Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, placed much of the blame for the current government shutdown dysfunction on Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
"Ted Cruz, from left field, said we have to defund Obamacare permanently in this CR," Norquist said in an interview with the Washington Post.
"The only confusion that comes out is that Cruz stood on the side and confused people about the fact that every Republican agrees. He said if you don’t agree with my tactic and with the specific structure of my idea, you’re bad," Norquist continued after saying he's "cheerful because every Republicans is for repeal of Obamacare."
"He pushed House Republicans into traffic and wandered away," Norquist said.
But Norquist didn't just put the blame on Cruz. He said he feels President Barack Obama has "already screwed it up."
"Democrats cannot with a straight face blame Republicans for any of the things that happen in these agencies," Norquist said, citing the closing of national parks and monuments and the threat to military pay. "It’s the president playing politics. I think it puts him in an awkward position."
Read more of Washington Post's interview with Norquist here.
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