海角大神

Ted Cruz vs. John McCain: This time, it's about Hitler.

Sen. John McCain went after the freshman senator for a reference to appeasement of Adolf Hitler that Sen. Ted Cruz made during his epic 21-hour talkathon against Obamacare on the Senate floor.

Ted Cruz and John McCain are both Republican senators, but they鈥檙e far from collegial. There is something about freshman Cruz鈥檚 aggressive style of politics that does not sit well with McCain, who鈥檚 been a member of the Senate club for some 26 years.

It was Senator McCain, angry at Senator Cruz鈥檚 battering of ex-Sen. Chuck Hagel during Hagel鈥檚 confirmation hearing to be secretary of Defense, who labeled Cruz and his allies 鈥渨acko birds.鈥� A of Cruz quotes an anonymous McCain adviser as saying that the Arizona senator 鈥渉ates鈥� the Texas newcomer.

鈥淗e鈥檚 just offended by his style,鈥� this aide tells GQ.

Now the angry veteran of GOP politics is after Cruz once again. This time, it鈥檚 about a reference to appeasement of Adolf Hitler that Cruz made during his epic 21-hour fili-talkathon against Obamacare on the Senate floor.

This came during a long section in which Cruz was talking about times in history when 鈥減undits鈥� said things could not be done, but then they were.

For instance, during the Civil War, there 鈥渨ere a lot of voices who said the Union cannot be saved,鈥� Cruz said, but it was.

Then came the Nazi part.

鈥淚f we go to the 1940s, Nazi Germany 鈥� look, we saw it in Britain. Neville Chamberlain told the British people: Accept the Nazis. Yes, they will dominate the continent of Europe, but that is not our problem. Let鈥檚 appease them. Why? Because it can鈥檛 be done. We cannot possibly stand against them,鈥� Cruz said.

At this, McCain took umbrage. Why? Well, for one thing, umbrage and McCain are well acquainted. For another, it鈥檚 because this seems like a reference to the GOP Senate establishment, which disdained Cruz鈥檚 talkathon against Obamacare as a waste of time. Democrats control the Senate, in this view, and President Obama will veto anything that defunds his signature health law achievement.

鈥淚 resoundingly reject that allegation. That allegation, in my view, does a great disservice. I do not agree with that comparison. I think it鈥檚 wrong,鈥� on the Senate floor shortly after Cruz鈥檚 speech ended.

McCain went on to say that Cruz had told him he was speaking only about talking heads, but McCain wasn鈥檛 buying it. 鈥淚 find that a difference without a distinction. I find that something that I think I have to respond to,鈥� McCain said.

So he continued responding, saying in essence that to compare the two situations was pretty objectionable, considering. Left unsaid was the obvious point that as a war veteran and former POW, whose grandfather commanded US naval air forces at Guadalcanal and whose father captained a World War II sub in the Pacific, McCain does not think comparisons between the legislative process and Hitler should be made too easily.

He did say that the voters had the chance to consider Obamacare in 2012 鈥� and the GOP nominee lost.

鈥淭he people spoke: They spoke much to my dismay. But they spoke, and they reelected the president of the United States,鈥� McCain said.

Given that McCain took to the floor shortly after Cruz left it, his words were something of a purposeful slap in the face. Cruz鈥檚 conservative supporters replied in kind.

鈥淏eltway barnacle McCain鈥檚 longevity is NOT admirable. It鈥檚 a bane,鈥� Michelle Malkin.

Plus, McCain鈥檚 animosity is unlikely to weaken Cruz鈥檚 position in the GOP firmament, since McCain is the definition of Republican establishment and Cruz is a leader of the insurgent tea party wing of the GOP.

In fact, it鈥檚 possible McCain鈥檚 anger could actually strengthen Cruz, since it shows the Texas senator can get under the skin of someone whom the populist tea party wing considers a virtual Democrat.

鈥淚t鈥檚 fun for Dems when McCain lights into Cruz, but no Republican鈥檚 criticism does more to endear Cruz to the base,鈥� Dave Weigel.