Paul Ryan: "House of Cards" turned my stomach

Netflix's racy political drama "House of Cards" has a lot of fans, even some in Congress, but Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., apparently isn't one of them.

"I watched the first couple of episodes until he cheated on his wife with that reporter," Ryan told Parade magazine in an interview published Friday. "It turned my stomach so much that I just couldn't watch it anymore."

Ryan was referring to the sexual peccadilloes of Frank Underwood, the show's anti-hero and a power-hungry politician whose other transgressions make adultery seem quaint by comparison.

Ryan said the show "hit too close to home" because Underwood's character, at the time, was a member of Congress.

"His behavior was so reprehensible, and it hit too close to home because he was a House member, that it just bothered me too much," Ryan said. "And what I thought is, it makes us all look like we're like that."

Despite Ryan's distaste, the show has generated plenty of buzz in D.C. Last year's White House Correspondents' Dinner featured a "House of Cards" spoof that saw actor Kevin Spacey, who plays Underwood, exchanging zingers with real Washington notables like Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md.

Spacey also starred as Underwood in a video released this week to celebrate former President Bill Clinton's birthday. In it, Underwood conspires with Mr. Clinton to find out what his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is getting him for his big day.

Underwood calls Clinton from the Oval Office, reaching her in what is identified as a "rectangular" office. Doing his best Bill Clinton impression, Underwood asks about the gift.

"This is a very personal decision that I will make when I'm ready," Clinton replies, echoing the standard response she gives when asked about a potential 2016 presidential bid.