Mean Things Republican Politicians Have Said About Ted Cruz

Poor Ted Cruz! His coworkers just don't like him.

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Complex Original

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Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), who has not denied being the Zodiac killer, faces an uphill battle to win his party’s nomination. This is certainly complicated by the fact that most of his co-workers just do not like being around him. (Which makes his union with John Kasich to defeat Donald Trump all the more silly.) To date, Cruz has only one endorsement from a sitting Senator: his trusty sidekick, Mike Lee (R-Utah). Considering the horror stories from his college roommate, it’s not hard to imagine why Cruz wouldn't be your first pick for a drinking buddy, but given the Republicans’ insistence that Donald Trump must not be their nominee, it’s staggering to see how little enthusiasm Cruz has generated. Here’s what his fellow Republicans have said about him.

“I just don’t like the guy.” — Former President George W. Bush

“Jackass.” — Former Speaker of the House John Boehner (R.-Ohio)

"If you killed Ted Cruz on the floor of the Senate, and the trial was in the Senate, nobody would convict you.” — Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.)

“It’s always the wacko birds on right and left that get the media megaphone. I think it can be harmful if there is a belief among the American people that those people are reflective of the views of the majority of Republicans. They’re not.” — Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)

“He’s not one of those who really does a terrific job in the Senate.” — Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)

“It's surely significant that not a single Republican senator has endorsed him, including very conservative senators.” — Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine)

“I don’t know how he’s going to deal with Congress. Nobody likes him.” — Former Senator and 1996 Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole

“Everybody knows why Cruz doesn’t have any Senate supporters.” — Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) 

“I was highly offended with the exhibition on the floor, Cruz calling [McConnell] a liar. If I’d have been here, I’d have him removed from the chamber.” — Former Senate majority leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.)

“Ted has chosen to make this really personal and chosen to call people dishonest in leadership and call them names which really goes against the decorum and also against the rules of the Senate. As a consequence, he can’t get anything done legislatively. He is pretty much done for and stifled.” — Rand Paul (R-Ky.)

“You learn that in kindergarten—you learn to work well together and play by the rules. Another thing you learn in kindergarten is to respect one another.” — Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.)

“Classless, tasteless and counterproductive.” — Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.)

“Those of us that work behind the scenes or air our differences maybe less publicly are probably more interested in the team concept.” — Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.)

“I don’t know of anyone else in Washington, certainly, who gets this opposition from his own people.... I’m talking about people as conservative as he is who just can’t stand him.” — Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.)

"If you want someone to grab a beer with, I may not be that guy.” — Ted Cruz

 

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