--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do think we should be focused on…" description: "\"I do think we should be focused on substance and record. If you want a candidate who opposes amnesty, who opposes citizenship for the 12 million people..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/ted-cruz-487_amnesty_i-do-think-we-should-be-focused-on-subst_1614154.png" --- # I do think we should be focused on substance and record… ![“I do think we should be focused on substance and record. If you want a candidate who opposes amnesty, who opposes citizenship for the 12 million people here illegally, I'm the only candidate in the race who opposes that.” quote by Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/ted-cruz-487_amnesty_i-do-think-we-should-be-focused-on-subst_1614154.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/ted-cruz-487_amnesty_i-do-think-we-should-be-focused-on-subst_1614154.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/ted-cruz-487_amnesty_i-do-think-we-should-be-focused-on-subst_1614154.png) > “I do think we should be focused on substance and record. If you want a candidate who opposes amnesty, who opposes citizenship for the 12 million people here illegally, I'm the only candidate in the race who opposes that.” [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emphasizes prioritizing policy substance over political rhetoric, especially on immigration and amnesty. **In simple terms:** Focus on policy, not politics. Key Takeaway Support candidates with clear policy stances. Themes immigration politics policy campaign leadership Mood determined serious Type political policy When to use this quote - voter decision - policy debate - campaign messaging - immigration reform Key Concepts nationalism legal status public discourse Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance substance with political strategy? - What are the risks of a single‑issue focus? A Different Perspective May overlook nuanced policy solutions in favor of binary positions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amnesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amnesty/) [Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I want to be the candidate placed on the ballot by the people, not the party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/i-want-to-be-the-candidate-placed-on-the-ballot-by-the-people-not-the/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [If you want a candidate who agrees with you 100 percent of the time, I'll give you a suggestion: Go home and look in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/if-you-want-a-candidate-who-agrees-with-you-100-percent-of-the-time-i/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [Republicans are going to have to ask themselves the question, do we want a candidate who could be tied up in court for two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/republicans-are-going-to-have-to-ask-themselves-the-question-do-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“I want a dyke for president. I want a person with AIDS for president and I want a fag for vice president and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-leonard/i-want-a-dyke-for-president-i-want-a-person-with-aids-for-president/) [Zoe Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-leonard/) > [I still want to be the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks. We can't beat George Bush unless we appeal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/i-still-want-to-be-the-candidate-for-guys-with-confederate-flags-in-2/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [After 2012, all of the Washington political consultants and all the mainstream media came to Republicans and said, 'You've got to do better with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/after-2012-all-of-the-washington-political-consultants-and-all-the/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I think the working men and women are getting hammered right now. They want someone they can trust to stand with them. And part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-think-the-working-men-and-women-are-getting-hammered-right-now-they/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [He has attempted to muddy the waters, but I think anyone that watched the battle that we had - you know, there was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/he-has-attempted-to-muddy-the-waters-but-i-think-anyone-that-watched/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I have never supported amnesty, and I led the fight against Chuck Schumer's gang of eight amnesty legislation in the Senate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-have-never-supported-amnesty-and-i-led-the-fight-against-chuck/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [If you support amnesty, you should vote for the Democrats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/if-you-support-amnesty-you-should-vote-for-the-democrats/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I introduced legislation in the Senate to prohibit President Obama's amnesty. The House of Representatives stood up and led. It took the legislation I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-introduced-legislation-in-the-senate-to-prohibit-president-obama-s/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I oppose amnesty, I oppose citizenship, I oppose legalization for illegal aliens. I always have and I always will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-oppose-amnesty-i-oppose-citizenship-i-oppose-legalization-for/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [ President \[Barack\] Obama has talked about fundamentally transforming this country. There's 7 billion people across the face of the globe, many of whom want… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/president-barack-obama-has-talked-about-fundamentally-transforming/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Marco Rubio was fighting to grant amnesty and not to secure the border, I was fighting to secure the border. And this also goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/marco-rubio-was-fighting-to-grant-amnesty-and-not-to-secure-the/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Washington wants ObamaCare, the people want freedom. Washington wants amnesty, the people want rule of law. Washington wants power over the internet, the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/washington-wants-obamacare-the-people-want-freedom-washington-wants/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## More by Ted Cruz > [I was born in Cuba. At the age of 14 years of age I was involved in a revolution. We were suffering from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-was-born-in-cuba-at-the-age-of-14-years-of-age-i-was-involved-in-a/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [ Donald Trump has opened \[ politically correct enforcement\] up wide. He's made a very bold statement and he's backed it back just a little… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-has-opened-politically-correct-enforcement-up-wide-he-s/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I get that the media wants us to play theater critics and critique every other proposal. What I'm focusing on are my own policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-get-that-the-media-wants-us-to-play-theater-critics-and-critique/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [We need to remain a nation that doesn't just welcome but that celebrates legal immigrants who come here seeking to pursue the American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-need-to-remain-a-nation-that-doesn-t-just-welcome-but-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Donald Trump threatened to file a defamation suit against me for running a TV ad that consisted only entirely of his own words on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-threatened-to-file-a-defamation-suit-against-me-for/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The immigrant experience of all of us is what makes us Americans, because we value in our DNA liberty and opportunity above all else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-immigrant-experience-of-all-of-us-is-what-makes-us-americans/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The First Amendment exists to protect our religious liberty--to ensure that all Americans are able to seek out worship God with all