Rubio’s reference to Boehner came at a point in his prepared remarks where he sought to criticize Republican leaders that many activists here see as out of touch with them.

“How can it be that we’ve sent a Republican majority to Congress, yet they still aren’t able to stop our country from sliding in the wrong direction?” he said. “The answer is that too many leaders in both parties have fallen out of touch with America.”

Rubio was one of a number of Republican presidential candidates – including Sen. Ted Cruz, R- Texas, one of the most vocal critics of the party’s leaders – set to address the annual meeting of Christian conservatives hosted by the Family Research Council.