Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry has advice for Sens. Rand Paul, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio: Go run for governor before you run for president.
He shared that thought with the Weekly Standard in an interview last week:
“I’ve had more than one individual say, ‘You know what, if you want to be the president of the United States, you ought to go back to your home state and be the governor and get that executive experience before you go lead this country,'” said Perry.
The former governor calls the senators “Marco, Ted, and Rand,” and made sure to say he has “great respect” for the trio. “They are smart as a tree full of owls,” said Perry, “These guys are very, very capable United States senators.”
Perry ran a short, unsuccessful bid for the GOP nomination for president in 2012.
He has signaled he will probably announce a second presidential bid on June 4 near Dallas.
New York City hotelier Ian Reisner posts to his Facebook page tonight:
“I am shaken to my bones by the e-mails, texts, postings and phone calls of the past few days. I made a terrible mistake.
“I was ignorant, naive and much too quick in accepting a request to co-host a dinner with Cruz at my home without taking the time to completely understand all of his positions on gay rights.
“I’ve spent the past 24 hours reviewing videos of Cruz’ statements on gay marriage and I am shocked and angry. I sincerely apologize for hurting the gay community and so many of our friends, family, allies, customers and employees. I will try my best to make up for my poor judgement. Again, I am deeply sorry.”
This is in response to enormous LGBT outrage over hosting a “fireside chat” with virulently anti-gay Sen. Ted Cruz in Reisner’s home a week ago.
I call absolute bullshit. Reisner and Weiderpass are multi-millionaires who makes informed decisions every day. As out businessmen catering to the LGBT community, no less. Bullshit.
The furor in the LGBT community has caused several cancellations at Reisner’s Manhattan hotel, The Out NYC.
UPDATE: Reisner’s fellow quisling has followed suit in begging forgiveness in light of cancellations at their hotel. In my opinion, it is inconceivable that a successful businessman who makes informed decisions every day did not know they were inviting a virulently anti-gay politician into their home for fundraising.
See Mr. Weiderpass’ tag team Reisner’s mea culpa below:
Gay New York City hoteliers Mati Weiderpass and Ian Reisner are feeling the heat having “hosted” virulently anti-gay Sen. Ted Cruz in his home this week. Both have gone into complete crisis management as their gay clientele are outraged.
First, Mati Weiderpass posted this statement:
It seems my informal dinner with the Senator has created a back lash. So there is no misunderstanding, I support gay marriage 100%. I have been a major supporter of gay causes and gay charities for two decades. People on both sides of the aisle need to be able to communicate with one another even when they ideologically disagree. As a Captain in the Army I worked tirelessly for the repeal of “Don’t ask, Don’t Tell”. While serving on the Board of Directors for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network I needed to reach across the aisle to make that happen. The fact that Senator Cruz accepted the invitation to my home was a step in the right direction towards him having a better understanding of who I am and what I believe in. We spent most of the time talking about national security issues and in particular the challenges from ISIS, Iran, and defense of Israel — these are issues for which we did find common ground. However, i did not shy away from the opportunity to ask the Senator about social issues, in particular marriage equality, and made it clear that I completely disagree with him on that issue.
“For my entire adult life, I have been an ardent supporter and activist for gay rights and LGBT organizations worldwide. I was given the opportunity to have a candid conversation with Senator Ted Cruz on where he stood on issues including the state of Israel and national security, which are the only places where we share common ground. It was just three months ago that I hosted a ‘Ready for Hillary’ event for a record turnout of 900 people at The OUT Hotel. Senator Ted Cruz and I disagree strongly on the issue of gay marriage, but having an open dialogue with those who have differing political opinions is a part of what this country was founded on. My tireless support of the gay community and its causes worldwide hasn’t changed and will not change.”
I have to admit that my husband and I make a point of staying at their gay-oriented hotel, The OUT NYC, because we like it and we want to support our own.
But I’m not cool on the idea of my gay dollars going into a presidential campaign of Sen. Ted Cruz. I can stay a LOT of places in NYC.
There seem to be conflicting stories about whether or not this event was a fund raiser or merely a “fireside chat.” Either way, it makes me uncomfortable that more wealthy gays may use my consumer dollars to buddy-up to powerful anti-gay folks just because they can.
UPDATE: A new development today as it appears Reisner hosted a fund-raiser for anti-gay Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin just last week.
Johnson opposes marriage equality, has a 0% on his HRC Congressional Scorecard. Just this week Johnson voted to allow discrimination against LGBT youth.
In a letter published by The American Renewal Project, Sen. Ted Cruz implores evangelicals to pray for “traditional” marriage as SCOTUS takes up the issue of marriage equality next week.
Dear American Pastor,
On Tuesday, April 28, the United States Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in favor of “same-sex marriage.”
