By Ruben Navarrette
Who knew that a Hispanic Republican senator could get in this much hot water without reaching for bottled water?
Ive become accustomed to politicians who keep their heads down and rarely say anything interesting because theyre afraid of drawing fire. Rare are those who speak their minds defend their principles and worry more about doing their job than keeping it.
Thats how Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has been conducting himself in his first two months in office and the Washington establishment is aghast. Cruz has been my friend for 10 years and I cant say Im surprised.
In the exclusive club of the U.S. Senate holding folks accountable can get you in trouble at least if youre a Republican. If youre a Democrat youll be fine.
In May 2004 during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq Democrats Carl Levin Hillary Clinton Edward Kennedy and Robert Byrd aggressively went after Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
In April 2007 during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing over the firings of U.S. attorneys Democrats Charles Schumer Patrick Leahy Dianne Feinstein and Dick Durbin all tore into Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
Yet if youre a Republican who grills like that youll be compared to Joe McCarthy. The infamous senator from Wisconsin who in the 1950s charged that communists had infiltrated government agencies has had his name invoked quite a bit by liberals in recent days. All in an attempt to discredit a bright young star in the GOP who is doubly threatening because he is Hispanic before he can do any more damage to the opposition.
Cruzs report card has been stamped does not play well with others" because the 42-year-old dissected Chuck Hagel at his confirmation hearing to become secretary of defense.
When someone is nominated to the Cabinet the Constitution dictates that senators must advise and consent."
What the Founders had in mind is right in Cruzs wheelhouse. Regarded as one of the best constitutional lawyers in the country he has written more than 80 Supreme Court briefs and argued nine times before the high court.
Cruz does not consent to the proposition Hagel ought to lead the Pentagon. This is his right. At the hearing he explained why. And this is his role.
Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida scolded Cruz saying he had gone over the line" in roughing up Hagel. The Armed Services Committee Nelson said has always been known for having a certain degree of comity and civility" from which Cruzs behavior was a departure.
Comity and civility? Theres the problem. What is this a bowling league? Like many Americans when I hear that both parties are with comity and civility working together I grab my wallet and hide my kids piggy bank.
Nelson said that Cruz questioned Hagels patriotism."
It never happened. In fact Cruz began his questioning by thanking the Vietnam War veteran for his service.
What Cruz was questioning with the precision of an ace prosecutor was Hagels forthrightness. The nominee was asked to provide more financial records than the law requires and he didnt. And while according to Cruz Hagel gave a dozen paid speeches last year alone totaling more than $200000 he only gave an accounting for four of them.
We dont know anything about the majority of speeches and who paid for them. We also dont know why as Cruz pointed out the Iranian government cheered Hagels nomination. Shouldnt we?
Cruz was also questioning the nominees judgment. When presented during a 2009 interview on the al-Jazeera network with the claim that the United States is the worlds bully" Hagel characterized the observation as a good one."
If you or I did something that dumb we wouldnt get even a low-level job at the Defense Department. Should the standard be lower for the top job?
Given all this its no wonder that Hagels nomination is now stalled.
In politics youre either playing offense or defense. Liberals in the Senate and in the media are upset that Hagel did such a hapless job of defending himself so theyve gone on the offensive against the junior senator from Texas.
Dont get it twisted. Theres only one problem with Cruzs behavior. And its that in a body known for comity and civility it is the exception and not the rule.
Ruben Navarrette is a syndicated columnist with The Washington Post Writers Group.
