Ted Cruz’s campaign is a little more than 24 hours old and he is already taking on Jeb Bush.
In an interview with conservative radio host Laura Ingraham Tuesday morning, Cruz hit Bush and other potential 2016 candidates over their support immigration reform and amnesty, as well as Common Core, in the past.
After Ingraham told him that Jeb claims to have “the grown up plan” on immigration, Cruz said he hasn’t seen much success amongst politicians “when they treat voters like children,” adding that’s the strategy of President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
INGRAHAM: Do you take Jeb at his word that he’s not about the federal standards? I mean, if you’re going to beat Jeb, you’ve gotta hit Jeb. I mean, the idea that you’re going to beat Jeb Bush and you’re not going to go at Jeb Bush or you’re going to just dance around Jeb Bush — If I’m giving you advice, that’s not going to work. You have to take him on. I mean, big time.
CRUZ: You know, Laura, if my time in Washington has demonstrated anything, it’s that I’m not afraid to take other people on. But I also think at this stage in the race, Jeb is not a declared candidate, and I have a lot of faith that the — in the primary voters that they can detect when a politician is telling the truth and when a politician is blowing smoke. Records are powerful things.
It’s interesting watching all the politicians now who are saying they oppose Common Core when they have long records of supporting it. It’s interesting watching all the politicians who say they oppose amnesty when they have records supporting the Gang of 8 and supporting amnesty.
INGRHAM: Well, Jeb says he has the grown up plan, Senator.
CRUZ: I will say this, I haven’t found — I haven’t seen a whole lot of politicians have success when they treat the voters as children, and I don’t think — that’s a strategy we’ve seen Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton follow, and I think we’re far better off respecting the voters and indeed, I think the key to turning this country around is energizing and mobilizing an army of courageous conservatives all over this country.
INGRHAM: Yes!
