Outgoing Speaker of the House John Boehner on Sunday didn’t deny that he was referring to Senator Ted Cruz when he warned of false prophets “out there spreading noise about how much [the government] can get done,” even pointing to comments he made at a fundraiser where he called the Senator a “jackass.”
When questioned if Ted Cruz was a false prophet in an interview Sunday on “Face the Nation,” Boehner didn’t deny the suggestion, citing past comments he made at a fundraiser in August. (RELATED: John Boehner Calls Ted Cruz A ‘Jackass’ At Fundraiser)
“Are they unrealistic about what can be done in government?” CBS News host John Dickerson asked Boehner.
“Absolutely they’re unrealistic!” Boehner bellowed in response. “But, you know, the Bible says beware of false prophets. There are people out there, you know, spreading noise about how much can get done. I mean this whole idea that we’re going to shut down the government to get rid of Obamacare in 2013 — this plan never had chance. But over the course of the August recess in 2013, and the course of September, a lot of my Republican colleagues, who knew it was a fool’s errand, they were getting all this pressure from home to to do this.”
“And so we’ve got groups here in town, members of the House and Senate here in town, who whip people into a frenzy believing they can accomplish things they know — they know — are never going to happen,” the Speaker said. “But, listen, I’ve had 25 great years here in Washington, I’ve had great staff, I’ve had great colleagues, and I’m very thankful to my family and my constituents for giving me the honor to do this.
Dickerson then asked: “Is Ted Cruz a false prophet?”
“Listen, you can pick a lot of names out, I’ll let you choose them,” Boehner said, sipping from his coffee mug. (RELATED: Boehner Decided To Resign Thursday Night After Saying His Prayers)
“You don’t debate that assertion?” Dickerson further pressed.
“I’ll refer you to my remark at a fundraiser made in August in Steamboat Springs, Colorado,” Speaker Boehner replied.
At the fundraiser, the Ohio Republican reportedly said that he liked how Cruz’s presidential campaign keeps “that jackass” out of Washington.
