Young celebrated the tactics that led to the reckless and embarrassing shutdown that Cruz forced in 2013
Young has long – and laughably – tried to position himself as kingmaker by attending events with GOP presidential candidates in advance of the 2016 Iowa caucuses. He started off with Jeb Bush, Scott Walker and Rick Perry. Not a great track record of “king-making.” But to be fair, Young also campaigned alongside Ted Cruz after praising his reckless government shutdown during Young’s embarrassing attempt at a Senate campaign.
If you’ll remember, Young has been open about the quid pro quo outlook on presidential campaigns. As he said in the Los Angeles Times: “I use them, they use me.”
David Young said he was “proud” of Ted Cruz for trying to shut down the federal government over the Affordable Care Act. The eventual government shutdown wound up costing Iowa’s economy tens of millions of dollars, all for the misguided attempt to deny health care to Iowans. Young even compared himself to Ted Cruz on budget issues, emphasizing the two were similar on “spending stuff.”
“Here’s the real problem: the policies Ted Cruz supports are the policies David Young supports, and that’s really bad for hardworking Iowans,” said DCCC Spokesman Tyler Law.
BACKGROUND
2015: Introduced Ted Cruz At Iowa Caucus. “Congressman David Young is introducing @TedCruz. #iacaucus” [@KObradovich, 4/02/15]
Young Said That He Was Similar To Senator Cruz On “Spending Stuff.” In June 2013, Young said, “On foreign relations and maverick kind of stuff McCain, but on some of the constitutional stuff and spending stuff Ted Cruz. So I guess there’s a hybrid.” [Simon Conway Show, 6/03/13]
Young Is Proud Of Ted Cruz Trying To Shut Down Government Over ACA. “‘I was proud to watch the House of Representatives and the Senate fight ObamaCare — defunding it, delaying it, repealing it,’ Young said. ‘You know, Ted Cruz was on the floor for 21 hours and it was so nice to see, finally, the senate deliberating…We need to do more of that.’” [Radio Iowa, 10/23/13]