John Boehner: Ted Cruz Is ‘Lucifer In The Flesh’
Former House Speaker John Boehner had some choice words for Ted Cruz last night. Speaking to an audience at Stanford University, Boehner referred to Cruz as “Lucifer in the flesh,” deriding the Republican presidential candidate for being difficult to work with, obstructionist, and just plain unpleasant.
“I have Democrat friends and Republican friends. I get along with almost everyone, but I have never worked with a more miserable son of a b***h in my life,” said John Boehner, reports Politico.
During the on-stage interview by Stanford Professor David M. Kennedy, John Boehner talked about his time in office, his time working with Ted Cruz, and his thoughts on the presidential race. For the most part, Boehner was relaxed, open to questions, and even criticism from the Stanford audience.
“You can call me boner, beaner, jacka**, happy to answer to almost anything,” said John Boehner during the Stanford interview.
Boehner: Ted Cruz Is ‘Lucifer In The Flesh’ https://t.co/MlBHem1VEB
— CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) April 28, 2016
Boehner recalled working with Ted Cruz during his time in Congress, and referred to the presidential candidate as a “miserable son of a b***h” but stated that for the most part he’s on good terms with the other Republican presidential hopefuls. Boehner claimed that he and Donald Trump are old “texting buddies” and while his relationship with John Kasich is currently strained, he’s still friends with the Ohio governor.
“[Kasich] requires more effort on my behalf than all my other friends, but he’s still my friend and I love him,” said John Boehner, speaking with Stanford professor David Kennedy.
Naturally, the presidential election was the main subject of the interview, and Boehner fielded questions about candidates from both sides of the aisle, stirring up some laughs with his comments on Ted Cruz, and some controversy with comments on Hillary Clinton.
“Oh, I’m a woman, vote for me,” Boehner said, impersonating Hillary Clinton.
According to the Stanford Daily, the audience bristled at the out-of-character impersonation of the former Secretary of State. Boehner shifted tack almost immediately, praising Clinton’s accomplishments and stating that he has little doubt Clinton will be the Democratic nominee. On the subject of the Republican nominee, however, the audience was much more receptive to Boehner’s barbs.
John Boehner calls Ted Cruz "Lucifer in the flesh" https://t.co/hMbrqf0heA pic.twitter.com/6AlHRs53M5
— CNN (@CNN) April 28, 2016
“Well you know I’m a big fan of Ronald Reagan, but I love all these knuckleheads talking about the party of Reagan. He would be the most moderate Republican elected today,” said Boehner, comparing the more extreme Republican candidates — Donald Trump, Ted Cruz — the comparatively moderate Reagan.
John Boehner saved his sharpest criticisms for Ted Cruz, however, recalling his time in congress with the Republican presidential candidate. Boehner has never been much of a fan of Ted Cruz, and last night’s Stanford interview wasn’t even the first time Boehner referred to Cruz as “Lucifer,” reports Politico.
When pressed by the audience, John Boehner backed off of the Republican race, declining to elaborate on his feelings about Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, or John Kasich beyond his first statements. Asked what he would do in a presidential race, Boehner gave an answer that most of the students in the audience predicted.
“If I were running for president, I’d be running on things that unite Republicans,” said John Boehner, slipping back into the ambiguous language of a career politician.
Still, Boehner was remarkably open during the interview, reflecting on his time in office as Speaker of the House, telling students about his repetitive but busy everyday schedule in Congress. Starting early in the morning, Boehner would walk to Starbucks for coffee, and always be home by 10 p.m., but the former House Speaker said the time in between was almost always a nonstop sprint.
“I think my proudest accomplishment is walking out of there the same jacka** I was 25 years before,” John Boehner remarked.
[Photo by Astrid Riecken/Getty Images]
