Ted Cruz faces another hurdle in his presidential campaign: his ancestry.
A Millersville University student writing for LifeZette noted an exchange with her political science professor where the professor declared that Cruz “isn’t Hispanic enough.”
The exchange occurred when the professor dismissed the Republican candidates as old, white men, and the student, Kaytee Moyer, listed five candidates who didn’t fit the mold.
That wasn’t the first time Cruz has faced scrutiny for his ethnicity. His conservative views have made his authenticity suspicious in the eyes of some prominent (or formerly prominent) Hispanic politicians.
It’s a strange quarrel, and a sign that even the most intelligent people can form unenlightened and strange opinions.
Marco Rubio, another prominent Hispanic Republican candidate, has not faced the same level of scrutiny and vitriol about his ethnic background. Cruz’s campaign style, labeled by some as “paranoid,” could explain the gap. Cruz has looked to the Tea Party Republican wing for support, whereas Rubio has drawn from a more neo-conservative and “establishment” well.
Moyer noted that her classmates have thanked her for her willingness to challenge professors on their political opinions. It’s unfortunate that, in this instance, she had to do it surrounding an ethnically charged claim that would engender a different response for a Democratic candidate.
