Kay Bailey Hutchison is at last stepping down from the Senate, and there will, of course, be a scramble to replace her. Who will be the next senator from Texas? Ted Cruz has announced his candidacy in the Republican primary. I am for him 100 percent — for him with enthusiasm and even excitement.
Which will not surprise anyone who read my column on Cruz in May 2009: Here it is. The title of that column was “A Great Reaganite Hope,” and that he is. He’s also a friend of mine, so you may discount everything I say. I wouldn’t, though. I mean, I wouldn’t discount everything — anything! — I say.
In 2009, Ted was running for Texas attorney general. Or sort of running: For the position to come open, Hutchison had to resign from the Senate, as she said she would. She was trying to oust Rick Perry from the governor’s mansion. Her resignation would have reshuffled the Texas political deck. But she didn’t resign. And we are at a different juncture.
A quick biographical recap: Ted was born in 1970 and grew up in Houston. His father is a Cuban immigrant. Ted went to Princeton, where he was a debate champion. Not just any ol’ debate champion, but champion of all of America — North America, actually. He went on to Harvard Law School, where he did the expected glittering things. Then he clerked for Judge Mike Luttig on the Fourth Circuit. (Marvelous man, Luttig. Should be on the Supreme Court.) Then he clerked for Chief Justice Rehnquist.
On the Bush 2000 campaign, Ted was a domestic-policy adviser. He later served in the Justice Department and at the Federal Trade Commission. He returned to Texas to be solicitor general, a post he held from 2003 to 2008. He wrote over 70 U.S. Supreme Court briefs, and presented eight oral arguments in that court. He was basically a whirlwind of principle, creativity, and skill.
For my money, Ted is a dream candidate, and would make no less splendid a senator. He is all-purpose, by which I mean, he’s versed in economics, the law (obviously), domestic policy, and, not least — very much not least — foreign policy. He stands for all the things we Reaganites prize: a free economy; constitutionalism; “traditional values” (a mockable phrase, but useful); national defense; a foreign policy that does not forget American ideals (e.g., freedom) — you get the picture.
Moreover, he can articulate what we feel, believe, and know. The ability to articulate is no small thing, in politics and government.
Also, for those who care, Ted is “Hispanic,” whatever that means. I always just thought of him as a swell guy — and an American, and a Texan — not a “Hispanic.” But I know that such things mean a great deal to a great many.
I hope he goes to the Senate, and I hope he goes further than that. A nightmare scenario for people like us — I’m talking about Reaganites, again — is that Senator Cruz and Senator Rubio compete in a presidential primary. But then, you could call that an embarrassment of riches.
Speaking of Rubio: Ted should be a national conservative cause, the way Rubio was in Florida. Indeed, the Texas race could look much like the Florida race: with Cruz playing the part of Rubio, and the Republican lieutenant governor, David Dewhurst, playing the part of Charlie Crist.
Could Dewhurst — about whom I know very little — be as unreliable, politically, as Crist? I doubt it. Who could?
Anyway, I will stop gushing and enthusing now. “Pardon my mush,” as a Gershwin lyric goes. I’ve been waiting for Ted to run for office for a long time. Conservatives all across America will come to embrace him, I think — embrace him as a champion. Why not start early? There will be plenty of bandwagoneers later. Check out TedCruz.org. Kick the tires. I’d rather slit my throat than steer you wrong. I’m sure I have not.
Here is one Texan thanking you for the intro to Ted Cruz.
I'm sure we will not be introduced to him by our major Texas daily newspapers who lean toward social democrats in an otherwise clearly red state.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDewhurst is a big amnesty supporter. He won't get elected senator.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis is great news. Ted Cruz is a superstar.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJay, you mentioned that such things as being "Hispanic" (grammar note: I noticed you used 'a' instead of 'an' in front... a mistake or rebellion?) mean a great deal to some people. In my experience it means a great deal only to democrats and liberals who worship at the alter of race identity, and serves to put bigger cross-hairs (oops!) on conservative minority candidates. I suspect you would agree.
But then again perhaps any opportunity to demonstrate to blacks and latinos that conservativism is a viable and in fact more natural philosophy for them should be encouraged.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseCount me in. I like Michael Williams, but I've been following Ted since Medellin v. Texas (which he won). I couldn't think of better Texan to articulate conservative principles in the Senate, i.e., on a national stage. And if for whatever reason he doesn't get the nod, I guarantee he'll be well remembered for another statewide run in 2014.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHaven't heard of Ted Cruz, but it'll be interesting to hear more.
However, David Dewhurst is no Obama-hugging Charlie Crist. He's got name recognition, hasn't done anything anti-conservative. Frankly Ted's Princeton/Harvard Education and law degree may not play well. The Senate already has a lot of lawyers.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMy candidate in Texas External Link
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHere is another Texan thanking you for the info; I was not aware of this fellow Cruz, but have been deeply uneasy about David Dewhurst, who strikes me as a 'big-money' establishment Tool, and in no sense a movement conservative.
