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Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas walked out of Nelson Mandela鈥檚 memorial service on Tuesday when Cuba鈥檚 Ra煤l Castro began to speak.

That is what Senator Cruz鈥檚 office says occurred, in any case. 鈥淪enator Cruz very much hopes that Castro learns the lessons of Nelson Mandela,鈥� said Sean Rushton, his communications director, . 鈥淔or decades, Castro has wrongly imprisoned and tortured countless innocents. Just as Mandela was released after 27 years in prison, Castro should finally release his political prisoners; he should hold free elections, and once and for all set the Cuban people free.鈥�

Was this behavior appropriate? After all, the day was supposed to be a celebration of Mr. Mandela鈥檚 life, not a forum for debating US-Cuban relations. Democrats complained that Cruz was attempting to upstage South Africa鈥檚 planned proceedings.

Yes, President Obama shook hands with Mr. Castro when the two crossed paths in the VIP seating area. But that was simple courtesy, according to the White House, given that the encounter was inevitable. Cruz鈥檚 walkout, in contrast, was an act of active protest that in the view of Democrats was not necessary.

鈥淭he lengths Ted Cruz went to make the life 鈥� and passing 鈥� of Nelson Mandela about Ted Cruz is really astounding,鈥� , current Democratic Party and former Obama campaign spokesman.

Hmm. We鈥檇 say that鈥檚 going a bit far. Cruz鈥檚 behavior was not intended for the worldwide audience of the memorial so much as for Cruz鈥檚 own supporters, wouldn鈥檛 you agree?

And there are a few aspects of US politics that might provide some context for Cruz鈥檚 stroll.

Cuba is still an issue. Fifty-three years since Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba, its fate remains a hot button for its giant neighbor to the North. It鈥檚 not just something that sways an important Cuban-American constituency in South Florida. Cuba also remains the pea under Washington鈥檚 mattress. The Castro brothers have survived the efforts of 11 US presidents to push them from power. They鈥檙e a bit of unfinished business from the cold war, a way for Republicans to telegraph that they鈥檙e the party that Americans generally rate as stronger on national security in polls.

Cuba unites the GOP. And Fidel and Ra煤l Castro unite the GOP. You鈥檒l notice that Republicans of all party factions complained about Mr. Obama鈥檚 handshake, not just hard-right conservatives. Sen. John McCain of Arizona equated the moment to Neville Chamberlain shaking hands with Hitler. Senator McCain has also called Cruz a 鈥渨acko bird.鈥�

So if you鈥檙e running for the 2016 GOP nomination 鈥� and who thinks Cruz isn鈥檛? 鈥� then the walkout is smart positioning for the primaries to come.

Cruz is not a cartoon. Look, Cruz鈥檚 push this fall to shut down the government in an effort to defund Obamacare was a disaster for the national GOP鈥檚 image. Lots of establishment Republicans dislike him personally and don鈥檛 trust him, which is not good for his presidential aspirations.

But it would be a mistake for Democrats to treat Cruz as a caricature tea party conservative. His rhetorical skills are far superior to, say, those of Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota. His academic achievements early in life were considerable. He was just announced as one of the finalists for Time's "Person of the Year."

Democratic lawyer and crisis consultant Lanny Davis in The Huffington Post. Democrats, he says, should remember that many in the party dismissed Ronald Reagan as an actor whose extreme views rendered him unelectable.

鈥淪o fellow Democrats: Let鈥檚 debate the issues with Ted Cruz and win the election on the issues. If we think it鈥檚 better to engage in personal attacks and ridicule, and not take Cruz seriously, think again,鈥� writes Mr. Davis.