Cruz: Repeal 'every blessed word of Obamacare'

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks at the Texas Republican Convention Friday

Calling for the repeal of "every blessed word of Obamacare," Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, lit into President Obama before enthusiastic delegates at the Texas Republican Convention, warning that their freedoms are jeopardized by a lawless president.

"Today liberty is under assault like never before," Cruz said. "And again today Texans will stand up and lead the fight for freedom."

Along with repealing the Affordable Care Act, Cruz called for an audit of the Federal Reserve and the abolition of the Internal Revenue Service.

He urged a return to the Constitution and a restoration of American leadership abroad, where "bullies and tyrants" now are laughing at the U.S.

Cruz said the vital task of restoring the economy and creating jobs can only be done through free-market principles.

He chastised Obama's Internal Revenue Service for discriminating against and harassing conservative groups applying for nonprofit status. He cited one example in which a pro-life group was asked to provide information about its members' prayer meetings.

“You know what, the federal government has no business asking any American the content of our prayers," he declared.

He also took the Obama administration to task for forcing religious groups such as the Colorado-based Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged to provide contraception in its employee insurance plans, despite religious objections.

“Let me give you a simple rule of thumb,” he said. “If you’re litigating against nuns, you’ve probably done something wrong.”

The Texas senator also affirmed the Second Amendment right to bear arms and the Tenth Amendment, which, he said, "limits the authority of the federal government and says that sovereignty resides in the states and ultimately with we, the people.”

Cruz, a possible presidential candidate in 2016 who has agitated his party's establishment, noted that in 1980, President Reagan was dismissed by many as an outsider and an extremist.

“In 1980, Washington, D.C., despised Ronald Reagan,” said Cruz.

He took aim at Common Core, the program that in an effort to establish national standards in education, imposes views, values and methods opposed by many Americans.

"We already have a common core," he said, "It's called the Constitution of the United States."

At the conventions, the Texas GOP removed longstanding platform language that states: “Homosexuality tears at the fabric of society.” The new platform endorses reparative therapy, which seeks offers help to people who want to be healed of homosexual desires.