Cruz: ‘Volcanic frustration’ burned Boehner, McCarthy

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said on Thursday that the House’s splintering GOP leadership is feeling the “volcanic frustration” of everyday Americans.

“I think the reason we are seeing a change in leadership in the House is the American people are fed up,” the presidential candidate told host Jeff Kuhner on “The Kuhner Report” in Boston.

{mosads}“When Speaker [John] Boehner stepped down, it wasn’t simply because he wanted to do something else,” Cruz said of the Ohio Republican, who announced his resignation last month.

“It was because the volcanic frustration with Washington had spilled over to a point because we’re sick and tired of leadership that doesn’t stand and fight [President] Obama on anything,” he added.

Cruz’s remarks follow House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) shocking announcement earlier Thursday that he is no longer seeking the Speakership Boehner is vacating. McCarthy’s decision stunned lawmakers, given that he was widely considered the front-runner for filling the Ohio Republican’s shoes at month’s end.

Cruz refused to comment on Thursday over the best option for Speaker following the majority leader’s exit.

“I have very deliberately and consistently stayed out of House leadership elections,” he said.

He added: “It is my hope that what the Republican Conference does now is select a Speaker who will be a strong conservative.”

Cruz also argued that conservatives are outraged at Republicans for squandering their majorities in both congressional chambers since 2014.

“What on Earth have the majorities in both houses done in the nine months they’ve had power?” he asked. “When I ask people, they typically say, ‘nothing.’ ”

“Sadly, it’s worse than nothing,” Cruz said, citing ObamaCare, Planned Parenthood funding and lack of action on immigration as examples. “It would have been better if they had done nothing.”

“Every one of those decision is identical to what [Senate Minority Leader] Harry Reid [D-Nev.] would have done,” he added.

“That’s why I hope the next Speaker listens to the voters and stops behaving like an arm of the Democratic Party.”