Republican: Cruz ‘disgusting,’ ‘hypocritical’ on New York values

New York Rep. Pete King (R) is slamming Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) for his comments about “New York values”.

“What Ted Cruz said was outrageous, it was disgusting, it was hypocritical,” King said during an interview with CNN on Friday.

“I mean for one thing, his wife works for a large investment bank in New York, and he got a million-dollar loan from that bank, and he’s always coming to New York to raise money for Republicans — including gay Republicans, who he tells behind closed doors he’ll look the other way on gay marriage.”

{mosads}King went on to praise the bravery of New Yorkers after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, saying the GOP presidential contender hurt himself politically because “people all over the country identified with the spirit and bravery that the cops and firemen, and what all New Yorkers showed after 9/11.”

Asked if he thought Cruz was actually questioning the bravery of New Yorkers after 9/11, King didn’t let up, attributing the senator’s comments to “self-righteousness.”

“He was questioning the values, and I don’t know of any higher values than patriotism and courage, and that’s what New York showed,” he said.

“Listen, not that anyone is to feel sorry for us,” he added later. “But we’re not gonna take any snuff from a guy like Ted Cruz.”

Cruz attacked presidential rival Donald Trump earlier this week by saying he embodies “New York values.” The two sparred over the remark during Thursday night’s GOP debate hosted by Fox Business Network.

“There are many, many wonderful, wonderful working men and women in the state of New York,” Cruz said during the debate Thursday night. “But everyone understands that the values in New York City are socially liberal or pro-abortion or pro- gay-marriage, focus around money and the media.”

Trump called the remarks “very insulting” and spoke emotionally about how New Yorkers responded after 9/11.

King on Friday also said that Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio are the two candidates “most appealing” to him but said he would wait until after voters go to the polls in Iowa and New Hampshire before endorsing someone.

“Cruz is totally outshone by Marco Rubio, and I thought Rubio got the best of him in their head-to-heads last night too, so of that I would say Marco Rubio,” said King. “But again, I’d have to see what happens in Iowa and New Hampshire.”