New York Republican Congressman Peter King is known for not to shy from debates, no matter if its with the Democrats or the Republicans. When Senator Ted Cruz led the government shut down due to Obamacare, Congressman King spoke strongly about how he did not agree with the way Ted Cruz handled it. Pretty much from that point on we saw a rift between the New York Congressman and Texas Senator. | Peter King's Reaction To Cruz Presidential Campaign on CNN |
STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN PETE KING REGARDING CERTAIN TED CRUZ SUPPORTERS
I owe it to my staff – particularly the female members and young interns - to make this statement.
Earlier this week I made comments critical of Ted Cruz. I stand by those comments. I also understand and welcome return fire against me. That’s the way democracy works – and I am certainly used to that in New York politics.
What I do find revealing is the number of vulgar, rabid and adolescent type - phone calls my office has received from Cruz supporters. The puerile language used is what most kids outgrow and move beyond when they reach sophomore year in high school. Clearly these Cruz supporters suffer from severe cases of arrested development. The fact that women and young interns in my office have to listen to these perverse rantings is particularly shameful.
Obviously Senator Cruz cannot be held responsible for all his supporters. But in all the years I have been in politics and government and all the controversies in which I have been involved, this low level of commentary has only occurred twice before – when I criticized Sen. Cruz during his 2013 government shutdown and when I criticized Michael Jackson in 2009.
Frankly I can not imagine supporters of Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Lindsey Graham, John Kasich, Marco Rubio, or other candidates reacting so disgracefully. Clearly, Sen. Cruz has many decent and honorable supporters. At the same time though we must ask why he has such an unusual appeal to this low denominator in American politics.