Ted Cruz, the esteemed Senator from Texas, recently spoke with Eric Bolling of Newsmax, bringing to the forefront the question of Mitch McConnell’s role as Senate Minority Leader. Cruz has long questioned McConnell’s leadership of the party from Kentucky and used this opportunity to advocate for a new figure to arise in the party hierarchy. ‘Mitch has been a figure of some concern among us, given how long I have voiced my grievances about him,’ Cruz explained to Bolling. ‘The fact of the matter is, a lot of people are growing upset with the lack of traction in Washington, and Mitch’s leadership is certainly under scrutiny.’
Further in the conversation, Cruz dissected the recent complications around the border bill debated in Senate, describing it as a ‘catastrophic mishandling’. According to him, the bill would regularize the influx of 5,000 undocumented immigrants per day while allocating taxpayer money to legal aid and work permits. Proudly, he claimed, ‘The bill was flawed and I was at the forefront of the efforts to ensure it didn’t go any further.’
Cruz continued, expressing dissatisfaction with the Republican leadership’s response to the bill. ‘What was their response when we refused to pass a flawed bill on border security? Indifferent, as if they were okay with no progress at all, choosing to finance the Democratic fund instead.’
When questioned about the future of the foreign aid package in the House, Cruz suggested that the leaders would use HR2, the most potent border security bill in Congress, and attach it to the foreign aid package. He believes it could be an effective strategy to challenge Chuck Schumer, the Democrat Majority Leader from New York.
Eric Bolling, probing further, asked Cruz a crucial question around possible successors to McConnell’s leadership position — would Cruz himself consider taking on the role. Avoiding a clear-cut response, Cruz replied, ‘One step at a time.’
‘I have reiterated multiple times that it is time for Mitch to step aside,’ Cruz confessed. ‘His leadership of the conference is no longer effective.’ In fact, he went on to suggest that there is substantial disgruntlement within the conference owing to the way things have been handled recently.
According to Cruz, the past three months have seen the Democrats, under the leadership of Chuck Schumer, scoring political victories. ‘But why?’ Cruz poses the question. ‘Simply because the Republican leadership thought the negotiated bill would be beneficial for their constituents. But it unfortunately wasn’t. It was anything but useful.’
Cruz was critical of the fact that when GOP leadership commends a bill, the Democrats just echo those sentiments. ‘What’s ironic is when the Republican leadership appreciates a bill, you can bet that every Senate Democrat will do the same.’
Ted Cruz’s criticisms centered on McConnell’s hesitancy to fight for the demands of conservative voters, an integral base of the Republican party. McConnell’s extensive tenure in the Senate has left him detached and often frozen when it comes to responding to the demands of his conservative constituency.
Cruz argued that this reluctance of McConnell is a testament to his time in the leadership role coming to an end. His inability to effectively respond to the needs of the Republican base creates a void that is calling for new and dynamic leadership.
In concluding his conversation with Bolling, Cruz advocated letting new blood take the mantle and guide the Republican conference. This would allow the party to grow, develop, and place greater emphasis on America First principles, a sentiment that is gaining traction among conservative voters.
There is no doubt that the dynamic needs to change within the Republican conference. The modern conservative desires leadership that speaks and acts towards achieving their objectives, and Cruz’s remarks have brought this dissatisfaction into the open — in no uncertain terms.
The conversation between Cruz and Bolling highlighted a significant crack in the foundation of the Republican party. With Cruz’s critique gaining traction among conservative circles, it looks like a shift in traditional Republican leadership is no longer just a possibility, but a necessity for the party to adapt and respond effectively to their base
Ted Cruz Calls for the Removal of Mitch McConnell and New Senate Leadership appeared first on Real News Now.
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