Sen. Cruz Accuses Republican Leadership of 'Trickery' Over Debt Ceiling Vote

Warns against not standing on principle

Beaumont, Texas (CNN) –  Sen. Ted Cruz  accused his own Republican leadership of  "trickery" in trying to force a "show vote" on raising the debt ceiling last week, warning Republicans will get "clobbered in the polls" for not standing up for principle.

"What Republican leadership said is we want this to pass, but if every senator affirmatively consents to doing it on 51 votes, then we can all cast a vote no and we can go home to our constituents and say we opposed it. And listen, that sort of show vote, that sort of trickery to the—to the constituents is why Congress has a 13 percent approval rating.