Palin backs Cruz in ObamaCare fight

Conservative firebrand Sarah Palin is backing Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in his quest to defund ObamaCare as a federal government shutdown looms.

In an op-ed on Breitbart.com, the former 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee said Democrats will take the blame if they reject House-passed legislation that keeps the government running until mid-December but defunds the Affordable Care Act.

Cruz and conservatives in the Senate, such as Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), have backed the move while other Republicans have worried that their party will be faulted if a shutdown occurs.

{mosads}Palin says Republicans should unify around Cruz to stop ObamaCare, arguing that voters don’t support the healthcare reform law.

“If the Senate doesn’t get behind Ted Cruz’s efforts to defund Obamacare, it won’t be because of any failure on Ted’s part. It’ll be because there weren’t enough principled leaders to stand with him, and that would be a tragic loss, not for Ted, but for America,” Palin wrote in the op-ed published Saturday.

Cruz’s push to defund ObamaCare has attracted criticism from some in his own party who believe the Texas senator is more concerned about his 2016 presidential ambitions than fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill.

“There’s a lot of people upset with the things he’s done,” one senior House Republican told The Hill. “Some people would say if members of Congress don’t like you that will help you. … I’ve never been of the theory that making enemies is helpful ever, really, in a campaign.”

Palin said the brushback is nothing new, similar to what she experienced in the political arena.

“The Capitol Hill cowards are rushing to anonymously denounce Senator Cruz to any reporter with a pad and pen,” Palin wrote.

“Welcome to our world, Ted. The same people have been denouncing conservatives like me for years (right after they ask for help fundraising for themselves or endorsing the latest candidate they’ve suckered into paying their exorbitant consulting fees). We can compare shiv marks next time we meet, my friend.”

The ex-Alaska governor told Cruz and Lee to “hang in there.” “You have millions of supporters among ordinary hardworking Americans. We support you because you don’t shy away from the fray,” she said.

Palin also warned that Republicans who vote the wrong way on defunding ObamaCare could face consequences at the ballot box.

“Oh, and a little reminder to Republican senators up for re-election in 2014: Moose season ends soon, allowing more time on one’s hands. So, we’ll be watching your votes very carefully this week,” Palin wrote.