Ted Cruz's fire and pizzaz set him apart from others.
From Politico: By KATIE GLUECK
Rand Paul talked foreign policy. Rick Santorum decried flagging family values. Michele Bachmann called for war on radical Islam.
But it was Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas who captivated the crowd of social conservatives in Washington Friday, again showcasing his appeal with that critical part of the GOP should he run in 2016.
The Values Voter conference offered an early glimpse of what’s sure to be a spirited battle for the allegiance of Christian conservatives in 2016.
In a half-hour speech, the Lone Star State Republican quoted “Amazing Grace” and cited Psalms; Cruz shared a personal story about how his father, who briefly left his family, returned when he found religion; he relayed stories from the Bible. He was introduced by prominent grassroots conservative activist Brent Bozell, who urged, “Run, Ted, Run,” in his remarks. And his speech was punctuated by applause and several standing ovations.
Cruz’s address offered deeply personal ruminations on religion. He said that at one point, his parents were not “people of faith.” They “drank far too much” and had “serious problems with alcohol,” Cruz said, His father, Rafael Cruz — now a fixture on the conservative speaking circuit — briefly left the family when the senator was 3. But he returned, Cruz continued to applause, after beginning to attend church.
“So when anyone asks, ‘Is faith real, is a relationship with Jesus real?’ I can tell you if it were not for my father giving his life to Christ, I would have been raised by a single mother without having my dad in the home,” the first-term senator said. “Every one of us, we have seen first-hand that in utter darkness, hope remains.”
There were tea party activists in attendance at the summit, but the emphasis was less on small government and more on strict social conservatism. The event drew attendees who oppose same-sex marriage, abortion rights and marijuana legislation; who back prayer in schools and free expression of religion, and who are also strong supporters of Israel — attributes shared by many GOP activists in early 2016 states like Iowa.
n his speech, Cruz repeatedly invoked the phrase from Psalms, “Joy comes in the morning,” often receiving “amens” from the audience. And he brought some members of the audience to their feet when he said the Obama administration should not engage in negotiations with Iran until a pastor, imprisoned there, was released.
“Oh, the vacuum of American leadership in the world,” Cruz said. “We need a president who will speak out for people of faith, for prisoners of conscience.”
Tony Perkins, who heads the Family Research Council and its lobbying arm — the latter is the main sponsor of the event — immediately pointed to Cruz when asked which speakers stood out.
“He’s not apologizing,” Perkins said. “Values voters find that refreshing.”
Cruz also dinged “people in Washington who say [for] Republicans to win, [we] have to abandon values.”
When a woman in the crowd yelled out, “No way!” Cruz replied, “You’re exactly right” and posited that America is a center-right country “built on Judeo-Christian values.”
“We stand for life,” he added. “We stand for marriage. We stand for Israel. We bring back jobs and opportunity and unleash small businesses to make it easier for people to achieve the American dream. We abolish the IRS. We repeal Common Core.”
The Texas Republican joined other likely 2016 contenders at the conference, including Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal — who talked about the “miracle of life,” the importance of culture and the American Dream — and former Sen. Rick Santorum, who ran in 2012 and might again. . . [more . . .]