GRAND RAPIDS, MI - U.S. Rep. Justin Amash fired up a crowd of 1,200 attending a Ted Cruz rally Monday, March 7, by taking a few shots at Donald Trump and asking who among them would confront neighbors backing the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for president.

"Who's going to go tell your favorite Trump-supporting neighbor to vote for Ted Cruz? Who would like Donald Trump to go back to 'The Apprentice' (The reality TV show Trump previously hosted)? Amash, R-Cascade Township, asked the audience.

The crowd packed into Noto's Old Italian Dining Restaurant waved "Cruz for President" signs and clapped and cheered. Michigan's primary is today, March 8, and polls close at 8 p.m.

Related: 1,200 attend late night rally for Ted Cruz on eve of Michigan primary

"The name calling and other things is really unfortunate for our discourse here as a country," said Amash, who said as a child he remembered seeing Ronald Reagan on television and thinking he was dignified and commanded respect from people.

"We don't want a commander-in-chief in the office who is making a mockery of the system," said Amash. "That's why we need Ted Cruz there. He is a person who will respect our system of government, our constitutional republic and defend liberty."

Amash, who is no fan of Trump, endorsed Cruz for the Republican presidential nomination in February. He said they don't agree on everything but people have disagreements.

Related: Donald Trump should 'go back to The Apprentice,' Rep. Justin Amash says

Amash addressed the crowd for about 45 minutes because Cruz was stuck on a runway in Mississippi and didn't take the stage until after 11 p.m., for a speech that had been planned for 8:30 p.m. Close to 10:30 p.m., Amash informed the crowd that Cruz would be a little longer.

"The best things in life are worth waiting for," he told them and suggested doing a town hall. Here are a few questions Amash fielded and his answers below.

• Do you think Hillary should go to prison?

"I think everyone deserves due process.'

• Who would you recommend a President Cruz nominate for the Supreme Court?

"I would recommend that President Cruz nominate Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah). I know Mike Lee, and I don't think you would get a more qualified person to be on the Supreme Court. He would be absolutely wonderful."

&bulI; What are your thoughts on Syrian and Iranian refugees?

"I am concerned about our refugee system. I voted to block the Syrian refugees and other refugees, unless major government officials, including the head of the FBI, were willing to certify that they were safe. I think we should be a welcoming country, but we have to know who is coming (to our) area. We have to know (they) don't pose a threat."



Monica Scott is an education writer. Email her at mscott2@mlive.com and follow her on Twitter @MScottGR or Facebook