Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., debate healthcare on CNN, Feb. 7, 2017. (Screengrab: CNN)

(CNSNews.com) – Free government healthcare is a “wonderful” idea in a “world where you believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny and pixie fairies,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said Wednesday.

Addressing a town hall meeting in McKinney, Texas hosted by Concerned Veterans for America, Cruz recalled taking part in a two-hour CNN debate on Obamacare with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) last February.

“And for those who are particularly interested in this issue, I would commend you – you can go and google it,” he said. “Watch the thing for two hours. It was more substance on health care than we had probably the whole presidential race.”

“Bernie’s view,” said Cruz, “he wants free everything for everyone. And you know, that’s – that is a wonderful – in a world where you believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny and pixie fairies, you can give free everything to everyone.”

“But in the real world, that doesn’t work,” he continued. “And so what politicians do all the time is they mandate.”

“We’re going to give free stuff to people. We’re going to mandate. You gotta get this. You gotta get that,” he stated.

“The prices rise so high that people can’t afford it,” Cruz added.