John Boehner slams Republican hardliners as 'false prophets'


Outgoing House Speaker John Boehner vowed Sunday to avoid a government shutdown over Planned Parenthood funding. The House will take up the Senate's spending bill meant to keep the government open, and also form a committee to investigate the women's health care clinic, he said.
In his first sit-down interview since announcing he'd resign from Congress at the end of October, Boehner also told Face the Nation's John Dickerson just what he thinks of the Republican hardliners who have advocated for shutdowns.
"Absolutely, they're unrealistic!" Boehner said. "But, you know, the Bible says beware of false prophets, and there are people out there spreading noise about how much can get done."
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Dickerson didn't hesitate to ask if Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was among the "false prophets."
"Listen, you can pick a lot of names out. I'll let you choose 'em," Boehner said. "I refer you to my remark at a fundraiser I made in August in Steamboat Springs, Colorado."
So, what'd Boehner say in Steamboat Springs? Apparently that Cruz is a "jackass," according to the Daily Caller.
Watch Boehner take on intra-party drama below. Julie Kliegman
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Julie Kliegman is a freelance writer based in New York. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Vox, Mental Floss, Paste, the Tampa Bay Times and PolitiFact. Her cats can do somersaults.
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