Freshman Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, insisted that Hagel provide information on compensation for paid speeches over a five-year period — three years more than required — and suggested that without the information, the committee wouldnt know whether Hagel got money from “extreme and radical groups.”

Cruz also suggested that Hagels unwillingness to cooperate indicated that he was being less than forthcoming with the panel about possible payments from foreign sources.

Hagel already had told the committee that during the past 10 years neither he nor his wife had received any compensation from, or been involved in any business transactions with, a foreign government or an entity controlled by a foreign government.

Cruz’s statement angered the committees chairman, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., who rejected the notion of a different standard for Hagel than for other nominees and said he was “not going to accept your suggestion and innuendo.

“Another Democrat, Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, accused Cruz over going over the line.

“You basically have impugned the patriotism of the nominee” with suggestions that he is cozy with Iran, Nelson said. “You also stated your opinion that you don’t think hess truthful. Those are two fairly strong statements.”

via Senate Panel Approves Hagel For Pentagon Chief : NPR.

I wonder how long it will take my fellow Texans to realize what a low-life scum Ted Cruz is.  I’m guessing about 25 years.