Sen. Ted Cruz Slams Obama's Ebola Response

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Sunday criticized the Obama administration's handling of the Ebola crisis, attacking the selection of Ron Klain as “Ebola czar” because of his lack of a health care or scientific background. Cruz has dismissed Klain as nothing more than a "political operative."

"We should be less concerned about giving the public the feeling that the government is on top of this and more concerned about the government actually being on top of it," Cruz said on CNN's State of the Union and called again for a ban on travel from Ebola-affected countries as a "basic, common-sense step."

"The biggest mistake that continues to be made is now, more than two weeks into this, we continue to allow open commercial air flights from countries that have been stricken by Ebola. That doesn't make any sense. We have upwards of 150 people a day coming from countries with live, active Ebola outbreaks," he said.

Cruz said a travel ban would not prevent health care professionals from traveling to West Africa to aid in the crisis and slammed airport screening as a waste of time since it does not cover the entire 21-day incubation period for Ebola. Cruz called on the United States to stop issuing visas for travel from Liberia.

Cruz also discounted statements by former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, who told a Cuban newspaper 460 doctors and nurses would be sent to West Africa in response to U.S. Secretary John Kerry’s plea to other countries to step up.

“The Castro brothers have put together a brutal regime that oppresses their citizens,” Cruz said. “The brothers are never too shy to jump up and engage in propaganda.”

When asked if congressional opposition to Obama surgeon-general nominee Dr. Vivek Murthy contributed to the fear of Ebola, Cruz said Obama "should have nominated a health care professional," not an “anti-god activist” and “crusader against second amendment rights.”