After weeks of failed attempts to defund Planned Parenthood, Senator Ted Cruz erupted at Republican leadership Monday, accusing them of running “show votes” that they didn’t seriously expect to pass. Republicans, he contended, have given up before the fight even started, capitulating to President Obama’s demands every time he raises the specter of a government shutdown:
We are about to “fund 100 percent of Planned Parenthood with taxpayer funding,” Cruz stormed, an organization under “multiple criminal investigations.”
“President Obama is absolutely committed to his objectives, and says if you don’t fund this organization, I will veto your bill and shut down the government,” Cruz fumed. “And Republican leadership surrenders: ‘We will fund Planned Parenthood.’”
Cruz charged that Obama “just has to utter word ‘shutdown’ and Republicans run to the hills.” The senator proceeded to review the similar scenarios that occurred with Obamacare, Obama’s executive amnesty, and the Iran deal.
“Republican leadership simply says, ‘OK’” to Obama, Cruz said.
Cruz also singled out Republican donors for encouraging senators to enforce the status quo, saying that many of them “despise” the conservative voters that make up the core of the Republican Party:
“A very large percentage of Republican donors actually despise our base,” he said, observing that the people they despise are the very ones who won them their majorities. Cruz said Republican donors are pro-choice and also desire same-sex marriage and amnesty.
Cruz’s comments came after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to allow a vote on his amendment to a spending bill that would have revoked federal money for Planned Parenthood, using a process called “filling the tree” to prevent changes to the bill.
Nick Arnold is a researcher for American Principles In Action.
