Today I have a new column out in Townhall.com discussing my thoughts on the “Gang of Eight’s” so-called immigration reform bill.
Here is an excerpt:
“America is a nation of immigrants, built by immigrants and we need to honor that heritage by fixing our broken immigration system, while upholding the rule of law and championing legal immigration,” said Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) in a statement last week when offering an amendment to the Schumer-Rubio immigration bill.
Cruz, the son of a legal Cuban immigrant, is absolutely correct.
Immigration is the foundation of this great nation. Millions of immigrants from all over the world have flocked here to better their lives. Anyone who comes here and becomes American can make it if they work hard and realize their full potential. That is why legal immigration must be encouraged.
Sadly, lawmakers are more interested in trading our sovereignty for votes and political favors a la amnesty.
We often hear a lot of talk about how “divisive” social issues are or how “extreme” conservatism is. Some individuals-either out of fear or sheer disdain for conservatism-feel inclined to tell us to abandon traditional values despite them being in line with limited government.
Pro-freedom, pro-life, and pro-family? Goodness gracious – you must be a fascist! (Thank you, revisionist history.)
Many conservatives like incoming Heritage Foundation president Jim DeMint have made the case for constitutional, sound conservatism.
What is sound conservatism, and how does it ensure our movement’s success?
Princeton University professor and renowned scholar Robert P. George observed that economic and social conservatism are synonymous. I discussed this topic in a November 2011 blog post:
He writes, “Sound conservatism, as a matter of principle and not mere pragmatism, will honor limited government, restrain spending, and provide honest money and low taxes — while at the same time upholding the sanctity of human life in all stages and conditions; the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife; and the innocence of children.”
During a speech at CPAC 2013, incoming Heritage Foundation president Jim DeMint had this to say about sound conservatism:
Economic and social conservatism go hand-in-hand. They’re natural allies. Strong families, churches and voluntary institutions build strong character and economic independence. And government must always remember we are endowed by our creator with life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That is true for you and me, and it is true for the unborn. When government understands its limited role, it can be smaller, people can be freer and our economy can create prosperity for everyone. And when government grows larger with programs like Obamacare that consume so much of our lives, it tramples on both economic freedom and religious liberty. This has united conservatives of all stripes to fight to end Obamacare so we can all be free to live our own lives.
When people call for the removal of social issues from the conservative movement, they are essentially telling the majority of constitutional conservatives-including fiscal conservatives-to shut up and give into so-called pragmatism. This should cause you great distress…
Those of us who believe in sound conservatism cannot allow the dilution of values to take place. It is our duty to champion limited government, the sanctity of life, marriage, fiscal sanity, strong national defense, American sovereignty, personal responsibility, reverence for the Constitution, and individual rights.
My fellow conservative Hobbits and wacko-birds: Principles, not pragmatism, always win.
The 113th Congress was sworn in this past week. Divided government still dominates in the nation’s capital (Democrats still control the presidency and the U.S. Senate), and President Obama promises to be more partisan and equally tyrannical in his second term. Nevertheless, my generation should look forward to the addition of Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) to the 113th Congress.
Cruz, a conservative champion and fearless defender of the Constitution, promises to be a much-needed conservative voice in the U.S. Senate. With Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) resigning to assume Ed Feulner’s post at Heritage Foundation, Cruz will likely take over DeMint’s role as the stalwart conservative voice in this respective chamber.
Earlier this morning on Fox News Sunday Cruz said, “I don’t think what Washington needs is more compromise. I think what Washington needs is more common sense and more principle.”
He also criticized the nomination of former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel to the Secretary of Defense post citing his long-track record of being anti-Israel and being a detriment to healthy U.S.-Israel relations.
If you haven’t watched the entire interview, you can view it below.
A few days earlier, Senator Cruz published a column in the Washington Post urging Republicans to promote “opportunity conservatism.”
He writes, “So let me suggest an alternative course: opportunity conservatism. Republicans should conceptualize and articulate every domestic policy with a single-minded focus on easing the ascent up the economic ladder.”
Cruz adds, “That does not mean adopting the wealth-redistribution policies of the left. Among other problems, collectivist approaches to our economy simply do not work. They fail to produce economic prosperity or to improve the material conditions of the populace. And they lead to bankruptcy and economic collapse, as Europe demonstrates daily.”
And then he finishes with this point: “Why do millions of people from all over the world come to the United States? Because no other nation has offered such opportunity. Nowhere else can so many come with nothing and achieve anything.”
Senator Ted Cruz understands the problems that my generation faces. As a first-generation American born to a Cuban father, Cruz notions that freedom and prosperity-not welfare and government handouts-best uplift people.
As a young person, I’m largely drawn to Ted Cruz and his conservatism because like him, I’m also a first-generation American born to immigrant parents. (My parents are from the Baltic Republic of Lithuania. They escaped from it before the USSR collapsed.) Additionally, Cruz knows how to articulate conservatism and win arguments by clearly stating the problems we face and how to solve them. If young people are looking for a serious leader, then Ted Cruz is the right guy to confide in.
Welcome to Washington, D.C., Senator Cruz! My generation is counting on you.
Today I have a new column out in Townhall.com discussing my thoughts on the “Gang of Eight’s” so-called immigration reform bill.
