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Sen. Ted Cruz on fiery hearing over gun control

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    TX senator reacts to clash with Sen. Feinstein

  • Duration 8:18
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This transcript is automatically generated

That all of us could begin as our foundational document.

With the constitution.

Would -- consider it constitutional for congress to specify that the First Amendment shall apply only to the following books I'm not a sixth -- Senator I've been on this committee for twenty years I study the constitution myself I reasonably well educated.

And I thank you for the lecture.

So I come from a different place than you do I respect your views I ask you to respect my -- And yet at the same time I would note that she chose not to answer the question that I passed which it is.

In her judgment would it be consistent with the constitution for congress to specify which books are permitted and which books are not and and to use this -- the answer is obvious.

No.

-- that went well die and -- side apparently still stewing over that nasty tit for tat with Texas senator Ted Cruz.

Calling him arrogant and Patrick -- -- -- an interview today the senator crews themselves ready for some responding today.

Senator good to have you what did you make of that arrogant -- astronauts.

Out -- it.

It's great to be with yet analysts and other senators can choose to -- what every insults they like my direction I have no intention of reciprocate.

Point six million people people in Texas.

Expect me to come here every day and represent them and in particular to raise the -- to question that I raised at that hearing which is one of the limits of the constitution.

I gotta tell you there -- a lot of politicians in Washington both Democrats and Republicans.

Who have lost sight of the constitutional limitations I have to tell you.

The reaction Judiciary Committee hearing when I raised the textual limitations of the Second Amendment in the bill of rights.

Those reactions were reminiscent to Nancy Pelosi is reaction when she was asked where in the constitution is the authority.

For obamacare and her answer was quote are you serious are you serious.

There are a lot of people who -- who don't think it's serious to recognize the limits of the constitution I think that's the obligation of every one of us.

CC dinner approached me saying look here with for snapper I've been around here whenever it was twenty years.

And you gotta get.

It'll look -- your place now that's just my interpretation here but the others had said -- -- not news to use senator that as a freshman senator.

You're -- a unique and special club then you're not following the rules of decorum in that club when he's.

Well I think there are several other senators who have who have decided to insult me personally and my consistent pattern is I'm not gonna do -- thing they can throw any insults they want.

My focus has been and will remain on the substance for example.

The response that was ultimately given in that exchange was that the Heller Supreme Court decision.

Gave congress the authority to represent assault weapons but what nobody got into is what -- -- -- point out Neil I know exactly what Heller said because I represented 31 states in the Heller case was an active part of litigating it.

And what the Supreme Court said -- Heller.

Is that the Second Amendment.

Allows quote dangerous and unusual weapons.

To be prohibited and then -- the example it gave with machine guns and sawed off shotguns.

But it also said that weapons that are in quote common use.

Cannot be prohibited consistent with the Second Amendment and the one of the many problems with the so called assault weapons ban.

Is it's trying to ban.

A semi automatic rifle effectively a deer rifle with certain cosmetic features.

Of which there are over four million in circulation and under the explicit terms of the supreme court's decision in -- You cannot ban a firearm that is in -- used by the American citizenry to defend their homes and their fans.

But my focus is on the substance not on on whatever the.

The the emotion or anger might be on the other side.

-- but it's not just the other side right senator -- -- there was a dust up with.

Senator McCain without calling him by name.

And the feeling being did you and -- senator Bob Graham -- World.

We're we're sort of representing a new wing of the party.

That was -- going to be following.

For want of a better term -- maybe the old wing of the party.

At and at Denny got to deal it would seem like a tit for tat between.

You guys and and and and Senator McCain it is -- raisins -- little earlier when your reaction to this.

-- in an interview I said that senator Collins senator crews -- whacko birds that was.

Inappropriate and I apologize to them for saying that because.

I respect them both I respect what they stand for and what they believe them.

-- -- that Senator McCain.

Well I appreciate senator McCain's graciousness and saying that.

On the substance if it makes us -- birds to stand for liberty to stand for the constitution -- -- and then that's a badge of honor I Wear proudly.

But more substantively.

-- off point out yesterday was the fortieth anniversary of John McCain's.

Being -- released from a Prisoner of War camp in Vietnam.

And and and I took to the senate floor yesterday.

To commemorate.

An -- honor John McCain for his valor for his integrity.

Four is incredible courage to to turn down early release.

And instead -- to spend years more in torture for his country and and so.

Whether whatever senators make -- to say disparaging things about me I have no intention of doing the same.

My focus my job is to stand up for principles of liberty and stand for the constitution he.

Along with him right I mean whatever Roger -- inferences and and by god provided in -- and they're gone.

You know.

Lots of folks safe say things that that sometimes they come to regret later.

I can't control what others say what I can control is what I say.

And my focus is consistently been focused on the substance in the merits listen.

We -- serious problems in this country I don't think most Americans care about political bickering.

In Washington.

They do care about.

Restoring economic growth expanding opportunity in this country and they also care about the constitution they care about a federal government that that seems.

On limited by the constitution -- Thomas Jefferson famously said.

The constitution serves -- chains.

To bind the mischief of government and so every day.

I view part of my responsibility.

To two point six million Texans.

To come in here and focus on the constitution because we take an oath to the constitution.

And that's an -- that I take very seriously.

Very seriously and it gives the impressive disarm not all that may be.

There is there's battle Royale going on inside the Republican party for the heart and -- the Republican Party.

That facility in -- that a civil war on do you think Republicans.

Are are are.

Having this great debate -- turned it to be.

And he played a much larger fight that's been put on public this.

You know I think there is certainly a debate about what direction we should go in as Republicans 2012 was obviously a lousy election.

And -- Republicans got clobbered.

And what I have been urging every one is that what we failed to do in 2012 was -- in the market.

-- free market principles working in particular they work for those struggling -- -- the economic latter I think every Republican on I have two words tattooed on.

Growth and opportunity.

We are stuck right now in stagnation for four years in a row.

We have had average economic growth of zero point 8% a year we've got to get growth back and the biggest reason is.

Is that it's impacting hardest those.

Who are the least well off among us young people African Americans Hispanics single moms their lives have been made harder.

Because the Obama policies aren't working if we get back.

To free market policies that work it will make it far easier for the people who are struggling.

To achieve the American dream and that should be our passion every.

Senator Cruz thank you very much.

Thank you.

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