Via Politico:

Australia’s deputy prime minister has warned that the “cranks and crazies” in the Republican Party are the greatest threat to the U.S. economy.

Wayne Swan, who as treasurer is his center-left Labor Party government’s ranking finance minister, took aim at the tea party movement during a speech to a business forum Friday. Australia’s major parties usually steer clear of U.S. domestic political debates.

Swan said: “Let’s be blunt and acknowledge the biggest threat to the world’s biggest economy are the cranks and crazies that have taken over a part of the Republican Party.”

The conservative opposition says Swan’s speech betrayed his “hatred” of Republicans.