our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-first-amendment-exists-to-protect-our-religious-liberty-to-ensure/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [It is my hope that all of the Republicans who recognize that nominating a candidate who agrees with Hillary Clinton on a host of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/it-is-my-hope-that-all-of-the-republicans-who-recognize-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The Senate Majority Leader has the unilateral ability to stand up and say, 'If you defy Congress, if you defy the Constitution, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-senate-majority-leader-has-the-unilateral-ability-to-stand-up-and/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [You can't get to a balanced budget and begin to pay down debt and thus create jobs in this country if you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/you-can-t-get-to-a-balanced-budget-and-begin-to-pay-down-debt-and/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [That's what actually caused me to run for office is, you know, my family story, the experience of growing up in a family where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/that-s-what-actually-caused-me-to-run-for-office-is-you-know-my/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [When you subpoena one pastor, you subpoena every pastor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/when-you-subpoena-one-pastor-you-subpoena-every-pastor/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [One of the things we've seen here is how easy it is for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to get distracted from dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/one-of-the-things-we-ve-seen-here-is-how-easy-it-is-for-barack-obama/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Imagine a legal immigration system that welcomes and celebrates those who come to achieve the American dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/imagine-a-legal-immigration-system-that-welcomes-and-celebrates-those/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The court follows elite opinion, not public opinion. And Democratic leaders in Congress and Republican leaders in Congress follow elite opinion as well. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-court-follows-elite-opinion-not-public-opinion-and-democratic/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) [Explore all 523 Ted Cruz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## More Amnesty quotes > [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [How arrogant - how very far from humility - would be the self-satisfied, smug assurance that God, a tidy-up-after-us God will come and clean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/how-arrogant-how-very-far-from-humility-would-be-the-self-satisfied/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [Hillary Clinton has pledged to keep both of these illegal amnesty programs, including the 2014 amnesty which has been blocked by the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/hillary-clinton-has-pledged-to-keep-both-of-these-illegal-amnesty/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [3 "amnesty" didn't mean rewarding illegal behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/3-amnesty-didn-t-mean-rewarding-illegal-behavior/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Why don't Republicans spend all their airtime attacking the media for lying about what Obama's amnesty does and what the Democrats are doing? It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/why-don-t-republicans-spend-all-their-airtime-attacking-the-media-for/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [...we will not grant amnesty to illegal aliens in this Congress or, hopefully ever again. We did that once. Everybody said it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-gramm/we-will-not-grant-amnesty-to-illegal-aliens-in-this-congress-or/) [Phil Gramm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-gramm/) > [ I take the Constitution very seriously. The biggest problems that we're facing right now have to do with \[the president\] trying to bring more… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-take-the-constitution-very-seriously-the-biggest-problems-that-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I worked 30 years to try to restore respect for the rule of law because of Ronald Reagan's amnesty in 1986. And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-king/i-worked-30-years-to-try-to-restore-respect-for-the-rule-of-law/) [Steve King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-king/) > [You are going to hear many things from Mr. Trump today in his speech on immigration. One, no amnesty. He is absolutely going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellyanne-conway/you-are-going-to-hear-many-things-from-mr-trump-today-in-his-speech/) [Kellyanne Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellyanne-conway/) > [I supported this bill. I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and who have lived here even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-supported-this-bill-i-believe-in-the-idea-of-amnesty-for-those-who/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Amnesty is a disaster, we need strong borders. We have no country if we have no border. In New Hampshire, the biggest complaint is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/amnesty-is-a-disaster-we-need-strong-borders-we-have-no-country-if-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [no study has brought out any solid evidence that the death penalty deters crime. In fact, Amnesty reports that 'the murder rate in states…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoinette-bosco/no-study-has-brought-out-any-solid-evidence-that-the-death-penalty/) [Antoinette Bosco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoinette-bosco/) > [We try it practically every time it comes up, be it amnesty, be it any other issue they want. We try and it gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-try-it-practically-every-time-it-comes-up-be-it-amnesty-be-it-any/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ This bill \[Immigration Reform and Control act of 1986\] is a gamble, a riverboat gamble. There is no guarantee that employer sanctions will work… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/this-bill-immigration-reform-and-control-act-of-1986-is-a-gamble-a/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) > [ No one believed \[the 1986 amnesty for illegal aliens\] was tough enough on illegal immigration, and it didn't give enough flexibility on future legal immigration. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/no-one-believed-the-1986-amnesty-for-illegal-aliens-was-tough-enough/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) [Browse all 195 Amnesty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amnesty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I do think we should be focused on substance and record. If you want a candidate who opposes amnesty, who opposes citizenship for the 12 million people here illegally, I'm the only candidate in the race who opposes that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ted Cruz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-do-think-we-should-be-focused-on-substance-and-record-if-you-want-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amnesty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-do-think-we-should-be-focused-on-substance-and-record-if-you-want-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/ted-cruz-487_amnesty_i-do-think-we-should-be-focused-on-subst_1614154.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/ted-cruz-487_amnesty_i-do-think-we-should-be-focused-on-subst_1614154.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/ted-cruz-487_amnesty_i-do-think-we-should-be-focused-on-subst_1614154.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I do think we should be focused on substance and record. If you want a candidate who opposes amnesty, who…” — Ted Cruz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ted Cruz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I do think we should be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-do-think-we-should-be-focused-on-substance-and-record-if-you-want-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-do-think-we-should-be-focused-on-substance-and-record-if-you-want-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```