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By the end of his first year, GOPSenator Ted Cruz has taken onthe Washington establishmentand made a name for himself asan unconventional champion ofconservative values.
BY AMANDA MUOZ (AP/J.
ScottApplewhite
)
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Theres nothing more heartbreaking than walking out on
Monday morning to get on a plane to Washington, and having
both girls grab my legs and say, Dont go, Daddy. Thats difficult.
Its the first time this morning GOP Sen. Ted Cruzs face
drops, as he chats with Townhall during an exclusive interview.
Photos of smiling Caroline, 5, and Catherine, 2, flash in the
background of his screen saver. His wife, Heidi, and their two
daughters remain at the family home in Houston; and Cruz
commutes to and from Washington, D.C., each week, leaving
Mondays after dropping the girls off at school and typically
returning on a Thursday night flight.
Theres a long pause.
Its incredibly difficult to be away from Heidi and the girls;
but at the same time, they are a big part of why Im doing this,
Cruz continues. In 20 years, I dont want to look my daughters
in the eye and say we allowed freedom to slip away in America,
and I didnt do anything to stop it.
THE UNDERDOG
On Jan. 3, 2013, the young Cruz, only 42, took his place among
the ranks of U.S. senators, filling the seat former Sen. Kay
Bailey Hutchison held since 1993.
The 2012 Senate campaign in Texas was hard-fought, and
Cruz was the underdog. Running against the well-established,
well-connected Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, prospects for victory
were certainly unclear from the beginning. Dewhurstwith
an estimated worth of about $200 millionhad the money,
name recognition, and political backing that made him all but a
shoe-in for the seat. With Dewhurst endorsed by most of Texas
major players, including Gov. Rick Perry, there were few who
initially thought Cruz would be a formidable challenge.
But they were wrong.
Defeated in the May primary by approximately 11 percent,
Cruz found redemption in keeping Dewhurst below the 50
percent threshold required in Texas. But Cruz had grassrootssupport and a savvy social media campaign. He won the July
run-off in a landslide victory, earning 57 percent of the vote
compared to Dewhursts 43, and swept the November general
election beating his Democratic opponent, former state Rep.
Paul Sadler, with a powerful 56 percent of the vote (compared
to Sadlers 41 percent).
His victory in an overwhelmingly red state did not reflect a
changing tide across the country; Republicans lost seats in both
chambers and Barack Obama was re-elected. However, his
success and those of others like himMike Lee, Marco Rubio,
Rand Pauldid mirror the changing nature of conservative
candidates that began in 2010.
A Tea Party darling and purebred conservative, Cruz ran onone simple idea: Saving our country. And he won because he
had the ability to do what very few in Washington have been
able to do since 2008inspire those listening to him to stay
active and vocal.
Ironically enough, it was the manifestation of that same
grassroots revival that would end up driving the Republican
establishment mad come mid-September 2013.
THE PEOPLES PASSION
The velocity of the issues that are swirling about the Senate is
remarkable, Cruz says. But at the same time, its exhilarating
to have the opportunity to travel the state of Texas, to travel
the country and listen to the American people. There are so
many men and women who are energized, who are passionate,
to turn things around, that I cant help but be inspired every
single day.
Cruz sits back in his chair. The daunting and agonizingly
long schedule of an elected official appears to have little effect
on him, at least on this particular morning, though he admits
the large coffee in his hand is not his first of the day. While Cruz
is generally a calculated and even-toned speakerthe residual
effect of a successful law careerthe current excitement in his
voice is unmistakable.
The opportunity, as Teddy Roosevelt put it, to be in the
arena, to be fighting, not for small things, but fighting to
defend our liberty, to restore the Constitution, to bring back
economic growth, jobs, and opportunityI cant think of a
greater privilege than to stand with the American people and
try to turn our nation around, he continues.
Ron Kirby, a member of the Tea Party, holds asign against Obamacare outside the Senateside of the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday,Sept. 25, 2013, in support of Sen. Ted Cruz,R-Texas, as the senator continues his lengthyspeech in opposition to President BarackObama's health care law. The Democratic-controlled Senate is on a path toward defeatingtea party attempts to dismantle PresidentBarack Obama's health care law, despite anovernight talkathon on the chamber's floor ledby Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.(AP/Jacquelyn Martin)
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INHERITING THE AMERICAN DREAM
Its not hard to see how Cruzs life turned into a career for public
service. Even as a child, he was enamored with the values of
the U.S. Constitution, and his family was the quintessential
example of the American dream.
