Changes

==Biography==

==Biography==

Cruz's father fought alongside the [[communist]] [[Fidel Castro]] in the [[Cuban Revolution]] when he was only 14 years old and was imprisoned three years later for his political activities. In 1957, he escaped to the United States. Today he is a pastor in [[Dallas]].<ref>http://frontpagemag.com/2013/frontpagemag-com/senator-ted-cruz-confronting-the-threat-of-radical-islam/</ref> Cruz's mother is American. After Cruz was born in Alberta, [[Canada]], the family moved to Texas. Cruz is a Southern [[Baptist]], married with two children.

Cruz's father fought alongside the [[communist]] [[Fidel Castro]] in the [[Cuban Revolution]] when he was only 14 years old and was imprisoned three years later for his political activities. In 1957, he escaped to the United States. Today he is a pastor in [[Dallas]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.frontpagemag.com/2013/frontpagemag-com/senator-ted-cruz-confronting-the-threat-of-radical-islam/ |title=Senator Ted Cruz: Confronting The Threat of Radical Islam |work=[[Frontpagemag]] |date=May 20, 2013 }}</ref>. Cruz's mother is American. After Cruz was born in Alberta, [[Canada]], the family moved to Texas. Cruz is a Southern [[Baptist]], married with two children.

===Senate Career===

===Senate Career===

Cruz was elected as a memeber of the Senate in 2012. Beginning on September 24, 2013, Cruz gave a 21-hour speech on the senate floor against [[Obamacare]]. The speech greatly boosted his national profile and led to denunciations from the [[liberal media]].<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/opinion/the-embarrassment-of-senator-ted-cruz.html The Embarrassment of Senator Ted Cruz], September 24th, 2013.</ref>

Cruz was elected as a member of the Senate in 2012. Beginning on September 24, 2013, Cruz gave a 21-hour speech on the senate floor against [[Obamacare]]. The speech greatly boosted his national profile and led to denunciations from the [[liberal media]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/opinion/the-embarrassment-of-senator-ted-cruz.html |title=The Embarrassment of Senator Ted Cruz |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 24th, 2013 }}</ref>

===2016 Presidential Race===

===2016 Presidential Race===

On March 23, 2015, Cruz became the first person to announce his candidacy for president in 2016 in a speech before an audience at [[Liberty University]].<ref>http://www.c-span.org/video/?324979-1/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-announcement</ref> The predictable liberal media immediately went on the offense claiming he has no chance but was in awe of his speech without [[teleprompter]]s. His wife would take a leave of absence from her job at Goldman Sachs to join her husband on the campaign trail. This decision left his family without health insurance. Cruz, by law, has to be insured and took Obamacare coverage. This drove the media batty at the irony of railing against [[Obamacare]] but using it. Simply put, this does not mean he endorses Obamacare rather it shows his commitment to follow the rule of law.

On March 23, 2015, Cruz became the first person to announce his candidacy for president in 2016 in a speech before an audience at [[Liberty University]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.c-span.org/video/?324979-1/ted-cruz-presidential-campaign-announcement |title=Ted Cruz Presidential Campaign Announcement |work=[[CSPAN]] |date=March 23, 2015 }}</ref>. The predictable liberal media immediately went on the offense claiming he has no chance but was in awe of his speech without [[teleprompter]]s. His wife would take a leave of absence from her job at Goldman Sachs to join her husband on the campaign trail. This decision left his family without health insurance. Cruz, by law, has to be insured and took Obamacare coverage. This drove the media batty at the irony of railing against [[Obamacare]] but using it. Simply put, this does not mean he endorses Obamacare rather it shows his commitment to follow the rule of law.

Cruz would raise $4 million in donations after the first week of his announcement. Liberal media jaws hit the floor when it was learned he raised $31 million in one week from [[PAC]]s.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/04/08/mark-halperin-unprecedented-31-million-super-pac-effort-backing-ted-cruz-for-president/ MARK HALPERIN: UNPRECEDENTED $31 MILLION SUPER PAC EFFORT BACKING TED CRUZ FOR PRESIDENT, Breitbart.com, April 8, 2015]</ref>

Cruz would raise $4 million in donations after the first week of his announcement. Liberal media jaws hit the floor when it was learned he raised $31 million in one week from [[PAC]]s<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boyle |first1=Matthew |url=http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/04/08/mark-halperin-unprecedented-31-million-super-pac-effort-backing-ted-cruz-for-president/ |title=Mark Halperin: Unprecedented $31 Million Super PAC Effort Backing Ted Cruz For President |work=[[Breitbart.com]] |date=April 8, 2015 }}</ref>.

====Eligibility====

====Eligibility====

==Political positions==

==Political positions==

Cruz opposes [[illegal immigration]]<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/international/Ted_Cruz_Immigration.htm</ref>, [[gun control]] and [[homosexuality]]. He is [[pro-life]]<ref>http://www.lifenews.com/2013/06/05/pro-life-senator-ted-cruz-to-address-national-right-to-life-convention/</ref>, supports the [[death penalty]]<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Ted_Cruz.htm</ref> and believes that the [[USA]] should not get involved in the [[Syrian Civil War]].<ref>http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/09/marco-rubio-ted-cruz-and-their-craven-and-brazen-hypocrisy-on-syria.html</ref>  

Cruz opposes [[illegal immigration]]<ref>[http://www.ontheissues.org/international/Ted_Cruz_Immigration.htm Ted Cruz on Immigration ]</ref>, [[gun control]] and [[homosexuality]]. He is [[pro-life]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bair |first1=Andrew |url=http://www.lifenews.com/2013/06/05/pro-life-senator-ted-cruz-to-address-national-right-to-life-convention/ |title=Pro-Life Senator Ted Cruz to Address National Right to Life Convention |work=[[LifeNews.com]] |date= June 5, 2013 }}</ref>, supports the [[death penalty]]<ref>[http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Ted_Cruz.htm Ted Cruz on the issues]</ref> and believes that the [[USA]] should not get involved in the [[Syrian Civil War]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tomasky |first1=Michael |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/09/marco-rubio-ted-cruz-and-their-craven-and-brazen-hypocrisy-on-syria.html |title=Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and Their Craven and Brazen Hypocrisy on Syria |work=[[The Daily Beast]] |date=September 09, 2013 }}</ref>.

Cruz has effectively criticized [[RINO]]s, calling them "squishes."<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/04/29/ted-cruz-mocks-squishes-in-republican-party/</ref>

Cruz has effectively criticized [[RINO]]s, calling them "squishes."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weiner |first1=Rachel |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/04/29/ted-cruz-mocks-squishes-in-republican-party/ |title=Ted Cruz mocks Senate Republican ‘squishes’ |work=[[Washington Post]] |date=April 29, 2013 }}</ref>

==See also==

==See also==