New Boston, N.H. — During a seven-stop campaign tour of New Hampshire, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) traveled to New Boston on Aug. 30 for a town hall style meet-and-greet. Cruz spoke to roughly 200 supporters of his 2016 presidential bid in the gymnasium of the New Boston Central School.
Cruz took the floor after opening remarks by New Boston Republican Committee chairwoman Toni Greene and New Hampshire state Rep. Bill O’Brien (R-Hillsborough), who stated he was “honored” to endorse Cruz for president.
In wide-ranging remarks that touched on everything from domestic policy to foreign affairs, Cruz, who gained national attention in 2013 for his filibuster and role in the government shutdown, outlined his plans for his first day in office and vowed that if he won the presidency he would first rescind every executive order signed by President Obama that he deemed unconstitutional.
“If [President Obama] wants to live by the pen, [he] will die by the pen,” Cruz stated.
Announcing that he would seek to abolish the Department of Education, Cruz said he would start by eliminating the Common Core State Standards Initiative and chastised some of his Republican opponents for opposing Common Core for the first time on the day they announced for president.
Cruz also spoke passionately about the need to secure America’s southern border. GOP frontrunner Donald Trump has made illegal immigration the cornerstone of his campaign. Cruz, the child of a Cuban immigrant, takes a slightly softer tone, but echoes Trump’s call to secure the border and, thus far, has dodged questions on whether he agrees with Trump that the U.S. should eliminate birthright citizenship. The U.S. Constitution states that anyone born in the United States is a citizen of this country, but Trump has condemned “anchor babies,” children born here to illegal immigrants for the purpose of tying the family to America.
Cruz detailed part of his father’s journey to the United States from Cuba, which he fled after being captured and tortured at the age of 17 while fighting in the Cuban Revolution. Cruz said it was his father’s passion for freedom that has shaped his views on what he wants for America.
On foreign policy, Cruz said that he strongly opposes the Iran nuclear deal, on which Congress is set to vote by Sept 17. Fellow Republican Senators and presidential candidates Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham, and Rand Paul also oppose the deal, which lifts sanctions on the country in exchange for Iran’s promise to curb its nuclear activities.
In an attempt to draw a contrast with Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton, Cruz emphasized themes of trustworthiness and transparency, repeatedly touching on his commitment to keep campaign promises.
“When I say I am going to do something, I am going to do exactly what I say,” Cruz announced to the crowd.
Cruz also made stops in the New Hampshire towns of Dover, Seabrook, Hollis, Milford, Concord and Manchester.
Cruz returns to Texas for more speaking engagements later this week.
Samantha-Rae Tuthill is a freelance correspondent for NewBostonPost.com
Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (Courtesy – Flickr) 
