Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz hit back at what he saw as an unfair accusation from Democratic New York Sen. Chuck Schumer that Cruz would allow child pornography on the grounds that it qualifies as free speech, in a Senate Judiciary hearing.
“I understand that in my absence, Sen. Schumer very kindly gave a lecture on civility and encouraged me to not go over the top,” said Cruz.
“He then in the same breath accused me of supporting child pornography,” he continued, adding, “so I appreciate that demonstration in senatorial restraint from the senior senator from New York.”
Earlier in Tuesday’s hearing, which was being held to discuss a constitutional amendment backed by Democrats to overturn the Citizens United ruling, Schumer had pondered the extent of Cruz’s opposition to the amendment. Cruz and other Republicans oppose the amendment on the grounds that it infringes on free speech rights protected by the First Amendment.
Schumer called Cruz’s stance “over-the-top.”
“Are you against anti-child pornography laws?” Schumer asked of Cruz, who was not present in the chamber at the time. “Is he against anti-child pornography laws? Is he an absolutist?” Schumer continued.
He and other Democrats at the hearing argued that limitations can be placed on free speech, such as with child pornography and shouting “Fire!” in a crowded theater.
“Senator Cruz made very specific arguments about how the Democrats’ legislation would open the door to stifling free speech in numerous ways,” Catherine Frazier, a spokeswoman for Cruz, told The Daily Caller.
“But the Democrats offered no response. Instead, Senator Schumer and others made empty rhetorical attacks that did nothing to answer Cruz’s substantial arguments against the proposal that would effectively repeal free speech protections for individual citizens enshrined in the First Amendment,” she added.
The proposed constitutional amendment, which is backed by 42 Democratic senators, would overturn the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United. The ruling allowed organizations such as corporations and unions to donate unlimited amounts to political groups.
At the beginning of the hearing, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke in favor of the amendment by citing what he sees as the unfair influence of Charles and David Koch, two billionaire brothers who back conservative and libertarian causes and other philanthropies.
Cruz responded to those comments as well. (RELATED: Reid Blast Koch Brothers…Again)
“We’ve seen the majority leader repeatedly slandering two private citizens, the Koch brothers, on the floor of the Senate,” said Cruz.
He noted that the top 16 donors listed by the spending watchdog Open Secrets are predominantly supportive of Democrats. The Koch brothers were ranked 59th on that list, according to Cruz.
The Texas senator, who is heavily backed by tea party supporters, also proposed two bills during the hearing.
“Right now the current system we have is stupid,” he said.
The first bill, the super PAC Elimination Act of 2014, “would eliminate the caps on direct contributions to candidates from individuals and also require all donations over $200 to be disclosed within 24 hours.”
“What that would do as a practical matter is make it all transparent and make Super PACs irrelevant,” said Cruz.
The Free Speech Act was also proposed.
It “would require that all restrictions on political speech that apply to individuals also apply to media corporations,” he said, citing large media organizations like NBC and CBS.