This election is unlike any other in our nation’s history. Like many other voters, I have struggled to determine the right course of action in this general election.
In Cleveland, I urged voters, “please, don’t stay home in November. Stand, and speak, and vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket whom you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution.”
After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump.
I’ve made this decision for two reasons. First, last year, I promised to support the Republican nominee. And I intend to keep my word.
Second, even though I have had areas of significant disagreement with our nominee, by any measure Hillary Clinton is wholly unacceptable — that’s why I have always been #NeverHillary.
Six key policy differences inform my decision. First, and most important, the Supreme Court. For anyone concerned about the Bill of Rights — free speech, religious liberty, the Second Amendment — the Court hangs in the balance. I have spent my professional career fighting before the Court to defend the Constitution. We are only one justice away from losing our most basic rights, and the next president will appoint as many as four new justices. We know, without a doubt, that every Clinton appointee would be a left-wing ideologue. Trump, in contrast, has promised to appoint justices “in the mold of Scalia.”
For some time, I have been seeking greater specificity on this issue, and today the Trump campaign provided that, releasing a very strong list of potential Supreme Court nominees — including Sen. Mike Lee, who would make an extraordinary justice — and making an explicit commitment to nominate only from that list. This commitment matters, and it provides a serious reason for voters to choose to support Trump.
Second, Obamacare. The failed healthcare law is hurting millions of Americans. If Republicans hold Congress, leadership has committed to passing legislation repealing Obamacare. Clinton, we know beyond a shadow of doubt, would veto that legislation. Trump has said he would sign it.
Third, energy. Clinton would continue the Obama administration’s war on coal and relentless efforts to crush the oil and gas industry. Trump has said he will reduce regulations and allow the blossoming American energy renaissance to create millions of new high-paying jobs.
Fourth, immigration. Clinton would continue and even expand President Obama’s lawless executive amnesty. Trump has promised that he would revoke those illegal executive orders.
Fifth, national security. Clinton would continue the Obama administration’s willful blindness to radical Islamic terrorism. She would continue importing Middle Eastern refugees whom the FBI cannot vet to make sure they are not terrorists. Trump has promised to stop the deluge of unvetted refugees.
Sixth, Internet freedom. Clinton supports Obama’s plan to hand over control of the Internet to an international community of stakeholders, including Russia, China, and Iran. Just this week, Trump came out strongly against that plan, and in support of free speech online.
These are six vital issues where the candidates’ positions present a clear choice for the American people.
If Clinton wins, we know — with 100% certainty — that she would deliver on her left-wing promises, with devastating results for our country.
My conscience tells me I must do whatever I can to stop that.
We also have seen, over the past few weeks and months, a Trump campaign focusing more and more on freedom — including emphasizing school choice and the power of economic growth to lift African-Americans and Hispanics to prosperity.
Finally, after eight years of a lawless Obama administration, targeting and persecuting those disfavored by the administration, fidelity to the rule of law has never been more important.
The Supreme Court will be critical in preserving the rule of law. And, if the next administration fails to honor the Constitution and Bill of Rights, then I hope that Republicans and Democrats will stand united in protecting our fundamental liberties.
Our country is in crisis. Hillary Clinton is manifestly unfit to be president, and her policies would harm millions of Americans. And Donald Trump is the only thing standing in her way.
A year ago, I pledged to endorse the Republican nominee, and I am honoring that commitment. And if you don’t want to see a Hillary Clinton presidency, I encourage you to vote for him.
I also think cruz just killed himself politically and had nothing to gain by doing this, other than getting quid pro quo from eatablishment. He just killed his brand.It's just a bit of good old Texas politics :::D Which is go with the winner ;D I don't want to say I told you so but I just can't help it... I told you so ;D
Personally, I feel Cruz would have endorsed Trump at the RNC convention if he did not 'owe' so much to Glen Beck and his supporters (like JTF.) And for exactly the reasons he now gives in his endorsement. Number one reason being the supreme court. It would have been a bitter betrayal to Beck who spent capital, time and reputation trying to get Cruz to the nomination. But Ted Cruz is only a man. Eventually people do what is best and most expedient for themselves. No matter the cost to others. No matter how supportive others have been. This is life. So, I don't think he is to be criticized for that. Even the best people do it.I don't see Cruz ever sitting behind the desk in the oval office... Its politically impossible going forward... He might have been Trumps VP had he played his cards better early on... I would have liked Cruz as a VP but as things played out I like Trump's present VP pick better... The VP slot would have been Cruz's path to the presidency... Now it might be Pence's... I do Cruz as a potential court justice... He would be far more effective in that position if he was able to become appointed.
