Washington (CNN) – Sen. Ted Cruz on Tuesday forcefully argued that Obamacare is not here to stay and pledged that he would continue working to dismantle the health care law in 2014 and 2016.
“I think those elections should be about many, many things,” the Texas Republican said, listing jobs and growth as examples. “But they should be about repealing every bloody word of Obamacare.”
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His remarks came in an address at a Washington conference hosted by the conservative group, Young America's Foundation.
Cruz was a key player in last year’s fight against the law and pushed his colleagues in Congress to try to defund Obamacare ahead of a looming spending deadline. The debate between Republicans and Democrats on the issue eventually resulted in a 16-day government shutdown.
Obamacare continued to roll out on January 1 of this year, despite some major hiccups with its website and some of its key provisions being delayed.
Cruz, who’s considering a presidential campaign, said the opposition he helped lead last year set in motion an effort that will eventually bring the law down.
“Some battles you can win with one clean rifle shot; other battles take time, take building that foundation,” he said. “I’m convinced that fight has laid the foundation.”
A CNN/ORC International Poll released last week indicated that more than half the public believes Obamacare has helped either their families or others across the country, although less than one in five Americans say they have personally benefited from the Affordable Care Act.
Cruz stressed that he’s “working very, very hard to win Senate seats and retire Harry Reid.”
He told the audience that it’s also up to the public to express their discontent with the law.
“If we’re going to repeal Obamacare and I’m convinced we’re going to…it’s going to come from the people saying ‘this thing isn’t working’,” he said.
Get rid of "every bloody one" of the greedy exec in the medical/industrial complex. Only full, national health care will work.
It's time to deport him and Justin Beiber back to Canada.
How dumb is this guy?! What, he's going to take health insurance away from millions of Americans who didn't have it before? I get so tired of Republicans always indignant about one thing or another, as if they are actually capable of coming up with something better.
I agree completely with Cruz.
Our healthcare cost are skyrocketing faster than ever, and we haven't even seen the effects of the employer mandate yet, nor have we seen the effects it's having on the cost of medicaid.
People need to make a choice between a country withering on the vine or get back to a strong, vibrant country with a growing economy. The repeal of Obamacare, obviously, is just one part of the equation, but it's a BIG part.
Repeal it.
Marie Antoinette's plan for the hungry: "Let them eat cake".
Ted Cruz's plan for the sick: "Let them take aspirin".
Given that this delusional ideologue represents the Republican Party's so-called mainstream, they could simply declare Hillary the winner in January of 2016. It would save the country a whole lot of time and money when November rolls around.
(Lynda – with all due respect, while crossing out "panders" and correcting to "panderers" could you please cross out "less" and replace it with "fewer"? )
Which part of the law isn't working Teddy? Some part that would help more people like you that don't do their job get elected? Or some part that is helping Americans gain affordable insurance, and insurance that doesn't come filled with exceptions and exclusions? Seems to me and everyone else that the law is doing what it is supposed to, just not for your donors that control you.
I agree with all the comments except "go back to Canada." I respect Canada. After all, they got him to leave. And they have universal healthcare. Isn't he half Cuban? 'Course even Cuba has healthcare! Send him to... I give up. Keep him, vote him out, let him find a minimum wage job, if he can do it. $7.25 an hour is enough, no use spoiling him with $10.10. Goodbye Senate, hello Golden Arches! Or Walmart! Pound salt Teddy!
Yep, because republican solutions equal "let them suffer and die. They aren't rich so they don't matter. But shhh, we'll tell them we're religious too so they'll take it lying down like a beaten dog without a word".
Cruz is completely out of touch. He is pandering to a percentage of voters that continues to get less and less influential at the voting booths. Specifically, as Obamacare (note that Republicans who are savvy no longer call it that, because it's actually working for most people) comes up to speed, a great number of Cruz's admirers are quietly using it, and just going silent about the former fears and complaints. What is particularly hilarious about the Republican Party now is that they fought hard to prevent Obamacare from going into law, then when it became law, they fought to repeal it, but now, as it is in place, Boehner is going to sue the administration because parts of the law haven't been implemented on schedule. I'm not sure just how weird these guys realize they appear to most Americans. It's a bit like a car wreck you are driving by. You don't want to look at the carnage, but you do anyway. And the hood ornament on that wreck of a party? Cruz.
Shame we all don't have FOURTY THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR to buy our own insurance like Cruz has because his wife has bought coverage for the family.
Well if ObamaCare runs anything like the VA, we've got serious problems and serious waste of misdirected funds/ Time will tell! U can't think of anything the governments runs well except for their mouths, both sides of the isle...........
preach it Cruz!
What did we got from Obamacare:
30hr work weeks
MUCH higher deductibles
Forced Plan benefits that I WILL NEVER need or use
621billion more costs with the law then without!!!
healthcare spending rising FASTER than any other OECD country
NO lowering of premiums by $2500 per year
1million previously insured now WITHOUT insurance
only HALF those projected by CBO signed up
What did we gain:
~7million without insurance now insured
~1.5million kids now insured with their parents
As a duel citizen of the U.S. And Canada I don't him in either place.
Vote Cruz -2016
Cause "When ya' Cruz ya' Luz".
Cruz has not created one single job since being elected to the senate. He was responsible for the government shout down that cause our economy 25 billion dollars.
If this guy isn't the male version of Sarah Palin I don't know who is.
Once again, it begs the question: what is his alternative that does not either embrace elements of the ACA, or revert us back to the good old days of denying people like my son because of some asinine " pre-existing" condition? Why do people like Cruz insist there was some Golden Age of Healthcare that we can go back to? Does he really think denying access to insurance is a sign of a free society?
Go back to Canada, Cruz; and take Bieber with you.
“Some battles you can win with one clean rifle shot.........
Tells me everything I need to know
about the Tea party.
The Republicans never had a plan. They liked things the way they were. You get sick, you die. But don't abort any babies. And no, you can't get food stamps. What? You didn't learn IT while you were pregnant? Slacker! Moocher!!
Let's repeal Ted Cruz and send him back to Mexico.
It's like the republicans aren't even trying anymore.
Obamacare is NOT the problem. It's an answer to a problem.
You want to repeal an unconstitutional law? GET RID OF THE UNPATRIOTIC ACT! (excuse the loud voice, but that law should have never been written)
Yes, let's get rid of Obamacare and Mr Cruz will arrange for everyone to have higher level health insurance through Goldman-Sachs, as does Mr. Cruz has courtesy of his wife. And btw, why isn't this a conflict of interest for a Senator to be receiving health insurance via a private investment company?
I am young and obamacare hurts me. i dont want health insurance, i dont NEED it, im young and heallthy and im expected to go bankrupt to subsidize worthless people on welfare and old fat people who get discounted health insurance. this is a tyrannical law.