A Case for and a Case against each GOP Presidential Candidate: Ted Cruz

     When Texas Senator Ted Cruz started his campaign, he immediately caught my attention. Politicians who genuinely care about authentic Constitutional interpretation are hard to come by. So when it became evident that the Constitution was the driving force behind his political stance, I was intrigued. As I learned more about Ted Cruz, I also discovered he had a strong faith in God and was a staunch supporter of freedom of religion. These two are rare in most politicians today. As I write this, he is now leading in multiple polls. So here are his pros and cons.    

     Case For:  One of Ted Cruz's finest qualities is his strong support of the Constitution and his willingness to defend it; saying: "My touchstone for every question is the Constitution." This trait is hard to find in our Congress today. It has been a long time since we had a president who shares such a passion for the supreme law of the land. This stands in stark contrast to other politicians who are far more focused on what is popular, in accumulating votes, and who lack a solid foundation to their beliefs. When the Constitution, as the Founders intended, is a politician's primary measuring rod, things will change and eventually anchor for the better. Cruz definitely has a better grasp on the original intent of the Constitution than the other candidates.
     Cruz's belief in God and the Bible is also a powerful trait as it gives him a moral standard higher than any man can create. Though no man is perfect and all make mistakes, his faith gives him a trustworthy direction to follow. He is also not afraid of saying the truth, even when it faces much backlash; as was evident in several debates. When he illuminated Marco Rubio's immigration record, he was called a liar. The same occurred when he revealed Donald Trump's support for Planned Parenthood. It turned out that both of these accusations were true.
     Cruz also battled Obamacare to the extent that many Republican senators began to dislike his fervor. Lindsey Graham said earlier this week that he disliked Cruz for his lack of respect for the "traditions" of the Senate. If you have to turn your back on the "traditions" of the Senate in order to fulfill your Constitutional duties, then there is a problem with those traditions. He also battled the Marco Rubio-led Gang of Eight bill that would have given amnesty to thousands of illegal immigrants. This bill had gained the endorsement of President Obama.
     Case against:  One of Ted Cruz's supposed drawbacks is his apparent lack of support from Congress. As a Senator, one would assume that his colleagues would offer support to his campaign. Donald Trump claims Cruz is a "nasty guy" who hasn't gotten one endorsement. This "drawback" can't be true since Cruz has received endorsements from 20 house Republicans. The Republican members of Congress who despise him are mostly members of the establishment who are upset with him for his loyalty to the Constitution and his unwillingness to play Washington's games.
     Cruz's detractors have questioned his integrity. They doubt his faithfulness to his promises and the sincerity of his Christian beliefs. This of course is something that could be said about every Presidential candidate. Many also point to the supposed sabotage of Ben Carson's campaign. This is a very exaggerated claim. When Carson's campaign released news that he would be returning home to Florida, Cruz's campaign relayed the information to make it more widespread. They did not, however, relay the information sent out by Carson's campaign that he would be continuing on. Cruz has since apologized for the misunderstanding. Carson accepted his apology.
     Summary:  Of all the candidates, Cruz has been the most consistent and has held the strongest to Constitutional principles. HIs loyalty to the Constitution makes him a good candidate for President. His moral standard led by his belief in God and the Bible are traits that we could use in the leader of this nation. It is my opinion that he is the best option for the American people.