Republican Party News
Featuring coverage of Republican priorities, legislation, and internal debates, this section examines how the party shapes U.S. politics from a conservative perspective.
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- News
Ted Cruz: ‘I’m Not Trying to Play the Washington Rules, I’m Trying to Change the Rules’
Facing a series of tough questions from Fox News’ Bret Baier tonight, Sen. Ted Cruz defended his actions over the weekend to force a Senate vote to defund President Obama’s executive actions on immigration. “Every single Senate Democrat is now on record supporting the president’s unconstitutional amnesty,” says @SenTedCruz The rare weekend session drew complaints…Daily Signal Staff -
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Ted Cruz, Mike Lee Say They’re Not to Blame for Confirmation of Obama Nominees
As the 113th Congress draws to a close, Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah are facing harsh criticism from colleagues for supposedly opening the door to confirmation of presidential nominees — a claim Lee’s office said is “a complete fabrication.” Through a series of procedural moves, Lee and Cruz tried…Melissa Quinn -
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Ted Cruz Strikes Back: ‘Too Many Republicans Willing to Be Complicit’
In the midst of the debate over a mammoth government spending bill, Republicans and Democrats found something to agree on: their dislike for Sen. Ted Cruz, who forced a rare weekend session for the Senate. But rather than back down, Cruz opted to call out Washington politicians on Sean Hannity’s radio show Monday. “Too many…Rob Bluey -
- Opinion
Tim Scott: Why Marriage Matters for Fighting Poverty
After 50 years of the War on Poverty with little results, it’s time for a new path forward. In a speech at the 2014 Heritage Antipoverty Forum, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., described his vision to lift more Americans out of poverty. Scott’s speech emphasized an often-overlooked factor contributing to opportunity: marriage. He spoke of the…Leslie Ford -
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Conservatives Blast Boehner for Funding ‘Obama’s Amnesty’
Moments after the House narrowly passed a government spending bill, Reps. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, and Matt Salmon, R-Ariz., spoke to Fox News’ Sean Hannity about their opposition. The two outspoken conservatives criticized Republican leaders for advancing a spending plan they say will allow Obama to carry out his executive actions to shield millions of illegal…Daily Signal Staff -
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Ted Cruz: No One Is Above the Law, ‘Especially the President’
The rule of law as outlined in the Magna Carta eight centuries ago remains significant in government even today, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said yesterday in a major foreign policy address at The Heritage Foundation. Even England’s monarch was subject to the law and no one then or now is above it, “especially the president,”…Daily Signal Staff -
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Ted Cruz on Obama’s Foreign Policy: ‘Weakness Is Provocative’
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has surveyed what he calls “the Obama-Clinton foreign policy,” and he does not like what he sees. Speaking Wednesday at The Heritage Foundation, Cruz condemned current policy as “appeasement and moral equivalency.” "When America recedes from the world, the world is more dangerous,” says @SenTedCruz. Said Cruz: “One of the sad…Kate Scanlon -
- Opinion
Rand Paul on Ferguson: ‘I Mostly Blame Politicians’
Sen. Rand Paul castigated politicians in an op-ed today about the unrest in Ferguson, Mo. “In the search for culpability for the tragedy in Ferguson, I mostly blame politicians,” wrote the Kentucky Republican in Time. “Michael Brown’s death and the suffocation of Eric Garner in New York for selling untaxed cigarettes indicate something is wrong…Katrina Trinko -
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Ted Cruz on ‘SNL’ Skit: ‘Really Sums Up What the President Is Doing’
You can count Sen. Ted Cruz as a fan of the “Saturday Night Live” parody of President Obama’s executive action on immigration. On this morning’s “Fox and Friends,” Cruz said the skit “really sums up what the president is doing.” ‘Saturday Night Live’ had the president coming out, pushing the bill down the steps of…Kate Scanlon -
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An Obama Veto of Keystone XL Pipeline Would Be ‘Equivalent of Calling the American People Stupid,’ Boehner Says
House Speaker John Boehner had a firm warning for President Obama this morning: Vetoing a bill approving the Keystone XL pipeline would be the “equivalent of calling the American people ‘stupid.’ ” “Vetoing an overwhelmingly popular bill would be a clear indication that he doesn’t care about the American people’s priorities,” Boehner said. The Ohio…Kelsey Bolar -
