On radio this morning, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) joined Glenn to discuss his fight to ensure those responsible for the IRS targeting of conservatives are held accountable, how he is holding up in the face of all the criticism, and why he believes the Democrats are “running scared.”
It has been nine months since the Department of Treasury Inspector General concluded the IRS had improperly targeted conservative and TEA Party groups. President Obama promised to hold feet to the fire and get to the bottom of the corruption, but no one has been indicted.
Instead, the person leading the investigation at the Department of Justice is an Obama campaign donor, and the FBI has publically said it does not plan on bringing charges against anyone involved. In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, Sen. Cruz asked that a special prosecutor with “meaningful independence” be appointed to investigate the criminal conduct. Ultimately, Sen. Cruz believes the American people deserve answers so that they can be sure it will never happen again.
“The IRS scandal… really bothers me because the people on our side of the aisle – there are very few that are really making this into the deal it should be made into,” Glenn said. “And if this were reversed, people would be crying bloody murder – as they should be. I would be on their side.”
As Sen. Cruz explained, abuse of power shouldn’t be a partisan issue. In fact, it should be something that unites the left and right, but in the case of the IRS that just doesn’t seem to be the case.
“Abuse of power for partisan ends is wrong no matter who is doing it,” Sen. Cruz said. “Not long ago a left-leaning law professor who voted for Barak Obama, Jonathan Turley, testified before the House of Representatives… He said Barak Obama has become the epitome of the imperial presidency. Barak Obama has become the president Richard Nixon always wished he could be.
“And as you know, when Nixon tried to use the IRS to go after his political enemies… there was bipartisan outrage. He was condemned by the media with front-page headlines over and over. And he was rightly condemned,” he continued. “The Obama Administration didn't just try. It succeeded… And it ought to upset everybody, not just Republicans but Democrats, independents, anyone who cares about rule of law. We should not have the federal government trying to stifle political opposition.”
You can learn more about what Sen. Cruz is demanding HERE.
Whenever someone running for office comes on the program, Glenn asks this question: How is your soul? Today, Glenn asked Sen. Cruz a variation of that question. While the media, the left, and even members of the Republican Party continuing to hammer away, Glenn asked Senator Cruz how he is holding up.
“My soul is at peace. I'm doing great, Glenn. There is not a day that I don't jump out of bed because the challenges we're facing right now – our nation is in jeopardy. We're bankrupting this country. The most common thing I hear… is: I'm scared for the future of this country. I'm scared that my kids and grandkids aren't going to have the freedom and opportunity that I had. And that threat is real,” Sen. Cruz said. “So I jump out of bed every day excited and thrilled to have the chance, hopefully, to stand up and fight – to do something about it, to stand up and play some role helping mobilize the American people to pull this country back from the brink. What an extraordinary privilege to have the opportunity for all of us to play a part in saving this nation we love so much.”
When it comes to the 2014 midterms, Glenn is quite impressed with the field of principled, articulate, and passionate candidates he has had the opportunity to speak with over the last few months. More importantly, getting just a couple of the candidates elected could really change the debate in Washington.
“I have never seen a group of candidates as good as the candidates are right now,” Glenn said. “I mean I was excited when we found you and Rand and Mike, and I was like, ‘Hey, if we get these three guys in.’ But there's more coming. We have some good candidates, [and] I don't see the good candidates with the Democrats.”
“I think the Democrats are running scared right now because their agenda has failed,” Sen. Cruz concluded. “The country has the lowest workforce participation since 1978. Millions of people have lost their jobs, lost their health care, are hurting because of the failed Obama agenda. And I think the terrain is very favorable for Republicans to retake the Senate in November, if we stand for principle. That's what we've got to do.”
Watch the entire interview below: