Speaking to Wolf Blitzer on CNN Monday night, Rep. Peter King (R-NY) blasted fellow Republicans Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Rand Paul, calling them both bad candidates for the presidency.
After Cruz announced his candidacy for president, King released a statement declaring Cruz nothing more than a "carnival barker." He expounded his thoughts to Blitzer, holding nothing back:
[W]e have very, very complex issues facing the country today and he goes out of his way to oversimplify. For instance, to say that Obamacare -- we could end Obamacare in effect by not funding it and shutting down the government is absolutely wrong. That's a wrong signal to send. We need intelligent debate in this country. Ted Cruz may be an intelligent person, but he doesn't carry out an intelligent debate. He oversimplifies, he exaggerates and he basically led the Republican Party over the cliff in the Fall of 2013. He has shown no qualifications, no legislation being passed, doesn't provide leadership, and he has no real experience. So to me, he is just a guy with a big mouth and no results.
King said he hopes the day never comes where Cruz is the GOP nominee. "I will jump off that bridge when we come to it," King promised. Unless Cruz was to experience a "Road to Damascus" conversion à la the Apostle Paul, King said he does not see ever supporting a Cruz candidacy.
As far as his own candidacy, King said he was only "looking" to see if there is an "opening." He did, however, promise to use his voice to "appeal to the realistic wing of the party -- the pro-defense, Ronald Reagan-wing of the party -- the true conservatives, not the counterfeit conservatives like Ted Cruz."
Or Rand Paul for that matter, King indicated. He said Paul is also a "counterfeit conservative" and hopes he does not "hijack the nomination" as well.
About Paul, King stated:
I understand, personally, he's a very nice guy, but his views are so isolationist and the world we face today, I think it would be taking us back to the 1930s. I call him an isolationist. His views would basically remove the U.S. from having a real role to play in the world. And his mindset -- look at things he said over the years, in effect blaming the United States for the problems around the world, somehow that we -- it's our fault. To me, that's a bad mindset for the commander-in-chief of the United States to be going into office with.
King said there is a lot of talent in the Republican Party -- mentioning Jeb Bush and Scott Walker -- but does not see Cruz or Paul as part of that talent pool.
King did assure, "I'm not that tough a guy to get along with."