Senator Ted Cruz

Look, you want to understand. Here's a point I made at the Texas legislature today. We had a press conference and I pointed out, I said, listen, I think the legislature is going to pass the biggest and boldest and most significant school choice program in America. When it comes time to a vote, most, if not every Democrat is going to vote no. Now, I hope that's not the case.

Look, you want to understand. Here's a point I made at the Texas legislature today. We had a press conference and I pointed out, I said, listen, I think the legislature is going to pass the biggest and boldest and most significant school choice program in America. When it comes time to a vote, most, if not every Democrat is going to vote no. Now, I hope that's not the case.

And by the way, you want to talk about, I had a reporter ask, why do you say school choice is the civil rights issue of the 21st century? Well, If you look at the failing schools, at the schools where you have rampant violence, where you have high dropout rates, where you have incredibly low test scores, they're predominantly in low income areas and they're predominantly minority schools.

And by the way, you want to talk about, I had a reporter ask, why do you say school choice is the civil rights issue of the 21st century? Well, If you look at the failing schools, at the schools where you have rampant violence, where you have high dropout rates, where you have incredibly low test scores, they're predominantly in low income areas and they're predominantly minority schools.

And by the way, you want to talk about, I had a reporter ask, why do you say school choice is the civil rights issue of the 21st century? Well, If you look at the failing schools, at the schools where you have rampant violence, where you have high dropout rates, where you have incredibly low test scores, they're predominantly in low income areas and they're predominantly minority schools.

They're predominantly African-American schools and Hispanic schools. You look at the kids who are disproportionately harmed by failing schools and they're disproportionately minority kids. There is a reason that every time a poll is done of African-American parents or Hispanic parents, you see overwhelming support for school choice, 60 percent, 70 percent, sometimes as high as 80 percent.

They're predominantly African-American schools and Hispanic schools. You look at the kids who are disproportionately harmed by failing schools and they're disproportionately minority kids. There is a reason that every time a poll is done of African-American parents or Hispanic parents, you see overwhelming support for school choice, 60 percent, 70 percent, sometimes as high as 80 percent.

They're predominantly African-American schools and Hispanic schools. You look at the kids who are disproportionately harmed by failing schools and they're disproportionately minority kids. There is a reason that every time a poll is done of African-American parents or Hispanic parents, you see overwhelming support for school choice, 60 percent, 70 percent, sometimes as high as 80 percent.

Now, most elected Democrats claim they are fighting for minorities. Many of them are representing districts that are heavily minority. And yet. Almost every Democrat, and maybe every Democrat, intends to vote against school choice, against those kids. And here's why. I'm going to quote Al Shanker, who was the longtime president of the American Federation of Teachers.

Now, most elected Democrats claim they are fighting for minorities. Many of them are representing districts that are heavily minority. And yet. Almost every Democrat, and maybe every Democrat, intends to vote against school choice, against those kids. And here's why. I'm going to quote Al Shanker, who was the longtime president of the American Federation of Teachers.

Now, most elected Democrats claim they are fighting for minorities. Many of them are representing districts that are heavily minority. And yet. Almost every Democrat, and maybe every Democrat, intends to vote against school choice, against those kids. And here's why. I'm going to quote Al Shanker, who was the longtime president of the American Federation of Teachers.

And here's what he said, quote, when school children start paying union dues, that's when I'll start representing the interest of school children. Wow. You want to know what's going on with Democrats? They're interested in money and manpower. And the teachers union are consistently among, if not their biggest funders and among, if not their biggest source of manpower.

And here's what he said, quote, when school children start paying union dues, that's when I'll start representing the interest of school children. Wow. You want to know what's going on with Democrats? They're interested in money and manpower. And the teachers union are consistently among, if not their biggest funders and among, if not their biggest source of manpower.

And here's what he said, quote, when school children start paying union dues, that's when I'll start representing the interest of school children. Wow. You want to know what's going on with Democrats? They're interested in money and manpower. And the teachers union are consistently among, if not their biggest funders and among, if not their biggest source of manpower.

And every Democrat who makes the decision, I'm voting against choice. What they're saying is I want the dollars from the union bosses more than I care about the kids in my district, more than I care about the African-American and Hispanic kids and the low income kids. who are trapped in failing schools, who are not learning to read, who are not learning arithmetic, who are going to drop out.

And every Democrat who makes the decision, I'm voting against choice. What they're saying is I want the dollars from the union bosses more than I care about the kids in my district, more than I care about the African-American and Hispanic kids and the low income kids. who are trapped in failing schools, who are not learning to read, who are not learning arithmetic, who are going to drop out.

And every Democrat who makes the decision, I'm voting against choice. What they're saying is I want the dollars from the union bosses more than I care about the kids in my district, more than I care about the African-American and Hispanic kids and the low income kids. who are trapped in failing schools, who are not learning to read, who are not learning arithmetic, who are going to drop out.

And by the way, if they drop out, we know, just like night follows day, we know the odds of poverty are much, much higher. We know the odds of crime are much, much higher. We know the odds of substance abuse are much, much higher. We know the odds of serious health care issues are much, much higher.

And by the way, if they drop out, we know, just like night follows day, we know the odds of poverty are much, much higher. We know the odds of crime are much, much higher. We know the odds of substance abuse are much, much higher. We know the odds of serious health care issues are much, much higher.

And by the way, if they drop out, we know, just like night follows day, we know the odds of poverty are much, much higher. We know the odds of crime are much, much higher. We know the odds of substance abuse are much, much higher. We know the odds of serious health care issues are much, much higher.