Ted Cruz celebrated Eric Cantor�s primary loss on Tuesday night, arguing it�s a reminder that the �conservative base is alive and well� in American politics.
�Eric Cantor is a good man, but last night, voters in Virginia made D.C. listen loud and clear. This election should be a reminder to all in Congress � Republicans and Democrats alike � that the conservative base is alive and well, and the American people will hold us all accountable. Each of us needs to do what we said we would do and tell the truth,� Cruz said.
He then pledged to work with Dave Brat, who defeated Cantor, if he makes it to the House and cooperate �to pull back from the fiscal and economic cliff we are facing, and to bring back jobs, growth, and freedom in America.�
While Cruz�s criticisms of the GOP leadership have repeatedly rankled many Republicans, he has shied away from endorsing incumbents� primary challengers. He refused to comment when asked this week whether he would endorse state Sen. Chris McDaniel (R) in his runoff against vulnerable GOP Sen. Thad Cochran in Mississippi, which many believe is conservatives next opportunity to knock off a sitting Republican lawmaker.
Cruz�s disdain for what he called Cantor�s legislative �chicanery� was essentially the spark that led to last year�s 16-day government shutdown. When Cantor and House Speaker John Boehner pitched a plan to have the House vote on two separate bills � one to fund the government, the other to defund Obamacare � Cruz and House and Senate conservatives rebelled against a legislative maneuver that would have allowed Senate Democrats to ignore the attack.
Ultimately, Cruz was able to lead House conservatives to oppose Cantor and Boehner�s plan and convince Republican leaders to pass a spending bill that defunded Obamacare. Senate Democrats repeatedly stripped out the House�s attacks on Obamacare � leading to the historic government shutdown and accentuating the divide between rock-ribbed conservatives like Cruz and a more business-friendly Cantor.
The only thing worse than a liberal is a liberal that thinks they're a conservative.
