Glenn Beck: Rand Paul vs. Ted Cruz: Who is the better 2016 candidate?

[compromise]

http://www.glennbeck.com/2014/02/17/rand-paul-vs-ted-cruz-who-is-the-better-2016-candidate/

On radio this morning, Glenn, Pat, and Stu used the clip as a jumping off point to examine the potential 2016 GOP field. Glenn decided to narrow the debate to Sen. Cruz and his compatriot Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY). Who has the better chance of winning?

“Look, they’re making this into a bad thing. You know, he has a high tolerance for personal pain. That’s a good thing! That’s a good thing,” Glenn said. “Now, the question is: Can you win? In a straight-up Rand Paul/Ted Cruz, had to elect today, which one has the best shot of winning?”

Stu picked Sen. Cruz in a hypothetic election against Democrat Hillary Clinton because he believes libertarianism will be painted as an extremist ideology.

I think when it comes down to a general election, there’s a chance they will attempt to paint libertarianism as completely insane. So I think I’ll go Ted Cruz,” Stu explained. “I think they are both great, and I’d be happy with both of them.”

While Glenn agrees that Sen. Paul’s libertarian background could be used against him, he actually believes Sen. Paul is better positioned within the Republican Party than Sen. Cruz.

“Here’s what’s interesting: Rand Paul is actually positioning himself within the party as more of a GOP guy. But he has this view because of his dad and because [of] who he is as a libertarian,” Glenn said. “Where you have Ted Cruz actually positioning himself against the GOP, but he is viewed as the establishment, or closer to the establishment GOP… You look at him and he is white shirt, red tie, blue suit. He seems like the GOP guy, if you put them side-by-side, compared to Rand Paul. But Rand Paul is behaving more like a GOP guy than Ted Cruz is. It’s fascinating.”

Sen. Cruz will most likely be painted as a religious zealot who is part of the ‘war on women,’ while Sen. Paul will be seen as racists for his position on the Civil Rights Act. Stu believes Sen. Paul will struggle more in the primary because he will find himself surrounded by a group of conservatives that have dramatically different positions on certain issues.

“It’s interesting because I feel like with Rand Paul you have a different government philosophy than we’ve had in either of the two major parties for a long time. Rand Paul is legitimately a libertarian for the most part and that’s different than what we’ve had. And he will be able to talk a game that might connect with some people on war and stuff that I think will be successful with some,” Stu said. “I think he’s going to have a tough time with that in the primary. When you have five conservatives going after him on issues of defense, it’s going to be tough for him to get out of that. He’s good, so I think he’ll have a chance. But it’s a tough argument. You saw what Ron Paul did in that argument.”

“I think he’ll connect because he has not played that game,” Glenn interjected. “That’s not who he is. He isn’t his father. He will be able to connect with the universities and the university students in a completely different way.”

Ultimately, the guys agreed that it is necessary to avoid another 2008 or 2012 where a weak candidate emerges from a belabored primary fight.

“I can tell you: TheBlaze is going to go through enormous growth in the next two years, enormous growth. We won’t be alone in this, but I think we will be able to really impact culture and what’s going on in the country,” Glenn concluded. “Everybody keeps saying: If we don’t win the Hispanics, or if we don’t win this, or if we don’t win that. How about winning the truth… because they can’t hide anymore.”

 

[FriedChicken]

Its obvious that everything that can be used against them will be used against them. I can't tell if I'm biased but I think Ted Cruz wouldn't stand much of a chance in the general. He has never held a position that made a lefty say "As bad as I hate it, I'm with Cruz on this one" while Rand has several issues like that.

Rand's foreign policy will be more appealing in the general as well. But those are issues I guess and people don't often vote based on issues.

 

[cajuncocoa]

It will be interesting to see what everyone's favorite talk show host does with this. He can elevate Cruz with his audience if he wants to do so, and Cruz is a better match for those neocons (and their leader).

 

[thequietkid10]

Rand has fewer enemies and more crossover appeal IMO Cruz would be stronger with the traditional GOP base. (or at least elements of it)

 

[compromise]

It will be interesting to see what everyone's favorite talk show host does with this. He can elevate Cruz with his audience if he wants to do so, and Cruz is a better match for those neocons (and their leader).

If you watch the video (at the link), Beck seemed to be for Rand over Cruz.

 

[cajuncocoa]

If you watch the video (at the link), Beck seemed to be for Rand over Cruz right now.

Fixed your post.

 

[serenityrick]

If you watch the video (at the link), Beck seemed to be for Rand over Cruz.

Which tells you a lot. I listen to Beck while at work every day and he haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaates Mitch McConnell. If he wasn't all in on Rand (or at least, most of the way there), he would absolutely excoriate Rand on his endorsement of McConnell. But just like everyone on these forums, he realizes that Rand is positioning himself for a 2016 run and doing what he has to do (as long as principles aren't betrayed along the way).

I agree with thequietkid about Rand having more crossover appeal than Cruz.. as for fewer enemies, that will change rather quickly since he started taking on the Clinton's, haha. But in terms of the media coverage.. his gamble on that seems to be working. There is *some* introspective from the democrats about the 'war on women' angle ever since he brought it up.

As for the civil rights stuff. I think once he's given a chance to talk to the public about it on a national stage he'll win over a lot of people. That goes for almost any topic to be honest.

 

[jllundqu]

Glenn sells out Rand Paul in

4...
3...
2...

 

[serenityrick]

Glenn sells out Rand Paul in

4...
3...
2...

Beck's been consistent on his opinion of Rand Paul ever since he became a Senator. If he was going to sell him out, he would have done it when Rand endorsed McConnell, no?

