The fact that House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, called him a "jackass" shows that "there's far too much" name-calling among politicians, according to Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz.

"The speaker is entitled to express whatever views he likes, but I'm not going to respond in kind," the Texas senator on Monday told radio host Hugh Hewitt, according to Politico. "And I think the American people are not remotely interested in a bunch of politicians in Washington bickering like schoolyard children. I think what they're looking for is serious leaders who will address and provide real solutions to the very real problems we're facing right now/"

Boehner had made the attack last week at a Colorado fundraiser, where he told the crowd that he was happy Cruz's White House bid was keeping "that jackass" out of Washington, the Daily Caller reported. But even at the event itself, his words drew criticism from supporters who feared he may have violated President Ronald Reagan's famous "11th Commandment," which compels Republicans not to criticize fellow party members, New York Magazine noted.

"I don't think it's terribly speaker-like, and I think it kind of goes against everything that Reagan ever said about disparaging Republicans," attendee Ed MacArthur argued.

And an unnamed Steamboat Springs told the Daily Caller that she "about fell on the floor" when she heard Boehner's outburst. "To build coalitions to work together in Washington, D.C., you don't start it out by calling your colleague a 'jackass,'" she insisted.

Late last week, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker -- one of Cruz's challengers for the 2016 GOP White House nomination -- had already come to his rival's aid, CNN reported.

"I think it's just wrong," Walker said about Boehner's remarks, according to the Washington Examiner. "Even though I don't know Senator Cruz as well as I know some of the governors, I've grown to know him and like him and admire him quite a bit out on the campaign trail."