CRUZ: The Obama administration has willfully ignored the 'ample' info it has had to 'stop' terror attacks
C-SPAN
Speaking on the Senate floor, the Texas senator lambasted Democrats for proposing increased gun controls in the wake of the Orlando shooting and instead said elected officials should be focused on preventing terrorism.
"Over and over again, we have seen the Obama administration having ample information to stop a terrorist attack, and yet because of the political correctness, because of the ideology of this administration that won't even say the word 'jihad,' won't even say the words 'radical Islamic terrorism,' they look the other way and the attacks go forward," Cruz said.
He argued that the Obama administration had "plunged its head in the sand like an ostrich" and turned a blind eye to information that could have likely prevented the Boston Marathon bombing, the Fort Hood shooting, and the San Bernardino attack.
Cruz also suggested the Obama administration failed to "connect the dots" with the Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, something he said was "directly connected" to Obama's "refusal to acknowledge what it is we're fighting."
"We had all the information we need on Mateen to keep a very close eye on him. And yet if that's not what you're fighting, then you close the investigation and yet another attack goes forward," he said.
The conservative firebrand, who ran an unsuccessful bid for the White House in 2016, called it a "willful blindness" that "ignores the global jihad we're facing."
"This body should not be engaged in political games," Cruz said. "We should be focused on the threat and keeping America safe and defeating radical Islamic terrorism."
Cruz's remarks came the same day Sen. John McCain said Obama was "directly responsible" for the Orlando attack, a comment the Arizona lawmaker quickly clarified.
Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump has peddled similar rhetoric. Most recently, he suggested Obama was sympathetic toward radical groups.
- Market recap: Valuation of 6 of top 10 firms declines by Rs 68,417 cr; Airtel biggest laggard
- West Bengal Elections: Rift among INDIA bloc partners triggers three-cornered intense contests
- Angel Investing Opportunities
- Poonch Terrorist Attack: One Indian Air Force soldier dies, five injured; Patrolling intensifies across J&K
- The Role of AI in Journalism
- Nothing Phone (2a) blue edition launched
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market