Sen. Ted Cruz doubled down on his adherence to strict conservative principles, saying that the GOP’s way to the White House is not paved with compromises and concessions to the Democrats.
“It is amazing that the wisdom of the chattering class to the Republicans is always, always, always, ’surrender your principles and agree with the Democrats,’’ Mr. Cruz told the New Yorker. “That’s been true for my entire lifetime. The chattering classes have consistently said, ’You crazy Republicans have to give up on what you believe and become more like Democrats.’
“And, I would note, every time Republicans do that, we lose,” he said.
Mr. Cruz pointed to the wins of former presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush — and the losses of moderates Bob Dole and Mitt Romney, as well as Gerald Ford, who lost to Jimmy Carter — as proof.
New Yorker writer Jeffrey Toobin, meanwhile, pointed out some loopholes in Mr. Cruz’s view, saying that Mr. Nixon established the Environmental Protection Agency and that Mr. Reagan, while governor of California, supported some tax increases and gun control.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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