How will the American church respond?
The prophet Daniel described the people who know their God as people who do two things: display strength and take action (Daniel 11:32).
How can the church rise to the occasion in this situation? Along with my friend David Lane of the American Renewal Project, I urge you to consider the following –
• Preach about biblical marriage on Sunday, April 26.
We know that marriage is intended to be sacred, beautiful, and nourishing. If you do not influence your congregation’s understanding of marriage, who will fill the void? Hollywood? Divorce courts?
• Lead prayer services on Tuesday, April 28.
Prayer moves our God to intervene in history. Prayer softens our hearts and brings us into alignment with the heart of God. The church has not shared the truth about marriage well: it is time to repent and commit ourselves to courage on this front.
Regardless of what happens in the Supreme Court, or anywhere else, we know that the truth will never be obsolete. The union of man and woman in marriage will always be relevant. People will continue to need marriage, and to desire it – because we are made in the image of God, creatures who value authentic companionship and intimate connection.
That leaves us only one question. Will we be on the right side of history, the side occupied by the Author of history? Otherwise we will fall victim to the fashions of the times.
Will we discard an institution, ordained by God, which has brought so much stability and happiness to the human family? Or will we stand in its support? Rightly or wrongly, the Supreme Court will take a stand on marriage this summer. Let’s take ours now.
God bless America,
Senator Ted Cruz
I will point out that should SCOTUS rule in favor of marriage equality, Cruz’s “traditional” marriage will be left intact and available for all heterosexuals to enjoy. No one will be forced to “discard an institution.” The only difference will be gays and lesbians will be included.
You see how they make themselves victims? It’s all in repeating the same divisive rhetoric over and over.
Sen. Ted Cruz, speaking yesterday at a presidential candidate forum in Iowa, called the opposition to “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” in Indiana and Arkansas last week “jihads:”
“Look at the jihad that is being waged right now in Indiana and Arkansas, going after people of faith who respect the Biblical teaching that marriage is the union of one man and one woman.
“We need to bring people together to the religious liberty values that built this country.
“It wasn’t long ago when this was an area of bipartisan agreement. When it came to the First Amendment we all stood together and said, ‘Of course! Every one of us has God-given right to seek out and worship God.’
“This election needs to be about bringing together that consensus again, and that’s got to come from the people.”
A couple of things here.
1. No one is keeping anyone from “seeking out” or worshipping their God. No one.
Hide, seek. Whatever you want. You get to do it.
2. Hey Ted. I see what you did there. Using the word “jihad” (sounds like one of them there Islamic words, Gladys…), you make it sound as though LGBT advocates are anti-American or something.
RT to congratulate Ted Cruz on being one of millions to sign up for insurance through the Obamacare exchanges: http://t.co/iwqES3BNrU— The Democrats (@TheDemocrats) March 24, 2015
Donald Trump, who famously questioned President Obama’s eligibility to be president, now voices his concerns over whether Sen. Ted Cruz has proper standing to run for the high office.
In a phone interview with My Fox New York, Trump expressed his doubts, “It’s a hurdle. Somebody could certainly look at it very seriously.”
“He was born in Canada,” complained Trump. “If you know, when we all studied our history lessons, you are supposed to be born in this country, so I just don’t know how the courts will rule on this.”
And again, last night with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly he continued, saying it’s “another layer” of concern.
Trump continues to tease with the threat that he himself may run for the 2016 GOP nomination.
Ted Cruz will announce Monday that he will seek the presidency, with a campaign that aims to energize the party’s Tea Party and socially conservative wings.
He will be the first Republican to declare his candidacy.
The freshman senator from Texas is set to announce his intentions in a speech at Liberty University, founded by Jerry Falwell,and which bills itself as the world’s largest Christian university. The Houston Chronicle was the first to report Cruz’s announcement.
Cruz, 44, is just starting the third year of his first Senate term. He is an undisputed leader of the Tea Party movement, known for his brash, uncompromising style and conservative beliefs that target both President Obama as well as his fellow Republicans.
He repeatedly criticizes the “mushy middle” — as reflected by the GOP’s last two presidential nominees Mitt Romney and John McCain — and denounces his fellow Republicans for failing to make bold distinctions with Democrats. “It’s a failed electoral strategy,” Cruz has said.
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas stopped by Late Night with Seth Meyers to talk (rather calmly for Mr. Cruz) about his thoughts on Congress, gay marriage and more.
Seth Meyers does an admirable job of keeping things light but not letting Cruz off the hook.
In the first clip, Cruz talks about reports this weekend that he told a three-year-old girl the world was “on fire” during a political speech.
Sen. Ted Cruz on same-sex marriage, and claims that his “Green Eggs and Ham” filibuster won the Republicans the Senate:
