Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told attendees at a Family Research Council pastors retreat:
"This year, I'm sorry to tell you, the United States Senate is going to be voting on a constitutional amendment to repeal the First Amendment."

Scratch Senator Cruz off my list of viable 2016 presidential candidates.

I'll not cast my vote based on emotion, innuendo or half truths or for a candidate that relies on fear mongering to influence opinions. This over the top rhetoric serves only to instil fear and elicit a knee jerk emotional response. More to the point, Senate Joint Resolution 19: Constitutional Amendment, to which Mr. Cruz refers, does not "repeal" the First Amendment. Infringe upon, perhaps. Repeal, no.

Had the Senator rationally explained the proposed amendment was an attempt by the left to negate any perceived advantage the right might have in campaign contributions and expenditures, that the amendment had zero chance of passage and that the left will parade its failure to pass as proof corporations and money control the political right, I might look upon Senator Cruz more favourably.

Had the Senator acknowledged that money in politics is a problem and laid out a plan to provide full disclosure of contributions and expenditures, tracing every dollar back to the original donor, in real time, thus eliminating the dark money thing, he might have moved up a notch on my list. Instead Sen. Cruz takes a page out of President Obama's play book: Just wind 'em up and turn 'em loose.

May, 2014