Some of President Barack Obama’s closest allies sent a nice fruit basket to one of the most prominent faces of the deeply unpopular congressional Republicans.
Americans United For Change announced it had sent the gift to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), whose insistence on tying funding for the Affordable Care Act to funding for the federal government helped lead to the current shutdown.
Recent polls have shown the GOP favorability ratings have plunged to all-time lows for any political party, while Obama’s popularity has risen slightly and support for his signature health care law has grown.
“Dear Ted,” said the card on the fruit and snack basket sent by the group’s president, Brad Woodhouse. “A Texas sized thank you!! Thanks to you, Obamacare is more popular and the GOP is less so. Keep up the Good Work!! Yours, Americans United for Change.”
Woodhouse said the gag gift, which cost $91.98 including the service charge, was the best $90 the group has spent.
He said the gift was intended to poke fun at the tea party-backed lawmaker, but it also served a more sincere purpose.
“In the interest of humanity, we sent the food and snacks to his staff because the snack bars are shut down,” Woodhouse said.
