Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz attempted to temper his brash and bombastic public statements on gay marriage when questioned at a private New York fundraiser by a Republican donor who supports gay rights.
Audio of the exchange was obtained by Politico and in it, Cruz says that “fighting gay marriage” would not be a “top three priority” for his administration. Cruz's remarks contradict what he told NPR in June, that fighting gay marriage would be his absolute top priority as president. Cruz went on to equivocate his position, saying, “defending the constitution is a top priority.” He also on trumpeted his support for so-called “religious liberty” while also attacking the Supreme Court justices who were in favor of legalizing gay marriage as “5 unelected judges”, a trope Cruz is known to favor.
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Here's the full exchange:
Male questioner: “Can I ask you a question? So, I'm a big supporter. And the only issue I really disagree with you about is gay marriage. And I'm curious: Given all the problems that the country's facing — like ISIS, the growth of government — how big a priority is fighting gay marriage going to be to a Cruz administration?”
Cruz: “My view on gay marriage is that I'm a constitutionalist and marriage is a question for the states. And so I think if someone wants to change the marriage laws of their state, the way to do so is convince your fellow citizens — and change them democratically, rather than five unelected judges. … Being a constitutionalist is integral to my approach to every other issue. So that I'm very devoted to.”
Same questioner: “So would you say it's like a top-three priority for you — fighting gay marriage?”
Cruz: “No. I would say defending the Constitution is a top priority. And that cuts across the whole spectrum — whether it's defending [the] First Amendment, defending religious liberty, stopping courts from making public policy issues that are left to the people. …
“I also think the 10th Amendment of the Constitution cuts across a whole lot of issues and can bring people together. People of New York may well resolve the marriage question differently than the people of Florida or Texas or Ohio. … That's why we have 50 states — to allow a diversity of views. And so that is a core commitment.”
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The recording was provided to POLITICO by an attendee at the fundraiser, held Dec. 9 at the Sullivan & Cromwell law firm on Madison Avenue. The contribution levels were $10,800 to be on the host committee, $2,700 to attend a VIP reception, and $1,000 for lunch. The donors were generally moderate to liberal on social issues, and largely conservative on fiscal and national-security issues. […]
A well-known Republican operative not affiliated with a 2016 campaign said by email when sent Cruz's quote: “Wow. Does this not undermine all of his positions? Abortion, Common Core — all to the states? … Worse, he sounds like a slick D.C. politician — says one thing on the campaign trail and trims his sails with NYC elites. Not supposed to be like that.”
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, whose poll numbers have been circling the gutter as of late, swiped at Cruz, who has been rising in national polls, for his remarks on Twitter. Huckabee tweeted, “If marriage & sanctity of life are truly issues of principle-not politics-there shouldn't be geographical boundaries to what's right & wrong.”
Should conservatives support a corporately-funded candidate that says one thing at a Manhattan fundraiser & another at a Marshaltown church?
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) December 23, 2015
Shouldn't candidates be expected to have authenticity & consistency, instead of looking at a map to decide what to believe & what to say?
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) December 23, 2015
If marriage & sanctity of life are truly issues of principle-not politics-there shouldn't be geographical boundaries to what's right & wrong
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) December 23, 2015
Listen to audio of Cruz's exchange with the pro-gay Republican donor, below.