A hallmark at most of Cruzs major speaking events is the
story of his father, Rafael, who escaped prison and Cuba during
the overthrow of the Batista regime. The story goes that Rafael
was once a rebel for Castro but was caught and beaten by
Batistas soldiers. Soon after, he fled to the United States with
only $100 sewn into his underwear and speaking no English,
as described by his son to GQin an interview this past October.
Rafael was able to enroll at the University of Texas to study
mathematics, work his way through college washing dishes,
and start his own oil and gas business with his then-wife and
Cruzs mother, Eleanor Darragh. Cruzs father believed in the
opportunity America offered and worked hard to create a better
life for his family.
Ive really had two heroes in my life, Cruz told GQ. My
father and Ronald Reagan. I think it is an enormous blessing
to be the child of an immigrant who fled oppression and came
here seeking freedom, because there was an urgency in politics.
Having principled men and women in office is how you protect
yourself from tyranny, and that was something I learned from
when I was 2, 3, 5 years old.
As a teenager, Cruz was involved with several conservative
groups, where he learned about free-market principles and
political philosophy. He graduated valedictorian of Houstons
Second Baptist High School and went on to study at Princeton
University and Harvard Law School. During college, Cruz
was a national award-winning debater, primary editor of the
Harvard Law Review, and executive editor of the Harvard
Journal of Law and Public Policy. He was also a founding editor
of the Harvard Latino Law Review.
His impressive educational background led to federal-level
clerkships. He also served as attorney to John Boehner during
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a lawsuit in 1998, and as domestic policy adviser on the Bush-
Cheney campaign in 1999. His service on the Bush campaign
earned him the spot of director of policy planning at the Federal
Trade Commission, and then associate deputy attorney general
at the Justice Department.
Later, Cruz was appointed solicitor general of Texas. Cruzs
tenure in that position from 2003-2008 made him both the
longest-serving and first Hispanic solicitor general in Texas
state history. At the time, he was also the youngest solicitor
general in the country. As if there wasnt
enough on his plate, Cruz also served as
an adjunct professor at the University of
Texas School of Law. He retired from his
position with the state to return to private
practice in 2008.To label his legal career as successful
would be an understatement. His record
includes presenting 43 oral arguments,
nine of which were made before the
Supreme Court, and authoring 80
Supreme Court briefs.
The courtroom honed the battle skills
Cruz needed to hit the ground running
when he entered the doors of Congress.
CRUZ AGAINST THE WORLD
If we are to win this fightand at this
point, Im not sure if we willit will bebecause a grassroots tsunami has risen up
and demanded actionthat the American
people have held their elected officials accountable.
I believe the American people should hold every elected
official accountableincluding meand thats the key to
turning things around and getting Congress to focus on the
issues that matter most to hardworking American families.
Its mid-September when Cruz makes these comments, and
the battle over ObamaCare is about to explode in Congress.
Both the House and Senate are gearing up for the biggest fight
yet over the presidents health care law.
TOP:This video frame grab imagefrom Senate TV show Sen. Ted Cruz,R-Texas speaking on the Senatefloor on Capitol Hill in Washington,Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013. TheDemocratic-controlled Senate is ona path toward defeating tea partyattempts to dismantle PresidentBarack Obamas health care law,despite an overnight talkathon on thechambers floor led by Cruz.(AP/Senate TV)
BOTTOM:Republican candidatefor U.S. Senate Ted Cruz, lef, andDemocratic candidate Paul Sadlershake hands at the close of theirdebate at ERA television studious inDallas, Friday, Oct. 19, 2012. The twoTexas candidates are facing off for theopen U.S. Senate seat. (AP/LM Otero, Pool)
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Three months ago when this fight began, virtually every
observer in Washingtonall the greybeardssaid this was
an impossible taskthis could not happen, Cruz says. And
between then and now, we have seen millions upon millions
of Americans come together and demand leadership in
Washington and demand that our elected officials stand up and
do the right thing.
For Cruz, the Obamacare defund fight is genuinely about
righting the sinking ship; and as his reputation during his nine
months as senator have proven, he would do what he believed a
majority of the American people expected of not only him, but
every member of Congress, even if that meant falling from the
graces of Washingtons elite.
Where I think so many Republicans have gone wrong, he
continues, is they have compromised for compromise sake.
They have compromised in a way that is worse for the status
quo. I dont think a deal is a good deal if it exacerbates the
problem. If were moving in the right direction, then Im per-
fectly happy taking less than 100 percent of what I would like.
In the days to come, the battle with Democrats over
ObamaCare exposed as an ugly and bitter divide between
Republicans, and ultimately resulted in the first government
shutdown since the Clinton administration in 1995 and 1996.Although House Republicans endured a blaze of fire in the
mainstream media, it was Cruz who took the post of whipping
boy within the party.
THE GOPS FUTURE IN THE SENATE
Cruz was never known for being a complacent member of
Congress. Less than a month into his term, Cruz earned
national attention for his outspoken stance during the short-
lived gun control debate after the tragedy at Sandy Hook.
He then turned heads within his party during his forceful
questioning of Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel,
and with his leading role in the opposition of the Gang of Eight
immigration bill.It was never his intention to fall in l ine with business as usual.
Hes even changing the National Republican Senatorial
Committee, where he is vice chair along with Sen. Rob Portman
of Ohio. Along with chairman Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas, these
senators will have input into how well Republican incumbents
are protected and how many Democratic seats are pursued.
In the past, the NRSC played a prominent role in mid-term
primaries, but Cruz believes Washington doesnt have a good
track record of picking winners and losers and that primaries
should be decided by the grassroots voters on the ground in
each state. While not opposed to personal participation in
primary elections, the senator hopes the NRSC will only play a
supporting role, once candidates are chosen.
When asked about his role in the 2014 and 2016 elections,
Cruz simply says he hopes to be helpful in bringing in more
strong, conservative candidates who are ready to fight for their
principles.
A CLOSING WINDOW
What we try to do in the office every day is simply try to do the
right thing. Our mantra is good policy makes good politics.
On each issue that comes down the pike, the teams focus is:
What is the principled course of action? How can we defend
free market principles? How can we defend the Constitution?
The senator, who describes his
Senate experience as a whirlwind,
acknowledges his press secretary
sitting nearby.
I feel particularly blessed with the
team that has come together in this
office, he continues. The men and
women who are working here are
here, I believe, for the right reasons
are here because they love liberty and
they are concerned about the direction
of this country and want to pour their
hearts into doing everything we can to pull this nation back
from the brink.
The team we have is remarkably effective, and that is
amplified a thousand-fold by the effectiveness of grassroots
activists across this country and men and women across this
country who are engaged powerfully in the fight to get back to
our founding principles.
I believe our window to turn things around to pull back
from this path were on is not very long. If we keep going down
this road the damage to this country could be enormous. SoI am hopeful and I believe 2016 will be a favorable economic
climate; but just as with 2014, whether it is or not will depend
upon whether Republicans stand for our values, stand for free-
market principles, stand for the Constitution - or whether we
roll over and paint in pale pastels.
AN OPEN DOOR
While the senator likes the focus to remain on policy, he is truly
a political powerhouse. Among Republicans, the jury is divided
as to whether Cruz is a godsend or a curse.
Regardless of his place in history, Cruz did more in his first
year than many veteran senators accomplished in decades.
Hes shaken up the Washington establishment and he elevatedthe voice of his constituents not just on the Senate floor, but
across the country.
And, for better or worse, his influence the influence of a first-
term, junior senator brought the entire federal government to
its knees during the October shutdown.
Its certainly true that at the end of the day, Cruz will be able to
tell his young daughters he did everything he could to preserve
this great country as a land of opportunity for the free.
Amanda Munoz works for Townhall.com.
I don't think a deal is a good deal ifit exacerbates the problem. If we'removing in the right direction, thenIm, perfectly happy taking less than100 percent of what I would like.
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