No Surprise Washington Establishment Pushed Back Against Me
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, spent his first year in Washington making a name for himself and making enemies in both parties.
The tea party favorite told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday he isn't surprised at the negative reception he received for his efforts.
"Nobody should be surprised if you're trying to change Washington that the Washington establishment pushes back," Cruz told reporter Jonathan Karl.
Cruz told Karl it wasn't him personally who had such influence, but the tea party movement he represents. Cruz was called a "wacko bird" by fellow GOP Sen. John McCain n the spring, and by fall was leading Republicans in both houses of Congress to reject a budget deal that led to a partial government shutdown.
The shutdown hurt Republicans politically, but Cruz doesn't think his party is to blame.
"I think it was absolutely a mistake for President [Barack] Obama and [Senate Majority Leader] Harry Reid to force a government shutdown," he told "This Week."
Karl noted that Republican House Speaker John Boehner was critical of Cruz and outside conservative groups over the shutdown.
"I can’t help what other people say," Cruz replied.
He called being a runner up to the pope for Time magazine's "Man of the Year" as a "very strange thing," but also admitted being the subject of a best-selling coloring book was also "a sign that the world is a crazy place."
The book, not authorized by Cruz, says that millions of Americans see Obamacare, the president's signature healthcare law, as being more dangerous than any war.
Questioned by Karl whether he agreed with that statement, Cruz answered, "No, of course not."
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