what is right and wrong."
As Allahpundit points out at Hot Air, “On what planet is Donald Trump, former Democratic donor, a model of ideological principle and consistency? Because it's not this one.”
By: Amanda Carpenter
Oh, I could hear the balloon deflating all the way from the Politico headquarters.
Phllloooooooopppphhtt.
Last week, on the day of the highly-watched GOP presidential debate, someone gave Politico’s Mike Allen an enticing piece of catnip to put in his insidery morning email. Secret audio tape would soon be published on a conservative news site supposedly showing that Ted Cruz talks much differently to NYC moderates than Iowa evangelicals. “These leaks are designed to undermine Cruz’s authenticity,” Allen wrote.
The prospect of a juicy secret recording flew around the Internet.
People reported on the prospect of the audio tape, before ever hearing a word of what Cruz said. All by design, to be sure, just like Allen wrote. The whole intent was to plant the notion that Cruz is a big phony - without a shred of evidence.
Days and days went by. Nothing. Then, finally this morning Politico published the story. The day before Christmas Eve. Aka the holiday news dump. They didn’t have the goods. Someone put one over Mike Allen.
Now that it’s finally out, what did Cruz say? Absolutely nothing he hasn’t said in public before.
“During the question period, one of the donors told Cruz that gay marriage was one of the few issues on which the two disagreed. Then the donor asked: “So would you say it's like a top-three priority for you — fighting gay marriage?”
“No,” Cruz replied. “I would say defending the Constitution is a top priority. And that cuts across the whole spectrum — whether it's defending [the] First Amendment, defending religious liberty.”
The story went on:
“A well-known Republican operative not affiliated with a 2016 campaign said by email when sent Cruz's quote: "Wow. Does this not undermine all of his positions? Abortion, Common Core — all to the states? ... Worse, he sounds like a slick D.C. politician — says one thing on the campaign trail and trims his sails with NYC elites. Not supposed to be like that."Hilarious. These operatives don’t seem to understand that the Constitution happens to cover religious liberty issues. Like marriage. And, pretty much everything else!
Moreover, as Politico even admits, Cruz has made the exact argument in public places, including during interviews with Stephen Colbert and Jay Leno!
Specifically, when Stephen Colbert suggested that Cruz believed there should be “no gay marriage,” Cruz stopped him and said, “Let’s be precise. Under the Constitution, marriage is a question for the states, if you want to change the marriage law--”
Colbert then interjected the “Constitution doesn’t mention marriage.”
And Cruz explained, “That’s exactly why it’s a question for the states. The 10th Amendment says if it doesn’t mention it, it’s a question for the states. That’s in the Bill of Rights. Everything that is not mentioned is left to the states.”
Cruz went on,
“I don't think we should entrust governing our society to five unelected lawyers in Washington. Why would you possibly hand over the rights of 320 million Americans to five lawyers in Washington to decide these are the rules that govern you? If you want to win an issue, go to the ballot box and win at the ballot box. That's the way the Constitution was designed."So, there you have it. The secret recordings of Ted Cruz show nothing that was secret at all.
The story someone sold to Mike Allen is a big nothing burger.
If the tapes show anything, it’s that Cruz is willing to talk about a hot button topic many conservative politicians avoid like the plague in front of anyone. And he does that regardless of whether he is in a church in Iowa or at a Manhattan fundraiser.
Which, by the way, Ted Cruz, that fire-breathing conservative, can attract Manhattan donors? While talking about his position on gay marriage? That sounds downright electable.
All in all, it sounds like Ted Cruz not only got a donation from the New York donor who recorded and leaked the audio, but a bonus in-kind contribution too.
Repeating this post over and over again today doesn’t lessen the point that Cruz is cozying up to whoever offers him money, despite their perversions.
Gov should not be involved in this stuff period
They can eff off
Grow up.
Its politics in a general election
The “questioner” asked a loaded question. The answer does note exclude the issue raised from any fictitious “top three” that were ultimately not elaborated on.
Headlines are manipulating a non story. There is no change. Frankly I would rather make marriage defined in our U.S. Constitution as being between one man and one women. I have known all along that Cruz supporter leaving it to the states. I have always seen that as a lesser position. Cruz has not changed on it though, and it has never been secret.
Its sad that some FReepers went from cheering the Citizens United ruling to sounding like Occutards.
It shows a complete lack of principles.
Your hate of Ted Cruz is duly noted.
Ted is right. He knows the Constitution. It’s a tenth Amendment issue that is the individual state’s business.
You do realize that even though Trump isn’t taking donations now, that he made billions making deals with democrats, many of which he funded for political office in return for favors and preferences for his businesses. Even Trump supporters defended Trump’s admission of funding democrats as a requirement for doing his business. Can you prove that Trump is no longer beholden to all of those liberals that he traded money for favors during the last 30 years??? If you think as a Clinton friend and financial supporter, Trump did not receive favors and that he may now be potentially beholden to those favors then you’re naïve and blind.
I like Trump and Cruz.
Cruz is a quick study, Donald has tried baiting him a few times but he don’t bite
Read his Wiki page. If there were any question about the veracity of the statements, Trump would have already sued their shorts off.
Why is Cruz holding fundraisers with Gay Rights supporters in Manhattan?
Yesdir, lets stay on the road rather than the ditch
For crying out loud.
I just mentioned in another thread that it was a bit concerning to me as a Christian who sees our spiritual sickness as causing ALL of our problems.
But I also thought perhaps there was more to this story than some people wanted to report.
And indeed there is. Taken in the full context, I see NOTHING contradictory, pandering, or “cozying up” to anyone. It follows with what he’s said all along- “I’m going to stand for and defend the constitution as priority one on all issues. And marriage in general should be decided by the people and by the states.”
Pretty good first, second, and third priority if you ask me- defending the constitution that is.
Actually it sounds like he quietly made the rounds asking for money but they wouldn’t give him any.
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/11/trump-wooed-GOP-mega-donors.html?mid=twitter-share-di
He went to see Sheldon Adelson when he was in Vegas last week.
Show me you troll.
Look we got to deal with this crap
Show me this unholy allegience
Repeating your nonsense over and over again doesn't lessen the real point.
The donor agrees with Cruz on the dangers of ISIS and the dangers of the growth of big government and is free to give money to Cruz based on that agreement.
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