Ted Cruz: The Next Big Thing?

Every now and then a new candidate is paraded around as the Next Big Thing and the political class salivates. For Democrats, there are the inevitable comparisons to JFK. For Republicans, the new kid on the block is always “The New Reagan.”

They usually fail to live up to the hype, partly because our icons themselves are much more flawed than we’d like to admit, but mostly because when their supposed heirs-apparent get dropped like a hockey puck before the electorate, they generally fail to score as big as their admirers had hoped.

The reason many folks like Sarah Palin is less because of her record than because she represents the long sought-for New Republican. Nobody’s sure what sort of animal this is. P.J. O’Rourke wrote a book a while back called “Republican Party Reptile” which tried to define a new, relaxed carefree and partying Republican. Sounds good for the happy hours, but how exactly does that help conservatives win? Or lead to a better policy?

And then of course, there’s the long sought ideal “ethnic Republican” – the one who’s supposedly going to bring vast groups of new people to the Republican Party. As if conservatives really need – or want – voters shallow enough to vote for someone based on race. 

I personally find the idea of a race-based litmus test for office to be offensive and obnoxious, regardless of whether you’re voting for or against someone because of their skin color. But other people do consider ethnicity, and many in the Republican ranks would argue that just running a candidate to whom non-traditional GOP voters will open up can do electoral wonders. Start a dialogue now, they say, seal the deal later.

The problem with this attitude is that it generally promotes mediocre people. I remember the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the black aviators of World War II, and how the impossible standards set by a racist white society ironically forged them into an elite, professional unit. Not that I’m arguing for that, but the Republican “Quick, find a Black or Hispanic guy and put him on the ballot!” attitude runs the risk of doing the exact opposite, and giving us some real duds. 

But give me someone who’s qualified – regardless of ethnicity – and that trait trumps everything.

This brings me to a new emerging candidate in the Texas GOP, someone who can make those ethnic piners swoon, but who could also quote Alexis de Tocqueville and Friedrich Hayek all day long for folks like me. Someone who’s strong on fundamentals like the necessity of individual liberty and free markets to a prosperous economy. Someone who believes that there are such things as objective, rational truth and principles, not just a dartboard full of policy choices representing the issues of the day.

That candidate is Ted Cruz, and he’s currently running for Texas Attorney General. Cruz is the only candidate so far angling to get into the ring which is expected to open up after his former boss, Attorney General Greg Abbott leaves.

I’ve been watching Cruz since 2005 at least, when he was serving as Texas’ Solicitor General and gave a speech at the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s legislative orientation. When he makes his case, he instantly comes off as the smartest guy in the room, all while exuding a surplus of confidence that’s dramatically short on ego. 

Cruz has experience in tough fights. He has represented Texas numerous times before the U.S. Supreme Court, and can hold his own in any format. (Watch him here, debating the D.C. gun ban).

Ted’s been getting a whole lot of notice recently. The National Review recently ran a piece extolling him as a rising star for the Republican Party. More recently, one of their online editors wrote an almost sycophantic personal testament to Cruz’ potential. 

As a journalist, I try to be skeptical, specifically when I feel my personal views get in the way of objectivity. I liked the guy when I met him, sure. But heck, I liked Victor Morales when I interviewed him, so what does that mean? 

And as someone who dismisses the whole need for “ethnic candidates” – Cruz is Hispanic, if you care – I really want to find a reason to burst these people’s bubble and say that you know, once you strip away the allure of a Spanish surname, or the fact that his dad was a poor refugee immigrant, there’s really not that much here.

The problem is, with Cruz I can’t do that. At first I thought that, yeah, he may be good as a legal arguer, but where does he stand on the panorama of political issues that will face an elected official – whether as Attorney General or in some other capacity should he aspire to such an office. (Whether he does or not, there are plenty of people who are already aspiring for him). 

But when you study his speeches, his writings and his arguments in the courtroom, the clues all point back to a unifying theme, a pattern of unitary, logical and consistent thought that can serve as a shell for just about any issue. If you start from the principles of individual liberty and personal responsibility – and stick to them – then all the other things follow. 

So yes, Cruz can say that he believes in the importance of the family, limited government or the right to keep and bear arms, but you knew he was going to say that because that’s the natural conclusion of his entire philosophy. 

Other candidates may have to pull out note cards before a speech or check the latest polls on an issue to figure out where they stand. But if you’re grounded in principle, you can give the answer in your sleep, because there’s only one right answer – the one dictated by that principle. For someone with a keen and logical mind like Cruz, that kind of consistency to be expected. Give him 15 minutes with Mr. Spock and he’d convince a Vulcan to vote pro-life.

It’s a long time between now and the election, so anything could happen. Another great candidate could emerge to vie with Cruz in either the primary or general election, so TRN is certainly not endorsing now. But what I can say is that Cruz is the real deal. As you know, it takes a lot of factors to make the next big thing in politics. But we don’t need more politicians, we need more statesman. Ted Cruz may very well have what it takes to be the next big one of those.