To hear Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz (TX) tell it, there is nothing he loves more than the United States’ Constitution and the “the rule of law” – the principle that “no branch of government is above the law, and no public official may act arbitrarily or unilaterally outside the law.”
His official U.S. Senate website confirms as much in a post on the Constitution and Bill of Rights, which begins by stating that: “As a member of the Judiciary Committee, Sen. Cruz is dedicated to upholding the rule of law and preserving the Constitution.”
He invoked the Constitution and “liberty” during his speech announcing his official entry into the 2016 presidential race. “It is a time for truth,” Cruz said. “It is a time for liberty. It is a time to reclaim the Constitution of the United States.”
To hear it, tea party favorite Ted Cruz also believes in “the sanctity of human life,” invoking the principle in his announcement speech: “Imagine a federal government that works to defend the sanctity of human life.”
Ted Cruz went to war with Eric Holder in March of 2013 regarding the constitutionality of using drones against U.S. citizens on U.S. soil, asking the Attorney General ” a simple legal question,” “does the Constitution allow a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil, who doesn’t pose an imminent threat, to be killed by the U.S. government?”
Holder responded that he did not believe that “on the facts you have given me, this is a hypothetical, I would not think that in that situation the use of a drone or lethal force would be appropriate because,” and was promptly interrupted by Cruz who stated:
“General Holder, I have to tell you that I find it remarkable that in that hypothetical, which is deliberately very simple, that you are able to give a simple one-word, one-syllable answer: no. I think it is unequivocal that if the U.S. government were to use a drone to take the life of a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil and that individual didn’t pose an imminent threat, that that would be a deprivation of life without due process.”
Fast-forward to Tuesday of this week when Cruz posted on one of his official Facebook pages that “My approach to radical Islamic terrorism: If you go and join ISIS, you’re signing your death certificate.” And this isn’t the first such instance of Cruz calling on the death of individuals with no regard for “the rule of law” or the constitutionality of their approach.
Take for instance, his recent comments about the “Garland [Texas] police officer shot and killed two gunmen who opened fire at a controversial art exhibit featuring cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad” the first week of May. Speaking at the Freedom Summit in South Carolina last month, the “rule of law” loving “Constitution waving” Ted Cruz stated that:
“We saw the ugly face of Islamic terrorism in my home state of Texas, in Garland where two jihadists came to commit murder. Thankfully one police officer helped them meet their virgins.” [A reference to the belief that such martyrs are greeted in heaven by dozens of virgins]
And as one might expect, his clown show fan base had to put in their own two-cents with comments such as: “We should not torture Muslim jihadist fighters, our military should send them back to their maker for judgment. Nothing can stop the US Air Force.”
There was, however, the random voice of reason on his page – probably from liberals trolling his posts:
“You’ll NEVER remove an ideology and/or belief system with bombs. What you’re advocating is an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth mentality which isn’t justice and isn’t upheld by the tenets of mainstream Christianity. You apparently want a ‘Crusade’ in belief it will galvanize the Christian right towards voting for you in the 2016 elections. You are playing with a two edged sword and holding it by the blade (to use the metaphor).
“What is needed, is to educate the next generation to move from the Dark Ages of religious power politics towards the Enlightenment the American Founders pursued. But then, you’re not American, are you?
“You see, it’s all about hearts and minds. You’ll not win that ideological war until you can demonstrate you can first win and keep the peace.”
So true, but then again – as we all know – #GOPLovesWar!
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