Sen. Ted Cruz: GOP Needs to Stand on Principle

KEN THOMAS, Associated Press

OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — Sen. Ted Cruz says Republicans need to stick to their principles heading into the November elections — and that the alternative means more losses at the ballot box.

The Texas Republican was the first speaker at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in suburban Maryland.

Cruz says the tea party-inspired elections of 2010 were the only recent campaign when conservatives offered a clear contrast with Democrats.

In Cruz's words, "If you want to lose elections, stand for nothing."

Cruz says conservatives need to get behind proposals such as repealing the health care law, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service and balancing the federal budget.