 

[Tywysog Cymru]

Cruz is probably more able to win the GOP primaries. He says stuff that Republicans like, but doesn't really challenge them. Rand Paul actually challenges Republicans to reconsider their views on foreign policy, drugs, and more. So Cruz could more easily win the Republican nomination, but there is no way he can win the general.

 

[ctiger2]

Beck will easily choose Cruz over Paul.

Cruz is pro-zionist, pro-military intervention, pro-banking cartel, pro-collectivism.

Paul, Brannon, Bright are pro-individual liberty isolationists.

 

[ctiger2]

Beck's been consistent on his opinion of Rand Paul ever since he became a Senator. If he was going to sell him out, he would have done it when Rand endorsed McConnell, no?

No, the timing was all wrong. Beck will sell him out when the moment is right. Glenn will know when.

I hope I'm wrong though. Actions speak louder than words and Glenn says a lot of words.

 

[boneyard bill]

Cruz is probably more able to win the GOP primaries. He says stuff that Republicans like, but doesn't really challenge them. Rand Paul actually challenges Republicans to reconsider their views on foreign policy, drugs, and more. So Cruz could more easily win the Republican nomination, but there is no way he can win the general.

Cruz's strength is to the hard right. When have Republicans nominated a hard right candidate? I'd love to see Rand run against 5 neocon evangelicals. They'd split that vote 5 ways and Rand would get the rest. Cruz might be able to win Iowa in a divided contest if there aren't too many evangelicals running, but even then Rand should be able to give him a run for money. Cruz goes nowhere in New Hampshire.

Cruz makes Rand look moderate which helps Rand. The guy Rand needs to worry about is Jeb Bush. Hopefully, he won't run.

 

[Christian Liberty]

I don't know, guys. I don't listen to Beck much, but he actually condemned the pledge of allegiance on his program this morning, saying that even NSA officials pledge the flag, and that that isn't what our country is about. It takes guts to condemn the pledge to a Republican audience. I won't declare certainty until a RINO is in office, but I tend to think Beck is for real.

If I'm right about Beck, and I'm not really sure, I think he's frankly a lot like my dad. He's right on a lot of issues, he's sincere, and he knows the Republicans are evil. But he's still deceived into thinking the Republican Party is LESS evil than the Democrats, when in reality they are close to the same.

 

[mosquitobite]

No, the timing was all wrong. Beck will sell him out when the moment is right. Glenn will know when.

I hope I'm wrong though. Actions speak louder than words and Glenn says a lot of words.

This.

He has to lead lemmings to the cliff first, before he throws them over.

 

[TheGrinch]

I don't know, guys. I don't listen to Beck much, but he actually condemned the pledge of allegiance on his program this morning, saying that even NSA officials pledge the flag, and that that isn't what our country is about. It takes guts to condemn the pledge to a Republican audience. I won't declare certainty until a RINO is in office, but I tend to think Beck is for real.

If I'm right about Beck, and I'm not really sure, I think he's frankly a lot like my dad. He's right on a lot of issues, he's sincere, and he knows the Republicans are evil. But he's still deceived into thinking the Republican Party is LESS evil than the Democrats, when in reality they are close to the same.

From another thread, but bears repeating. Spinsters like Beck will tell people what they want to her, but don't go thinking the corporate media are our allies:

You wanna know what Beck is, he's a whore, a snake, just like all the media hacks. His job is to be the mouthpiece for a variety of different interests, ratings being just one. Why would I take anything he says as representing his true feelings? At best, he is capitalizing on ratings from a growing market of small government advocates, but those of us who've studied the media know that there are far more conflicts of interest at play.

W told us he was a non-interventionist too, and fooled a lot of us into voting for him the first time. How'd that turn out?

Yet on one side we have those telling us to just take Beck and Cruz by their word and not their actions, history or shady connections, and on the other side refusing to acknowledge Rand's actions and instead just focus on out of context soundbytes. Integrity is what drew most of us to this movement, every bit as much if not moreso than ideology. When did some of us forget that?

That doesn't mean Beck can't till be useful, it's great that they at least have to pay us lip service to their consistent. But he is not our ally. Be ready for the inevitable efforts of co-opting, undermining, shifting, etc., that hacks like Beck and Hannity have shown no issue with doing. They've already done it once when the Tea Party stared gaining steam.

 

[NoOneButPaul]

Cruz is an establishment shill sent to divide the libertarians in the GOP.

Seems obvious to me, I don't see how others miss it.

 

[twomp]

Glenn will support Rand and hope to increase his audience and appeal to folks over the internet. Then when the times is right, he will receive a call from AIPAC. Then Mr. Beck will say that for the sake of the country, he will have to reluctantly endorse Cruz over Paul.

 

[Cap]

Cruz is an establishment shill sent to divide the libertarians in the GOP.

Seems obvious to me, I don't see how others miss it.

Correct and I might add....Beck is an establishment shill sent to infiltrate the liberty movement.

 

[Spikender]

I don't know, guys. I don't listen to Beck much, but he actually condemned the pledge of allegiance on his program this morning, saying that even NSA officials pledge the flag, and that that isn't what our country is about. It takes guts to condemn the pledge to a Republican audience. I won't declare certainty until a RINO is in office, but I tend to think Beck is for real.

If I'm right about Beck, and I'm not really sure, I think he's frankly a lot like my dad. He's right on a lot of issues, he's sincere, and he knows the Republicans are evil. But he's still deceived into thinking the Republican Party is LESS evil than the Democrats, when in reality they are close to the same.

That first part sounds like me when I was a gigantic Beck fan back in the day. I still even own some of the guy's books. Great reads.

But I'm not buying it until he proves to me he's sincere. He sells out in election season, I wouldn't put it past him again.