Franklin Graham to John Boehner: 'Shame on You' for Calling Ted Cruz 'Lucifer in the Flesh'

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Monday, May 02, 2016

Leading evangelist Franklin Graham speaks at a Decision American prayer rally held in Columbia, South Carolina on Feb. 9, 2016. | (Photo: Facebook / Franklin Graham)

The Reverend Franklin Graham recently denounced former Speaker of the House John Boehner for calling Sen. Ted Cruz "Lucifer in the Flesh."

On his Facebook page, Rev. Graham posted a comment Friday in response to Boehner's referring to Sen. Cruz as being the Devil incarnate.

"Former Speaker of the House John Boehner shame on you! You had no business calling Ted Cruz 'Lucifer in the flesh' — this is an embarrassment. And it's an embarrassment to our nation," wrote Graham.

Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz (R-TX) speaks at the California GOP convention in Burlingame, California, U.S., April 30, 2016. | (Photo: REUTERS/Stephen Lam)

"Then lowering yourself further by calling him a SOB? I'm not endorsing Cruz or any other candidate, but your verbal rant at Stanford is beneath the public office you were elected to hold."

Late last month Boehner was speaking at an event at Stanford University when he was asked his opinion of Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz.

"I have Democrat friends and Republican friends," stated Boehner. "I get along with almost everyone, but I have never worked with a more miserable son of a bitch in my life."

Boehner went on to say that if Cruz were to secure the nomination he would not vote for him in the general election, even though he did plan to vote for current Republican frontrunner Donald Trump is he was on the ticket.

A common perception about Cruz is that as a senator he is hard to work with and viewed by some of his colleagues as insufferable.

For his part, Cruz responded to Boehner's remarks by questioning their merit, saying at a press conference in Indiana that the "truth of the matter is — I don't know the man."

U.S. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) publicly announces his resignation as Speaker and from the U.S. Congress at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, September 25, 2015. | (Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)

"I've met John Boehner two or three times in my life. If I have said 50 words in my life to John Boehner I'd be surprised, and every one of them has consisted of pleasantries," continued Cruz.

Posted Friday to Facebook, Graham's response to Boehner's statements against Cruz has gotten over 70,000 likes and more than 15,000 shares.

The controversy over Boehner's comments come as Cruz campaigns in Indiana, whose primary will take place on Tuesday.

Despite Cruz's extensive campaigning in the Hoosier state and endorsement by Governor Mike Pence, Trump holds a commanding lead according to an NBC/WSJ/Marist Poll.

"Trump gets support from 49 percent of likely Republican primary voters — followed by Cruz at 34 percent and John Kasich at 13 percent," reported NBC News.

"If that margin in Indiana holds on Tuesday, Trump would be on a glide path towards obtaining the 1,237 delegates he needs to win the Republican nomination on a first ballot at the GOP convention in July."