Editor:

I initially admired Ted Cruz for his smarts and positions on illegal immigration and the budgets.

But his extremist and unconstitutional — as well as pandering and hypocritical — stands on so many issues make him unelectable in a general election.1. He puts religious freedom ahead of the Constitution. In effect, he is using the argument segregationists used in their battle against the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Under the Cruz theory of government, segregation would be legal.

2. He uses religious freedom to justify law-breaking. That Cruz, a constitutional lawyer and scholar, panders to religious fanatics who don’t understand the Constitution and how it affects political decision-making, disqualifies him. We’ve had enough liars-in-chief in the White House.

3. Cruz attacks. He doesn’t negotiate. He doesn’t compromise. He doesn’t care what his peers and colleagues think. And he has no time for tradition. Why does anyone think he would be a good negotiator with Congress or Russia? Why does anyone think he would get any of his bills through Congress? Why does anyone think he would tell voters the truth? Why does anyone think he would care what voters, our allies or our enemies think or how they would respond to him?

Cruz never will be a president. He is smart but unwise and sharply wanting when it comes to dealing with other people and reality. For most voters, Cruz is scary and dangerous. You don’t win by scaring a majority of voters.

Donald E.L. JohnsonGreenwood VillageTwitter and Facebook: RealDonJohnson