I think Cruz would have the added advantage of helping to keep Texas from going down the road of toxic, unthinking Identity Politics, as California has done.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHow to choose between Ted Cruz and Michael Williams? Both seem to be outstanding conservatives and men of principle. I haven't seen Cruz give an interview or speech, but the examples on Michael Williams's site of him in action show someone who seems to possess deep knowledge of the issues and a political knack for connecting with people.
The fear I have right now is that Williams and Cruz will split the conservative vote and allow an establishment candidate to win it all. Sort of like how Bob Corker won in Tennessee in 2006.
Texas deserves a great conservative Senator.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI have no prior knowledge about Ted Cruz, but he sounds like he could potentially be a very good candidate. What I want to address, however, is another issue raised in this piece, which is the "Hispanic ethnicity equals political virtue" argument popular with many on the left and mainstream media, as well as some on the right.
Let me say it: There are few, if any, things that disgust me so much in American politics right now as the fact that the MSM see race as a boon, an asset, for some ("He's Hispanic! Make him the VP nomination!") but not others. Ascribing virtue to particular races -- whether for political candidates, university applicants, or athletes -- is skating on thin ice in any sphere of life. Why don't blacks, Asians or whites get similar treatment? I can't say, but I sure am appalled.
Moreover, this mindset goes hand in hand with an even larger issue. We have an utterly unfair and irrational immigration policy and enforcement double standards that mean that a Central American located in this country illegally is de facto given an indefinite work permit while an Asian, African or European (who have hoops to jump through in order to get here, usually by plane, and thus are more often applying for skilled jobs) are weeded out and have a VERY, VERY difficult time getting the de jure work permit they need. (I speak from experience.)
Is immigration about providing everyone, regardless of where they come from, a fair shot of entering this country? Then there should be objective standards for all, and laws enforced equally for all. Is it about attracting the best and brightest to America to contribute the most to this country's economy and society? Then visas should be focused on the skilled and educated. Is it about charity and protecting the world's poorest and most vulnerable? Then I would expect all of Darfur to have been resettled into New Jersey. The fact is that no matter what ideal immigration policies are meant to follow, the current system fails to meet them.
Just as we should condemn as racialist baloney the fact that Hispanic political candidates are given some preferential standing by many media outlets and members of the political elite (be they politicians or pundits), this double standard in immigration is an affront to foreigners everywhere and is certainly not in most US citizens' personal interest, or the country's national interest.
It's a bad path for the country to be headed down to equate certain races with virtues -- whether that manifests itself in foreigners of certain races getting immigration-related preferences that others do not, or in racialist thinking applied to politics and politicians.
I hope Ted does well because of his positions, not because of his ethnicity; and I hope the country veers away from the dangerous path it's on in its immigration policies as well. In trying to find examples of racism amongst whites wherever it looks, the US media and political class are creating their own racialist fiefdoms in politics, immigration and elsewhere.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJay,
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI had the pleasure of being on a panel with Ted Cruz for a coninuing legal education course on antitrust law and economics several years ago. He is the real deal. I heartily encourage all my fellow Texans to support his candidacy.
Hi Greg T, I agree with and sympathize with the sentiment you express. However, I remain focused on electoral victories, and if social issues provide a margin of victory then I heartily support their use despite theoretical misgivings such as yours.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTed is one of the best public speakers and debaters I have ever come across. A natural leader and a principled conservative. Washington, the MSM, and the Dems won't know what hit them.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI will certainly give Cruz a fair assessment, but it would be very hard if not impossible to move me away from Williams. I agree with Smashingworth that it would be ashamed to split the conservative vote allowing a Hutchison jr. to get in. I am quite sure that Cornyn is serving his last term whether he knows it or not.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHe is another lawyer. Just what we don't need.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI remember when Jay ran that first introduction of Ted Cruz in 2009, including a link to some video of a speech of some sort. Maybe that was on Ted's website. Holy cow that guy is a phenomenal speaker. I've been wondering when his name would emerge as a contender for a larger office. The media will be loathe to run more than 5 second sound bites of the guy as he's so darn likeable. And conservative with a capital C.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMaybe Texas has changed, but when I lived there I did not know any Hispanics. Texans, Mexican-Americans, tejanos, chicanos, and latinos yes, but no hispanics.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI just have add that while I will be likely supporting Ted Cruz or Michael Williams with a campaign contribution, unfortunately Mr. Cruz is not eligible to run for president as he was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada like myself.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSorry. Here are the results of the last high profile 'hispanic' running in a statewide Republican primary Texas (for Railroad Commissioner):
Victor G. Carrillo(I) REP 474,409 39.26%
David Porter REP 733,746 60.73%
And Victor Carillo was of Mexican-American descent, not a Cuban by way of Canada.
Ted Cruz is a non-starter in Texas
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