Cruz says he would 'work with Martians'
(CNN) - Ted Cruz of Texas, who won his state's GOP Senate nomination this week in a major upset, said Sunday that he's willing to work with anyone in Washington - or outer space, for that matter.
"I am perfectly happy to compromise and work with anybody, Republicans, Democrats, libertarians, I'll work with Martians, if - and the "if" is critical - they are willing to cut spending and reduce the debt," Cruz said on "Fox News Sunday."
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A tea party favorite, Cruz ran a successful conservative grass-roots campaign against establishment-friendly Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in the state's runoff this summer.
Cruz trumpeted himself as a reformer, someone who was ready to roll up his sleeves and change Washington. In May, he said of the Senate: "We need to kick in the doors of the club, rip down the shades and auction off the silverware.”
Dewhurst attacked Cruz during the race for not supporting Sen. John Cornyn of Texas early in the year when he was up for a Senate leadership position. Cruz maintained he did not feel comfortable making a decision until he was elected, but critics painted it as an attempt not to be aligned with an incumbent.
Asked by Fox News anchor Chris Wallace if that kind of language would only lead to more "gridlock" in Congress, he asserted his take on the word "compromise."
"Well, my view on compromise is exactly the same as Ronald Reagan's. President Reagan said, what do you do if they offer you half a loaf? Answer: You take it, and then you come back for more," Cruz said.
His victory this week marked the latest in a series of conservative underdogs winning Senate Republican primaries this year. Among those was state treasurer Richard Mourdock, who defeated longtime incumbent Sen. Dick Lugar of Indiana in a campaign known for Mourdock's vow not to compromise should he be elected.
In Texas, Cruz beat Dewhurst by 14 percentage points, according to unofficial results on the secretary of state’s website. While Cruz will go on to face the Democratic nominee in the general election, political handicappers rate the Senate seat as safe for Republicans.
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He shouldn't have any problems finding anyone to work with.... Washington is filled with Martians.
He'll work with anyone like Ann Coulter is a moderate. Not everything is about cutting the budget. It is about doing the business of the American public.
we from the state of Texas have had a history of sending some somewhat looney people to represent us in Washington from Tom Delay to Louis Gohmmert and almost Rick Perry so this Cruz will fit right into the same mold.
"I am perfectly happy to compromise and work with anybody, Republicans, Democrats, libertarians, I'll work with Martians, if – and the "if" is critical – they are willing to cut spending and reduce the debt," Cruz said on "Fox News Sunday."
Dose he realize Fox News is part of the Martian Network ?
Progressives are from Venus , NeoCons are from Mars !
What a stupid statement. And these are the people actually getting elected.
Aren't the GOP already working with Martians? They certainly don't work with the President and certainly not for the American people. I knew there's something different with Jon Lovitz and Clint Eastwood, and especially Patrician Heaton.
Their behaviour was out of this world, because they're not from around here.
Cruz feels like he is secure for the senate but from the latest numbers in the get out and register hispanics it is not looking real rosy for repubs, they are already attempting to set guidelines as to who can register voters.
The majority underclass never realize they can make a difference until they realize they are the majority.
He sound like another GREENWICH !!!!!
So, no compromise and take no prisoners, in the best American political tradition. What nonsense!
Cruz will be one more just say NO GOP/Tea Party extremist in Washington. Compromise is not in their vocabulary. It is their way or the highway.
Is any one really listening to what this guy promises to do.
1) His version of compromise is, you get offered half a loaf you take it and then go back for more in the end that means my way or the highway or first Bush current tax cuts last forever = half the loaf then reduce taxes again especially fo the rich = going back for more, no doubt supporting increased defense spending, as a mere crumb.
2) Then his big" IF" of working with anybody to cut spending and reduce debt.
I find his position crumby ( forgive the pun) because cutting taxes + defense spending up
a) Is contradictory, and the only supporters would be his martians! It increases the budget deficit and debt!
b) How are he and his martians going to pay for the extra tax cuts and increased defense spending, the existing bush tax cuts are 450bn p.a of the current budget deficit, the new ones ??? None of those ideas in the first couple of years at least reduce debt but increase it. Covering it all, that loaf you just won, by spending cuts = more unemployment and a double dip recession according to most economists.
Oh would be fascinating for you to tells us where you'd save $1.3 tr plus p.a in spending cuts for your mythical balanced budget?
Even then that does not reduce debt per se, only its proportion perhaps to GDP.
Regards,
Hodgson.
"...if they're willing to cut spending and reduce the debt....and are male, white, "christian" and straight.
Now he's willing to compromise??? But, but, didn't he attack Dewhurst for the sin of compromising? So, was he lying then, or is he lying now?????
You know, Republicans would like to compromise. We really do. However, we only have the house. Democrats have the senate and executive and are unwillung to bend. Any thing the House tries to put through congress will be turned into to swiss cheese by the senate. And even if it manages to survive the senate, Obama will slap a big veto on it the second it enters the oval office. Normally, this is where the President steps in and helps the negotiation process. Take Ronald Reagan. Called the democratic leader on the phone and they didn't stop until they found a way both sides could agree with. But not this president. He just accuses the house of obstructing bills that republicans can't vote for because we don't like reckless spending. Obama and his cronies have one governing philosophy: my way or the highway!
Just not democrats. All other life forms are accepted. Right tea boy.
Republicans are so far off the grid as "normal", "leaders", "issued-focused" and "people advocates". They are no longer leaders nor take their role to serve the People seriously. They are corporate puppets who will do anything, support any damage to our environment, our education system, deregulate the banks and let financial destruction recur, and set up America as a corporate dictatorship with no rights for workers, women and even our most basic right to vote. No more. End the Republican insanity until they again realize the PEOPE are their first priority and the reason for their job in Congress.