Ted Cruz targets Mitch McConnell ‘lies’ and acting like Harry Reid

Ted Cruz took to the Senate floor Friday and charged that Mitch McConnell told a “lie,” escalating his disagreements with GOP leadership as he reviewed issue after issue where Republicans have betrayed their constituents and how McConnell is leading like Democrat Harry Reid.

“Like St. Peter,” Cruz said, “he repeated it three times. He said, ‘The only thing I told the proponents of the Export-Import Bank is like any other senator in this body, they could offer any amendment they liked on an any amendable vehicle, but I gave them nothing.’”

McConnell took procedural steps Friday to propose a revival the Ex-Im bank, Cruz said on the Senate floor: “I cannot believe he would tell a flat-out lie.”

“What we saw today was an absolute demonstration that not only what he told every Republican senator, but what he told the press over and over again was a simple lie,” said Cruz, a vocal opponent of the bank. “The majority and minority leader, arm-in-arm again, should not team up against the American taxpayers.”

Cruz then took aim the Republican majority, which has fulfilled its promises to voters.

“We’ve had a Republican majority in both houses of Congresses now for about six months. What has that majority done? First thing we did, in December, we passed a $1 trillion crominbus plan filled with pork and corporate welfare. Then this Republican majority voted to fund Obamacare, voted to fund President Obama’s unconstitutional executive amnesty. And then the leadership rammed through the confirmation of Loretta Lynch as attorney general.”

“Madam President, which of those decisions would be one iota different if Harry Reid were still majority leader? Not a one. Not a one.”

Cruz then stated that McConnell is “behaving” like Reid by limiting debate and amendments on the Senate floor, not fighting for GOP votes during debate over an Iran congressional review bill this past spring.

Cruz recounted a private conversation in McConnell’s office over their dispute and continued the fight in front of the press. He believes the GOP should force a procedural vote on an amendment to force Iran to recognize Israel’s right to exist and release the four American hostages held in Tehran.

“I assume leadership is going to whip against that amendment,” Cruz said.

The Texas Senator responded to a “request” to produce evidence that McConnell is a liar by getting his aides to retrieve photos from the Senate floor McConnell and his deputies huddling on the Senate floor with “certain Senators” during the TPA vote.

Cruz alleges that he challenged McConnell “explicitly” to find out what deal they cut.

“If the majority leader is willing to lie to 54 Republicans to their face, when is he willing to do so again?” Cruz said.

Mitch McConnell photo/ donkeyhotey