Ted Cruz — Bettendorf town hall very well attended

• Disregard KWQC estimate of 300 in attendance
• Cruz – engaging and clear

According to the owner of the venue over 500 attended the Ted Cruz’ town hall at the Tanglewood Pavilion in Bettendorf. My count was 450 plus, but regardless it was the largest gathering in Scott county for a Republican candidate we witnessed so far this year, surpassing Carson, Rubio, Jindal, Santorum and others as reported to us.

For some reason we expected a cerebral but inspiring presentation in coat and tie by Cruz. Instead his appearance was blue jeans and cowboy boots not unlike Bobby Jindal. His presentation was precise but after a moments thought we realized it is what we should have expected from a Texas senator, and in his case that isn’t a bad thing at all. He was very engaging from the moment he picked up the microphone.

Cruz started out with some of his family history and paid tribute to his parents for their roles in his life. The formal part emphasized three matters he sees as necessary to hold onto America’s promise. As a country we must live within our means,we must live by the Constitution and we must reinstate America’s leadership in the world.

He elaborated on them to some extent but this was a true town hall in that Cruz allowed more time for the question and answer period than an “all about him” speech. Cruz allowed  more time still to “chat” with those who pressed forward to get more of a measure of the man afterwords.

There were a number of quips along the way that we will not do justice to without a recording to transcribe them. So with that disclaimer here are some of Cruz’s comments.

This is a time similar to what Reagan faced — an aggressive Russia and Iran

As regards ISIS he invoked Reagan’s simple solution as to the Cold War . . . we win they lose. The crowd appreciated the sentiment.

Furthering the Reagan analogy he sees reason for hope as disaffected voters came together back then to formulate the Reagan Revolution — conservatives and Reagan Democrats

In stating “If you see a candidate the Washington establishment likes, run from him.” Cruz  didn’t have to authenticate much to maintain he is not liked by the Washington establishment, his reputation precedes him.

He said “If you think the country’s same basic direction should be maintained and that fiddling around the edges will work, I am not your candidate”  He referred to bipartisan corruption and both parties being in bed with lobbyists.

“We are hear because we will not go gently into the night”  resonated well with the crowd

His stump speech was focused on inspirational messages and the need to call forth Reaganesque political momentum. He interspersed it with a couple of quotes from scripture.

Responding to questions from the audience (not in order) :

Term limits? – “yes”  was his reply and the question provided an opening for some more perspective on the Washington establishment

Guns / Second Amendment – he invoked his rating from Gun Owners of America and pointed out that as Solicitor General of Texas he successfully led twenty-sum other states in support of Second Amendment rights before the Supreme Court.  Yes to nationwide concealed carry reciprocity.

“Banning contraceptives?” — By appearances of the questioner and that he was  particularly eager to get his question in – it seemed to be a “seminar” question from the usual suspects. However it was not so loaded as to rate a personal rebuke and Cruz answered it for the record “no” – and went on to ridicule the idea that he would even consider it suggesting he and his wife were not up to “seventeen kids”  (his mother was one of seventeen).  Sensitive to such questions and responses as we are, the answer was adroit in some respects but a little rough around the edges in some minor respects.

Foreign aid — inquiring into Cruz’s philosophy a young man identifying himself as a  Nigerian student described how living in Clinton, Iowa he saw that the city recognized the need to be pro-business. He described Nigeria as a democracy but wholly top-down without such subdivisions of government and oblivious or ignorant of how to initiate business development.  Cruz agreed with his call for “teach a man to fish” approaches and expanded it as to how welfare ought to be practiced in the U.S.   Cruz developed some repport with the questioner by mentioning his wife was the daughter of missionaries and lived in Nigeria and Kenya for awhile.

Immigration was both part of Cruz stump speech but also one that he elaborated on in the question and answer session. Secure the southern border – build the fence posthaste as it is already authorized by law but Obama has refused to do. Regarding his tax reform plan of a simple flat tax he quipped he would send all the freed up IRS agents to man the border as an effective deterrent for illegal border crossing  – who would want to be engaged by IRS agents — or words to that effect.

Cruz pointed out that 40% or more of illegals were not border jumpers put people who overstayed their visas. He would enhance E-verify by employers penalizing those who hire or continue to employ illegals. Visas would entail biometric chips to facilitate deportation. Catch and release of illegals as Obama has done would be ended.

With enhanced security those who cross back and forth (a common practice) would not get back in.  With no jobs for illegals to entice them, illegals would leave because of aggressive  E-verify. Millions would leave for those reasons in short order and any new influx would stop. As regards what to do about “others,” the country would then “only after the measures are implemented ”  “have a conversation about “ the dramatically reduced illegal demographic. By him it would not involve citizenship.

Cruz emphasized several times that he has a detailed plan for dealing with immigration on his campaign web site.  We have previously looked at his plan and find it appropriate to maintain our sovereignty, eliminate illegals from the work force and their unsustainable aggravation of our welfare system.

There was a person handing out a half-page flier castigating Cruz for supporting amnesty.  It is a corruption of the record.  We did not look at the flier in time to quiz the person as to whether he was a partisan Republican operative or Democrat intent on nurturing Republican divisiveness, or what.  No candidate is any stronger or has a more serious plan or a stronger record on stopping illegal immigration and insuring Americas sovereignty and solvency than Ted Cruz.  Not Donald Trump (read some of his statements contradicting presumptions)  or Rick Santorum who is unbecoming in his strident attacks on both. Note we said they are “not stronger,” we have not said they are weak on immigration. This writer appreciates the need to have an aggressive but effective plan.

There are more vignettes that we might offer from Cruz’s town hall. In summation Cruz was well met, clear, inspiring and sober in his comments, respectful of the audience and their intelligence and good humor. He did not criticize any of the other candidates at this event although he has been more responsive elsewhere of late. By the turnout and response – he is popular. I support him.

R Mall

More reading about Cruz’s latest Iowa trip:

Read with a grain or two of salt this NBC article is not too bad:

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