The Simpsons has been on the air for 29 seasons, making it the longest-running scripted primetime show ever. Any adult human with even the vaguest interest in American culture is at least familiar with the show. It would be tough for anyone over the age of 25 to have not watched, even accidentally, an entire episode of The Simpsons, or at least recognize the iconic characters.

Now, Ted Cruz is not a normal human or an American man. I would not be surprised if he hadn't seen a single episode of The Simpsons. I would not be surprised if he wasn't even aware The Simpsons was the most popular cartoon for the last three decades. Seeing as he's like some sort of IRL Ned Flanders, it would be believable that he and his family only own a TV to gather together, drink warm milk, and watch VHS tapes of old church sermons.

But during CPAC yesterday, Cruz was asked to discuss gun control within the context of a Simpsons episode where Homer becomes obsessed with guns and tells Lisa, “I have to have a gun! It’s in the Constitution!” She replies, “Dad, the Second Amendment is just a remnant from Revolutionary days. It has no meaning today!”

Cruz, who is allegedly a Simpsons fan, said in his answer, “I think the Democrats are the party of Lisa Simpson and the Republicans are, happily, the party of Homer and Bart and Maggie and Marge.”

This is, of course, an incredible self-own, as Lisa is the highly intelligent and moral voice of reason on the show who eventually actually becomes president. In fact, as Twitter was quick to point out, she inherits the presidency from Donald Trump (as the show predicted in 2000), who tanked the economy.

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Lisa Simpson was elected president at one point in the series.



She replaced Trump, who caused a budget crisis that Lisa inherits. https://t.co/3s2T7DVZxP https://t.co/lmyLlg5Fnr — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 22, 2018

Even Simpsons writer Bill Oakley and showrunner Al Jean jumped in to tell Cruz how wrong he is.

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.@TheSimpsons Ted Cruz says Maggie Simpson would vote for him.

I think Ted's the one who could use a pacifier in his mouth. — Al Jean (@AlJean) February 22, 2018

There's something creepy (and perfectly fitting) about a guy like Cruz watching The Simpsons to see Homer—a character who once got both of his arms trapped in two vending machines, thinks cruise control is auto-pilot, and regularly drives drunk—and think, This person is just like me!

Matt Miller Culture Editor Matt is the Culture Editor at Esquire where he covers music, movies, books, and TV—with an emphasis on all things Star Wars, Marvel, and Game of Thrones.

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