Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, found little love in the press Tuesday after he reversed course on his previous support for a bill that would grant President Obama “Fast Track” authority to approve major international trade bills
The 2016 Republican presidential candidate said in an op-ed that he changed his previous position on Congress’ Trade Promotion Authority because the legislation had become too enmeshed in backroom deals and corruption.
Both left- and right-leaning media immediately branded his announcement as an all-too-obvious political flip-flop.
“We’ve hit peak Ted Cruz,” Real Clear Politics’ Rebecca Berg said on social media, directing her followers to Cruz’s anti-TPA op-ed and a pro-TPA op-ed, titled “Putting Congress in Charge on Trade,” that the Texas senator co-authored with Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., in April.
The Hill characterized the senator’s shift on trade as an “about-face.”
“Ted Cruz, ever the wave-maker, now says he’ll vote against fast track despite love of free trade,” said the Wall Street Journal’s Gerald Seib.
“Ted Cruz … uses his vote as leverage on an unrelated piece of legislation,” the Daily Mail’s Francesca Chambers added.
Elsewhere, Commentary’s Jonathan Tobin suggested that by being for it before he was against it, Cruz basically pulled a “John Kerry” on the trade deal.
Commentary’s Noah Rothman chimed in by referring to Cruz’s change of heart as a “naked flip-flop on trade in order to secure some temp political gain.”
Sen. Orin Hatch, R-Utah, even took a dig at Cruz’s reversal, telling reporters, “When people run for president you really can expect some very bizarre things.”
Cruz explained his switch, asking in the op-ed, “Why does Republican Leadership always give in to the Democrats? Why does Leadership always disregard the promises made to the conservative grassroots?”
“Enough is enough. I cannot vote for TPA unless McConnell and Boehner both commit publicly to allow the Ex-Im Bank to expire—and stay expired. And, Congress must also pass the Cruz-Sessions amendments to TPA to ensure that no trade agreement can try to back-door changes to our immigration laws.”
He concluded that absent these assurances, he’d have no choice but to vote “no.”
“There’s too much corporate welfare, too much cronyism and corrupt dealmaking, by the Washington cartel,” he wrote. “For too long, career politicians in both parties have supported government of the lobbyist, by the lobbyist, and for the lobbyist — at the expense of the taxpayers. It’s a time for truth. And a time to honor our commitments to the voters.”
The Senate voted 60-37 Tuesday to “start the clock” on a series of votes that would move the bill to Obama’s desk just before the July 4 recess.
“Trade clears Senate hurdle, despite Cruz backing out,” the Texas Tribune noted.
The Huffington Post’s Igor Bobic wondered, “So Ted Cruz’s flip was for nothing? Or is he trying to play the House.”
Berg responded by taking a slight dig at some of Cruz’s more fervent and unwavering supporters, tweeting, “He was taking a BOLD STAND, Igor.”
