Ted Cruz guest on Late Night with Stephen Colbert. I loved this substantive part. He did well.
Cruz: You mentioned before, you know, you said, “Cruz, You are a very conservative guy.” Listen, what I am fighting for are simple principles. Live within our means, stop bankrupting our kids and grandkids, follow the Constitution.”
Colbert: No gay marriage.
Cruz: No, actually, let’s be precise. Under the Constitution, marriage is a question for the states. If you want to change marriage laws…
Colbert: It doesn’t mention marriage in the Constitution.
Cruz: We have had a country for over 200 years…
Colbert: You may be right, but it doesn’t mention marriage in the Constitution.
Cruz: That is exactly why it is a question for the states.
The 10th Amendment says, if it doesn’t mention it, it’s a question for the states. That’s in the Bill of Rights. Everything that is not mentioned, is left to the states. So, if you want to change the marriage laws…
Colbert: I’m asking what you want.
Cruz: I believe in democracy. I believe in democracy and I don’t think…
Boos from audience, Colbert tells them not to insult his guest.
(Looking straight at audience)
Cruz: I don’t think that we should entrust , governing our society, to five unelected lawyers in Washington. Why would you possibly hand over the rights of 320M Americans to five lawyers in Washington to say, We are going to decide the rules that govern you. If you want to win an issue, go to the ballot box and win at the ballot box. That’s the way the Constitution was designed.