Bloomberg News
Texas Senator Ted Cruz said the outcome of the 2014 midterm elections will hinge on a debate over President Barack Obama's leadership in the world and whether more amnesty should be granted to those trying to cross the border from Mexico.
The 'humanitarian crisis is a direct result of President Obama's policy,' of giving amnesty to minors trying to cross into the U.S., said Cruz, speaking before an audience of about 3,000 at the Dallas conference of Americans for Prosperity, a political vehicle of Charles and David Koch of Koch Industries.
The Tea Party-backed Republican was greeted with chants of 'Run, Ted, Run!'
House Republicans scuttled a planned vote on a bill to address the crisis of undocumented children crossing the border in July after Cruz rallied immigration opponents.
About 57,000 unaccompanied minors have arrived at the border since October, double the total from fiscal 2013. Texas Governor Rick Perry, who spoke yesterday at the conference, last month called up 1,000 National Guard troops to protect the state's border.
Besides border security, Cruz said November's congressional elections would be a referendum on the Affordable Care Act, Obama's signature legislation to provide universal health care, constitutional rights and the president's leadership on the world stage.
Obama is 'leading from behind,' Cruz said, failing to address the Russian annexation of Crimea or confront Islamic militants in Syria, an issue also raised by Perry.
The militants 'are the face of evil,' said Cruz. 'We ought to bomb them back to the stone age.'
Other Republican speakers at the conference include Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky and Indiana Governor Mike Pence. The sessions address topics such as spending cuts, regulation and health care.
To contact the reporter on this story: Darrell Preston in Dallas at dpreston@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Maura Reynolds at mreynolds34@bloomberg.net Nancy Moran
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