Former House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) is unplugged and unleashed and apparently reveling in his new-found freedom.
Not so much the so-called House Freedom Caucus.
During a conference in Las Vegas on Thursday, Boehner laid into the House Freedom Caucus, eliciting a response from the caucus’ members.
.@SteveRattner asks @johnboehner about the Freedom Caucus.
Boehner: “Knuckleheads. We call them knuckleheads.”— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) May 12, 2016
Boehner: “I did my best to bring our party together, but I don’t know what the knuckleheads want. Still to this day I don’t know.” #SALT2016
— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) May 12, 2016
The House Freedom Caucus, home to some of Boehner’s most outspoken conservative critics, quickly responded on Twitter, but without a trace of humor or panache.
.@johnboehner We want GOP to actually be party of ltd gov’t, less spending; hold WH accountable for exec overreach. https://t.co/KPzwZKOZGK
— House Freedom Caucus (@freedomcaucus) May 12, 2016
Boehner also shared his disdain for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and lamented the government shutdown of 2013, an effort led by the Texas senator.
Boehner: “Shutting down the government to get rid of Obamacare might have been about the dumbest thing I ever saw.” #SALT2016
— Rebecca Ballhaus (@rebeccaballhaus) May 12, 2016
Boehner, once again criticizing Cruz: “Thank God that guy from Texas didn’t win.” #SALT2016
— Rebecca Ballhaus (@rebeccaballhaus) May 12, 2016
The former speaker said that he supports Trump as the nominee, and said that Republicans should accept that.
Boehner: “Donald Trump is the presumptive nominee, whether people like or not.” #SALT2016
— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) May 12, 2016
Does Boehner agree with temporary Muslim ban: “No.”
Building a wall at the Mexican border: “No.”
Deploying tariffs on trade: “No.”— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) May 12, 2016
Basically Boehner says he disagrees with Trump on all of his topline policy positions. But Trump is the nominee. He supports the nominee.
— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) May 12, 2016
