U.S. Edition
Updated 10/22/2013 at 1:48pm
(CNN) – Sen. Ted Cruz was greeted by a screaming crowd of supporters and cheers of "Thank you Ted!" and "Welcome Home!" Monday night in Texas.
The freshman senator said he was happy to be back home in Houston, and wasn't afraid to be honest about his feelings on Washington.
"It is terrific to be back in America," said Cruz as supporters waved homemade signs promoting "#MakeDCListen," a hashtag that was a prominent part of Cruz's 21-hour speech on the Senate floor in late September.
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In the opinion of many on Capitol Hill, Democrats and Republicans, that speech was the kick-off of an irresponsible and destructive campaign to defund Obamacare at the risk of all else.
With the White House and Congress unable to settle their budgetary differences, the federal government was partially shut down for more than two weeks, and came very close to running out of money to pay its bills.
Cruz's colleagues in the Senate didn't stay quiet. "It was a fool's errand to start with. It was never going to succeed," Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."
On CBS's "Face the Nation," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said, "Shutting down the government, in my view, is not conservative policy."
Back in Texas, Cruz was quick to admit that he had made some enemies when he told the crowd a story about his two young daughters.
Catherine had announced at a family outing that she wanted to grow up to work in the Senate "like daddy." However, Cruz's other daughter, Caroline, immediately dismissed that as "boring." She also pointed out the fact that "by then daddy will be dead anyways."
Cruz went on to say, "I kind of wondered if Caroline had been talking to Republican leadership in Washington, if she knew something I didn't know."
If this isn't evidence enough that Cruz isn't too concerned with the "voices in Washington," when asked whether he was hoping to repair his relationships with Republican leaders, Cruz laughed. "I don't work for the party bosses in Washington. I work for 26 million Texans." Ted Cruz won't rule out another shutdown, aide tells CNN
Cruz had some fun with the problems plaguing HealthCare.gov as well, saying, "the Nigerian e-mail scammers" had been hired to run the site.
The senator also had some harsh words, laying the blame for "a lousy deal" squarely at the feet of the Senate Republicans who didn't "unite with House Republicans."
The deal that ended the shutdown and raised the debt ceiling was passed with 87 House Republicans joining 197 Democrats to vote 'Yea' and 144 Republicans voting 'Nay.'
"We didn't ultimately win this battle," said Cruz. "But listen, no one in this room started this fight thinking it would be easy. We all knew that if we took on the Washington establishment the establishment would fight back."
Cruz assured the crowd that the past two months had seen enormous progress and that if they "follow the model" of grass-roots campaigns and citizen engagement they would "change the debate" in Washington.
Movements such as the constituent support of Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul's filibuster on drones, and the backlash against gun control legislation after the shooting in Newtown, Cruz said, were evidence of effective campaigns Democrats and the White House were forced to listen to.
Cruz said the message of the rally was clear: Texans and the American people don't want Obamacare and they're fed up with Congress.
But for all his talk of blowing off the party bosses, Cruz acknowledged that success for the Republicans lay with a unified message.
"I'm hopeful, with a little bit of time and reflection, that Senate Republicans will decide to come together again," Cruz said.
"I would love to see Republican unity, to see all of us stand together against this train wreck that is Obamacare and with the American people."
Perhaps since Cruz has no confidence in his party's leadership he should resign from the Republican Party and become an independent or start up his own new party. This Senator shows no loyalty to his current party and is better seperated from it.
This wacko is certifiable, as are the lunatic fringe that cheer him on.
Thanks Cruz. Dispite the spin of the media, you held firm to the end. You can thank McCain and his Rino's for what they've done. They along with the rest of the left may have won, but America has lost. Democrats, you better get your act together, because Nov 5th is approaching.
"Cruz said the message of the rally was clear: Texans and the American people don't want Obamacare and they're fed up with Congress."
I keep hearing that no Americans want Obamacare. If that was true then there is no possible way Obama would have been re-elected. You have to know the Republican code. Americans are tea party members. Nobody else is an American. See, no Americans want Obamacare.
If all the repubs stood together, they would still not have the majority in the Senate.
He should run for "President" of Texas and leave us alone...
I am not sure why his supporters are thanking him – what has Cruz accomplished for them? Cruz kicked off a strategy doomed to fail and a strategy that seemed mostly aimed at increasing his profile at the expense of both his own colleagues and everyday Americans. A constant stream of articles like this one suggest Cruz accomplished his real goal.
If I was republican (won't happen!) I would throw this idiot out of the party. One thing the Rs did fairly well was provide a united front, and now that's crumbling. If they don't shore things up there will be nothing left.
First off I would like to say that I'm sure Cruz was welcomed home with open arms....his district is so gerrymandered there probably isn't a sane person in his little pocket of tea-baggers. Also, he keeps talking about what a train-wreck Obamacare is. Well exactly HOW is it a train-wreck....would love to hear some specifics (and they should be factual not the usual made up nebulous absurdities that usually come from the far right.
No Mr. Cruz, once you step across that threshold into the national spotlight, you work for a couple hundred million Americans! You want to run for President? Fine, but don't destroy the lives of good citizens and small business owners to further your political hero worship. Be the darling of the extremists in the tp. But just remember that being elected requires a lot of support from us folks not bent at the hip to the right! I do have to agree with your statement about not working for the party bosses. That is as it should be! However, making enemies and burning bridges are not good things when you are garnering support. With your current position and rhetoric, why not just stay in Texas with your screaming mindless followers. The rest of America and the people who really count will be better for it!
Texans and the American people that's an interesting statement , perhaps we showed call them Texicans
"It is terrific to be back in America" — Ted Cruz
Mitt Romney insulted 47% of the electorate with his comment about people who didn't owe income tax after using provisions in the tax code to lower their liability to zero. Not to be outdone, Ted insults over 90% of the electorate insinuating that we aren't in America.
People please !!!! Don't encourage this guy.....unless you want to live in a third world type country combat zone.
I still don't understand why Ted Cruz thinks Obama Care is a train wreck. I also don't undrstand why he thinks the American people don't want Obama Care. I need information to help me determine why he thinks he is right or is he just talking to make a name for himself.
If all our representatives acted like him our entire governing system would collaspe. The idea that it is my way or the highway does not work.
this man really think he god.wow!
This man turned against his party, and turned against America. Houston can have him for good. Please, please, please, don't send him back to Washington.
I hope Cruz becomes the Republican candidate for President. No way the Repupblicans could win with a kook like him.
Wrecking ball ted still can not stop babbling.
Your fellow Republicans have more sense, integrity, and respect for the country and office of the President than YOU – THAT is why they didn't go along with your evil, separationist ways. What you were doing was HARMFUL to the nation, and possibly to the WORLD. Hope you get tried for that.
Why am I hearing the theme song to The Benny Hill Show when I read about this nut job? haha
You know whats more dangerous then a man with a plan? A really stupid man with an ignorant plan.
"It is terrific to be back in America," said Cruz
The man wants to be president of the ENTIRE U.S. however he only considers Texas to be it....
Why does anyone listen to Cruz?
He never wants any unity. He is trying to make a bad situation into a war in Washington. It is disturbing that he has any influence at all. He has bought himself a one way ticket to Texas, no one in their right mind will support him when his reelection rolls around. I have spent much time in Texas, and thankfully he is not in any way a representation of his state.
Yes,Senator Cruz..YOU are So RIGHT! 'United We Stand.Divided We Fall'!