“I’m a Christian first, American second, conservative third and Republican fourth” – Ted Cruz, 20 Jan 2016
Responding to a critique by former Senator and Republican Presidential nominee Bob Dole (who thinks Ted Cruz would be a disaster as the 2016 Republican nominee), Sen. Cruz uttered the statement above.
Let’s think about that one, shall we?
I have absolutely no problem with Ted Cruz feeling this way. One’s beliefs and personal convictions are one’s own, and it’s not for me or anyone else to malign him in any way for his priorities.
I do, however, believe that the “American second” bit disqualifies him from serving as President of the United States. After all, the Oath of Office is most definitely NOT
“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, except where it conflicts with my personal interpretation of the Bible (Southern Texas Evangelical Revised Version)”
If you’re not going to be “American first”, you have no business seeking the office of President.
But beyond that, I question the statement “American second“
To be clear, I’m not raising the “birther” nonsense here. No, what I mean is that the bigoted, exclusionary, fear-mongering positions Sen, Cruz espouses does not match what being “American” says to me. And frankly, I don’t think I’d put “American” as number two on the Senator’s list.
If I were making the list, I’d say that Ted Cruz is a radical Conservative first, an extremist Christian second, a Republican third (because that’s the only home for the first two), and an American only insofar as “American” is defined in radicalized conservative christian terms.
Unfortunately (for Mr. Cruz), the President of the United States needs to be the President of all Americans, not just his fellow travelers. That means non-Evangelical Christians, Unitarians, Muslims, Jews, the non-religious, straights, gays, conservatives, liberals, moderates, libertarians, women, men, and everyone else who holds American values dear.
And I’m sorry, Mr. Cruz – but if your opening position is “American second“, you just don’t cut it.
#stampoutstupid