Sen. Cruz Critiques Democrats Over Government Shutdown
During his appearance on FNC’s “Hannity,” Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) expressed his belief that the Democrats’ reluctance to reopen the federal government stems from two main issues. He pointed to the internal politics of the Democrats and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) push to extend healthcare benefits to undocumented immigrants.
“I think a major reason for the Democrats’ dwindling chances of regaining control of the House is, quite frankly, their long-standing commitment to extreme positions,” Cruz stated. “They haven’t learned anything from the 2024 election. They’ve taken a stance on nearly every issue, consistently siding with the extreme minority while neglecting the middle class and everyday workers. This shutdown results from two main motivations: first, their eagerness to provide free medical care for illegal immigrants. That’s just not moderate; it’s the extreme end of the spectrum. They’re ready to put the government on hold over this.”
Cruz elaborated, “More importantly, this situation reflects Schumer’s political struggle. Earlier this year, he was almost ousted when Democrats chose to prolong the government closure. He’s feeling pressure from figures like AOC, who are closely watching him. The current shutdown is due to Schumer attempting to prove his allegiance to the radical left, wanting to show he shares their disdain for Donald Trump. It’s frustrating, to say the least. Today, we attempted for the ninth time to vote for government reopening. Republicans were on board; Democrats consistently opposed it. I suspect the shutdown may persist for at least another week due to the planned rally this Saturday. The Democratic Party seems intent on catering to the radical left, worrying that reopening will lead to severe backlash from their extremists.”
“To all the federal employees who missed their paychecks today, October 15th, you have Schumer and the Democrats to thank for prioritizing their radical agenda over your livelihood,” he added. “Moreover, most Democrats will still receive their pay. Under the 20th Amendment, their salaries cannot be altered during their term, so they will still get paid. I, along with several other Republicans, have reached out to the Senate Secretary requesting that our paychecks be withheld until the shutdown ends. I won’t accept any funds until then. This affects not only federal staff but also our service members. Despite all this, the Democrats are acting hypocritically. Political tantrums like this turn voters off, which likely explains the decline in their approval ratings you’ve mentioned.”