Except, I think this makes him look weaker and does his image damage. As far as another run at the presidency. At this point what difference does his endorsement make? He would have been best staying out. But I think he sees a path to the Supreme Court. And who would be disappointed if that happened?
Ted Cruz is not a moron and I don't believe chooses to do most things political reasons.If Ted Cruz didn't know Clinton is extreme bad news until now...he is a moron. And all politicians are political and play the game. Same for most people.
The endorsement for trump was due to a hard realization that Hillary was to the extreme bad news. We talk about trump being a megalomaniac. And Hillary isn't?! And what has she done to get her way? Steal money, take money from our enemies, and kill people.
What has trump done? Insult everyone. I don't know about you, but my feelings aren't worth the head of which I wish not to be removed by Isis refugees. My life and my family's are worth more than my feelings getting hurt.
I think Cruz knows better. How much power will he have in an establishment left wing congress if a corrupt Hillary, worse than Obama, becomes president? At least with trump, he can sway some rhinos in the correct direction in some things.
There are five rules for political endorsements, ranked in order of priority:
It must advance your convictions/principles, otherwise it will have minimal impact and isn’t worth the risk.
It cannot violate your “brand” because if it does you risk substantial backfire, which can long out-live the endorsement itself.
It must mobilize your base to action and not split your base, otherwise the endorsement will pit you versus your own base.
It should have a reasonable expectation of return on political investment; whether that’s adding credit to your integrity, reinforcing your brand, electoral success, and/or raising your own profile.
It cannot risk you descending into self-parody, where you become an object of scorn in the social media age—because the internet never forgets.
Guess what potential endorsement currently being discussed in political circles violates every single one of these rules?
A potential Ted Cruz, R-Texas (A, 97%) endorsement of Donald Trump.
To be clear, the political class has been breathlessly hoping for a Cruz endorsement of Trump for months now, because they know this to be true. The number one goal of the system isn’t power and control, for it must accomplish something before power and control can be maintained.
"Cruz will not mobilize the remnant of his base not already supporting Trump, but rather split that remnant and risk turning it against himself"
That “something” is the corruption of every potential champion/reformer to show that it’s impossible for anyone to maintain their integrity within the system. So resistance is futile and you might as well assimilate. This is how the system maintains power and control.
The Matrix cannot abide any potential Neos. So if it cannot corrupt them, it will then say they’re only defying the system for selfish reasons such as raw ambition. And then the system will stand by and wait for its potential challenger to make a major political miscalculation, which reinforces their false premise. Thus, another potential Neo bites the dust, and the Matrix marches on.
That is really all any Cruz endorsement of Trump would accomplish, which is why the political class has been hoping for it all this time.
Until some recent comments from Cruz’s former presidential campaign manager, Jeff Roe, it looked like Cruz had the titanium spine to withstand the peer pressure from the system that has taken down his predecessors for a generation. Especially after his “vote your conscience” speech in Cleveland, which was one of the most epic mic drops I’ve ever witnessed in politics.
But Roe says Cruz is now thinking of endorsing Trump “every day.” Why? Because Trump has apologized for calling Cruz’s wife ugly and his dad a presidential assassin? Because Trump has shown a sincere dedication to conservative principle and constitutional governance? Because Trump has shown he regrets insulting the disabled and prisoners of war?
Um, no.
“To be honest, watching Donald run a better campaign lately has been helpful to (Cruz),” according to Roe.
Not exactly the most inspiring rationale, which is why it’s already being spun by the system as “Cruz really isn’t principled, he just wants to jump on the ‘Trump Train’ now that he’s polling better.”
Ugh, these are not the droids you’re looking for.
But rather than argue amongst ourselves, let’s return to those aforementioned rules and let the chips fall where they may.
While it could certainly be capably argued Trump would be better for conservatives than Hillary, a man whose closing sale to voters is a massive expansion of the welfare state via paid maternity leave simply doesn’t share Cruz’s convictions.
Cruz’s brand is the guy who challenges the “Washington cartel” paradigm of the two-party scam. However, all the reasons Cruz would give for endorsing Trump would just make him sound like everybody else. When he starts sounding like everybody else, he goes against his brand. And you never should go against your brand.
This week I asked Cruz supporters on my Facebook wall their thoughts on a potential Cruz endorsement of Trump. We broke a record for most comments ever on my page, with over a thousand. I’d suggest clicking here and reading a sample of them for yourself, because Cruz supporters feel pretty strongly about this. The results were striking: only 3% were more likely to vote for Trump based on Cruz’s support, but a whopping 63% had a negative reaction to Cruz making the endorsement at all (the rest were indifferent). Translation: Cruz will not mobilize the remnant of his base not already supporting Trump, but rather split that remnant and risk turning it against himself.
Given what I just wrote, no one can make the case this endorsement will have any return on investment for Cruz. Quite the contrary, it would be as foolish as signing up for Trump University.
The social media culture will ruthlessly emasculate Cruz for assimilating with Trump despite the way Trump ransacked his family, which could end up being far more politically damaging than violating a principle. Not to mention Trump is likely to contribute to this himself the first time Cruz breaks ranks from him, no matter the reason. He’ll return to his favorite past time of mocking Cruz, which he was just doing this week. Once you become a joke, your ambitions usually go broke. Just ask Sarah Palin, Chris Christie, Dan Quayle, etc. No one survives becoming an object of scorn or ridicule.
The conservative graveyard is littered with the remains of would-be champions, who buried themselves after misspending their political capital, and choosing the wrong hills to die on. Men and women who didn’t know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em. Who didn’t know when to walk away, and when to run.
As someone that knows, respects, and loves Ted Cruz, my fear is his endorsing Trump risks adding his name to that tragic list. And given the fact Cruz is one of the last remaining constitutional champions we have, if he falls he won’t fall alone
בס''דI would have had more respect for Cruz had he stuck to his guns and left things as they played out after the Republican convention... Now he looks like even a bigger fool than he did before... Cruz is going nowhere he will be lucky to retain his present position... He and his family could do a so called write in vote but the problem is that even they will be torn on which name they will write in... Maybe they should just vote for Hillary :o
Ted Cruz and his family will definitely NOT vote for Donald Trump. Cruz absolutely hates Trump and knows what a dangerous fraud he is.
However, Cruz felt that he could not win the Republican Presidential nomination in 2020 without endorsing the orange Mussolini.
This is not surprising and changes nothing from our point of view. We will always be Never Trump. Trump continues to be WORSE than Hillary Clinton.
I think it is wrong to have already have picked Cruz as "our" candidate for the election 4 years from now.
I think we have to see at that time, who bests represents our interests and who is the most reliable from the available politicians.
I personally would like JTF to devote much more time and energy to Israel, than the current election or positioning ourselves now, for an election 4 years from now.
I would have had more respect for Cruz had he stuck to his guns and left things as they played out after the Republican convention...
Baloney. You guys were crying that he snubbed Trump by saying to vote ones conscience rather than endorsing, and you said he got booed off stage because it reflects that people resent him for not endorsing. Now changing your story.I am not changing a thing... It's Cruz that's changing his story and he will change it again as needed.
Donald Trump is the best Republican candidate for president in decades.
Baloney. You guys were crying that he snubbed Trump by saying to vote ones conscience rather than endorsing, and you said he got booed off stage because it reflects that people resent him for not endorsing. Now changing your story.Kahane-Was-Right BT, no one was crying about Trump being snubbed by Cruz. Not even Trump. I didn't think Ted Cruz should have attended the RNC. At all. Unless, he was going to endorse. Personally, I think he may have planned on endorsing Trump at the convention. But caved to external pressures not to. He should have gotten back to the grindstone. Planned for 2020. Now, that he has endorsed, Mr. Trump, after he correctly stated he should not endorse a man who insulted his wife and lied about his father. Nor, should he have gone to Trump's Convention. What do you make of him? My conclusion is that he is the typical politician. Disappointing. And, oh, he is saying exactly what us guys have been saying all along. Clinton is wholly unacceptable. Who becomes your write in now? Trump is not the best candidate since sliced bread was invented. But, in my mind, Clinton is the worst. On par, or worse, than Carter and Obama.
Glenn Beck is such a clown.Why do you say that? Cruz did let him down.
Why do you say that? Cruz did let him down.Well, Glen Beck is so disappointed in the outcome of the primaries that he is now dismantling his mock up of the Oval Office... Even though he is disappointed in Ted Cruz he should donate the fake oval office to Cruz because that is about the closest that Cruz will ever get to an Oval Office :::D
Why do you say that? Cruz did let him down.
בס''ד
Ted Cruz and his family will definitely NOT vote for Donald Trump. Cruz absolutely hates Trump and knows what a dangerous fraud he is.
However, Cruz felt that he could not win the Republican Presidential nomination in 2020 without endorsing the orange Mussolini.
This is not surprising and changes nothing from our point of view. We will always be Never Trump. Trump continues to be WORSE than Hillary Clinton.