Republicans are now paying the price for allowing themselves to go on "Cruz control" and force a government shutdown, according to Michael Barone, a conservative political analyst and Fox News contributor.
"They blew it to some extent. They're taking something of a licking in public opinion on this," Barone told "The Steve Malzberg Show" on Newsmax TV.
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"The strategy, when the House Republicans put themselves under 'Cruz control,' as you might say, and demanded the defunding of Obamacare as part of the continuing resolution to continue funding the government — that was a tactical mistake and they're paying some price."
Barone said the climate may change in the 13 months leading up to the 2014 congressional elections.
"What is happening with Obamacare and what will happen in the next few months, which I can't predict with utter confidence, is probably going to have more bearing on those elections than the fallout from the shutdown," he said.
Barone compared the creation of the Affordable Care Act to the building of the Pentagon.
"Put this thing in historic perspective, they've had 42 months to implement Obamacare and get ready from the passage of the legislation in March 2010 until October 1st," he said.
"Back in the 1940s, the government built the Pentagon in 18 months. It's still the world's largest office building in square footage. 18 months. But in 42 months, they couldn't do Obamacare. It suggests that the idea of progress is not universally applicable, at least, to the federal government."
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