What's all this about?

Denise C. McAllister writes at The Federalist,

the fundamental responsibility of president is to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. The most qualified candidate is the one who recognizes this and promises to execute the powers of the office in alignment with the law.

...The best presidents are those who have shown restraint, stood for limited government, abided by the rule of law, and faithfully executed their duties according to the original intent of the Constitution.

Jefferson was so passionate about small government that he supported nullification, bringing resolutions against the Federalists who continued to overstep their bounds and bombard the states with unconstitutional laws. He promised to repeal the Alien and Sedition Acts and to restore the presidency to its rightful place as executor of the law instead of legislator in chief.

The establishment in Jefferson’s day hated him. They called him a terrorist, and during the election northern politicians suggested the North should secede from the Union if Jefferson were to become president. The Federalists resented Jefferson’s constant fight to limit their powers and to reduce the size and scope of government. They would rather break up the country than have him in the White House.

The Federalists’ hatred of Jefferson is reminiscent of the vitriol dripping from establishment politicians over Ted Cruz, driving Lindsey Graham to say he’s worse than Barack Obama and that if anyone shot him dead in the Senate, they wouldn’t be convicted.

Jefferson could relate. The election in 1800 was rough, with Jefferson winning the White House by a single vote. His victory was labeled a revolution—and it was. It ushered in the demise of the establishment Federalists. Jefferson brought reform to the government, repealing laws, breaking up power brokers, reducing the debt, and restoring the presidency to its rightful place as defined by the Constitution. His commitment to limited government and to republicanism radically changed the political landscape and pulled our nation back from the abyss of tyranny for many years.

Jefferson, the thorn in the side of the establishment, the “terrorist” who was despised by his colleagues because he constantly undermined their will to power, showed strength in his commitment to let Congress legislate, check their abuses, and maintain the balance of power between the branches of government. He knew his place—he was not a king, but he was a servant of the people.

...I do not understand why conservatives who love small government and who are Jeffersonian at heart are not supporting the one candidate in the race who consistently fights for these very principles—the one candidate who exudes the spirit of ’76. Can anyone deny that this candidate is Ted Cruz?

Yet I hear from my freedom-loving friends how Cruz is not electable (Was Jefferson?), how he’s a purist, (so was Jefferson!), how he’s hated by his colleagues (Wasn’t Jefferson?), and how he’s a purist and too extreme. The same was true of Jefferson. And, of course, there’s the litany of shallow excuses, including how he looks, how he speaks, and that he’s not likeable.

My hope, my challenge, to anyone who loves freedom is not to abandon it now. Don’t be “dupes of artful maneuvers.” Don’t be “willing instruments in forging chains for yourselves.” Don’t abandon the fight for liberty. Instead, stand with those who are engaged in that fight, stand for your principles and, like Jefferson, don’t give up.

Read more here.