Just days after his hyper-conservative performance at the Republican presidential debate, Ted Cruz traveled to New Hampshire today to file for the First in the Nation Primary. While Cruz may appeal to the extremists and Tea Partiers of the GOP, his extremely out-of-touch and out-of-date views are wrong for America.

“Ted Cruz’s extreme Tea Party vision for the country is not in line with the New Hampshire voters or the American people,” said Daniel Wessel, Press Secretary with Correct The Record. “His presidential bid appeals to a small sect of the far, far right-wing, the kind of voters who supported Cruz’s pointless crusade to shut down the government when he was first elected.”

Ted Cruz’s radical positions reveal that he:

• Supports dismantling Social Security and Medicare as we know them;
• Opposes universal background checks for gun buyers;
• Supported forcing the U.S. to default on its debt;
• Spearheaded the 2013 government shutdown;
• Opposes a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants;
• Supports taking health insurance away from millions of Americans.

Unlike Ted Cruz and the Republican presidential field, Hillary Clinton is fighting for the American people, working tirelessly to solve the problems that keep them up at night.

For more on Ted Cruz’s extreme vision to create an unrecognizable America, see Correct The Record’s analysis below:

Ted Cruz’s Unrecognizable America

Government Defaults 

2013: Ted Cruz voted against legislation that averted “a financial default [of United States debt] with potentially worldwide economic repercussions.” “Congressional Republicans conceded defeat on Wednesday in their bitter budget fight with President Obama over the new health care law as the House and Senate approved last-minute legislation ending a disruptive 16-day government shutdown and extending federal borrowing power to avert a financial default with potentially worldwide economic repercussions. […] While Mr. Cruz conceded defeat, he did not express contrition. ‘Unfortunately, the Washington establishment is failing to listen to the American people,’ he said as he emerged from a meeting of Senate Republicans called to ratify the agreement.” [New York Times, 10/16/13; Senate roll call vote 219, 10/16/13]

• 2013: Ted Cruz supported forcing the U.S. to default on its debt and partially shut down the government just days after being sworn in. “By Cruz’s stratagem, the GOP would ‘win’ if House Republicans refuse to raise the debt ceiling next month, causing the nation to default and forcing a partial government shutdown. ‘As a result of (the 1995) shutdown, we saw year after year of balanced budget at the federal level,’ Cruz said, ‘and we saw some of the most fiscally responsible federal spending policies this Congress has ever produced.’” [San Antonio Express-News, 1/5/13]

2015: Ted Cruz voted against legislation to prevent the U.S. government from defaulting on its debts. “The Senate passed a two-year budget deal early Friday that would prevent the U.S. government from defaulting on its debts next week and help avert a potential government shutdown in December. Senators voted 64-35 to approve the legislation shortly after 3 a.m.” [USA Today, 10/30/15; Senate roll call vote 294, 10/30/15]

 

Gun Laws

Ted Cruz signed a letter affirming that he would “oppose any legislation” that would subject gun owners to government surveillance. “We, the undersigned, intend to oppose any legislation that would infringe on the American people’s constitutional right to bear arms, or on their ability to exercise this right without being subjected to government surveillance. The Second Amendment to the Constitution protects citizens’ right to self-defense. It speaks to history’s lesson that government cannot in in all places at all times, and history’s warning about the oppression of a government that tries. We will oppose the motion to proceed to any legislation that will serve as a vehicle for any additional gun restrictions.” [United States Senate letter – signed by Sen. Ted Cruz, 3/22/13]

Ted Cruz introduced a bill “that would increase the resources devoted to prosecuting gun-law violations” instead of strengthening gun control laws. “Cruz didn’t back down from his stance against universal background checks for gun buyers, a measure that was debated but ultimately voted down by the Senate earlier in 2013. ‘Do you target violent criminals, or do you try to take away the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens?’ Cruz asked, touting an alternative bill he offered that would increase the resources devoted to prosecuting gun-law violations.” [CBS News, 11/9/13]

 

Nuclear Nonproliferation

Ted Cruz voted multiple times for legislation that would undo the nuclear deal that would “prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon without taking military action.” “Nuclear physicists, military officials, non-proliferation experts, and more than 100 countries across the globe have all voiced their support for the Iran nuclear deal because it is the best solution available to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon without taking military action.” [The White House, accessed 11/10/15; Senate roll call vote 264, 9/10/15; Senate roll call vote 265, 9/15/15; Senate roll call vote 267, 9/17/15]

• PolitiFact rated Ted Cruz’s claim that the “Iran Deal will facilitate and accelerate the nation of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons” as “False.” “Cruz said, ‘The Iran Deal will facilitate and accelerate the nation of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.’ The Iran deal may be less than perfect, but experts say it’s hard to see how implementing the agreement — rather than doing nothing at all — would actually ‘facilitate and accelerate’ an Iranian nuclear weapon. The worst-case scenario would be that the deal throws up a couple years’ worth of roadblocks that would not exist otherwise. We rate the claim False.” [PolitiFact, 9/10/15]

 

Women’s Right to Choose

Ted Cruz “would allow abortion only in cases in which the mother’s life is in jeopardy.” “Cruz would allow abortion only in cases in which the mother’s life is in jeopardy: ‘I think that every human life is a precious gift from God and should be protected in law from conception until natural death.’” [San Antonio Express-News, 10/28/12]

Ted Cruz supported legislation that defined life as beginning at conception. “With the general election now past, come January several newly elected pro-life champions will be joining the fight on Capitol Hill for a Life at Conception Act. One of those champions will be Ted Cruz from Texas whose strong support for the Life at Conception Act contributed to his success.” [Pro Life Alliance, 11/9/12]

 

Social Security and Medicare

Ted Cruz “echo[ed] support for” George W. Bush’s proposal to privatize Social Security. “Some Republicans, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, still echo support for private savings accounts. The George W. Bush proposal would have allowed younger workers to divert a share of their Social Security payroll taxes for personal investment accounts, but the president failed to win over reluctant Republicans.” [Wall Street Journal, 11/10/15]

Ted Cruz supported increasing the Medicare retirement age and transitioning it to a “premium support” voucher system. “Q: How would you put Medicare on stronger financial ground and protect today’s seniors and future retirees from the burden of rising health costs? A: We must save Medicare by gradually increasing the eligibility age and by moving to a premium support system that expands choices for seniors, opens up innovation, and utilizes market forces to rein in healthcare costs.” [AARP Senate Voter Guide, 8/24/12]