ABC’s Jonathan Karl called out Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) this week about his role in the 2013 government shutdown. But Cruz denies everything.
In an interview on Sunday, Cruz told Karl, “This is a city where it’s all politics all the time. And I’m trying to do my best not to pay attention to the politics, to focus on fixing the problems.” But Karl didn’t believe that statement at all.
“I know that’s hard to believe because no one in this town does that,” Cruz explained. “This is a time for people to step up and do the right thing. And that’s what I’m trying to do.” Karl responded, “You have had a couple of months to think about this whole government shutdown strategy. Now that it’s over in hindsight, are you prepared to say that it was a mistake, it wasn’t the right tactic?”
“I think it was absolutely a mistake for President Obama and Harry Reid to force a government shutdown,” replied Cruz. He continued, “Repeatedly Republicans were compromising, trying to find a middle ground. And repeatedly Democrats said, no compromise, shut it down.”