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Rand Paul: ‘Dumb’ Focus on Voter ID Could Squander GOP’s ‘Huge Opportunity’ to Win Black Voters
Sen. Rand Paul today said it would be a “dumb idea” for Republicans to focus on voter ID laws because doing so would turn off black voters, whom the GOP has a “huge opportunity” to attract. Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the Kentucky Republican and likely presidential candidate stressed that he supports requiring identification to vote…Josh Siegel -
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Exclusive: Rand Paul Says Obama Thinks He Can ‘Act Like a King’
Taking a break from campaign stops for fellow Republicans, Sen. Rand Paul was back in Washington, D.C., yesterday to deliver a keynote address at The Heritage Foundation’s semiannual President’s Club meeting. Afterward, in an exclusive interview with The Daily Signal, the Kentucky Republican answered questions on President Obama’s plans to implement administrative amnesty following the…Jackie Anderson -
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Caught on Tape: Lindsey Graham Riffs on White Men and Baptists in Leaked Recordings
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who is considering a run for president, was caught on tape at a private gathering this month saying, “White men who are in male-only clubs are going to do great in my presidency.” In the meeting, Graham, a Republican, also joked about Baptists, saying “they’re the ones who drink and…Josh Siegel -
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8 Highlights From Rand Paul’s Foreign Policy Speech
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., delivered a speech on Thursday outlining his foreign policy philosophy. Paul, widely regarded as a potential 2016 presidential candidate, delivered his remarks at the Center for the National Interest, a non-partisan think-tank. “I want to spell out for you what I believe to be the principles of a national security strategy…Kate Scanlon -
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Rand Paul Explains How GOP Can Win A Third of the Black Vote
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., told Politico that the GOP could win one third of the black vote in 2016 by promoting “criminal-justice reform, school choice and economic empowerment.” In a phone interview with Politico, Paul said: If Republicans have a clue and do this and go out and ask every African-American for their vote, I think…Kate Scanlon -
- Opinion
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: Corporations That ‘Sponsor Climate Lies’ Should Get ‘Death Penalty’
In an op-ed published earlier this week for EcoWatch, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called for all organizations that “deliberately, purposefully, maliciously and systematically sponsor climate lies” to undergo the corporate equivalent of the death penalty. “This can be accomplished through an existing legal proceeding known as ‘charter revocation,’” Kennedy wrote. “State Attorneys General can invoke this remedy…Katie Nielsen -
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Opposing John Boehner for Speaker Could Come With Repercussions
Conservatives planning to buck the status quo and oppose the reelection of John Boehner as House speaker have received a warning shot. Sources on Capitol Hill say dissenters could be stripped of their committee assignments should they fail to support the two-term speaker. There haven’t been any public challenges to Boehner, though reports have surfaced…Melissa Quinn -
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Boehner: Ground Troops Needed to Defeat ISIS ‘Barbarians’
House Speaker John Boehner said today the United States should send ground forces to fight the militant Islamic State if no other country does. .@SpeakerBoehner on ISIS: “Somebody’s boots have to be on the ground.” “At the end of the day, I think it’s gonna take more than airstrikes to drive them outta there,” the…Josh Siegel -
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Ted Cruz Slams Obama’s ‘Photo-Op Foreign Policy’
Moments after President Obama spoke to the nation Wednesday night about the threat posed by the Islamic State, Sen. Ted Cruz told Fox News’ Megyn Kelly that the administration’s strategy was insufficient. “The Obama-Clinton foreign policy has been characterized by photo-op foreign policy,” Cruz said. “What has been missing is a concrete military objective to…Daily Signal Staff -
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How Ted Cruz Would Defeat ISIS
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Sunday he hopes President Obama seeks congressional approval in taking military action against the Islamic State, the terrorist group also known as ISIS or ISIL. Obama’s ISIS military action ‘absolutely’ needs congressional approval, says @SenTedCruz “What we ought to have is a direct, concerted, overwhelming air campaign to take them…Josh Siegel