Politics | Ted Cruz Ted Cruz Doesn't Like Rival Using a Nickname Chris Cuomo explains why Rafael Edward Cruz is a hypocrite By Arden Dier Posted Mar 7, 2018 10:50 AM CST Copied Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on Dec. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) In a sign of the politics to come before November's midterms, Ted Cruz has called out a rival's name change—and been called a hypocrite. After Rep. Beto O'Rourke won the Democratic primary for the Texas Senate race Tuesday, Cruz released a radio ad slamming O'Rourke for using a nickname given to him shortly after birth, per CNN. "Liberal Robert wanted to fit in, so he changed his name to Beto and hid it with a grin," the country jingle states, per the Hill. The hypocrisy from Cruz—whose real name is Rafael Edward Cruz—wasn't lost on CNN's Chris Cuomo, who confronted Cruz on Wednesday. Cruz claimed his campaign was "just having a sense of humor" and "some fun." Read These Next This is no ordinary winter storm on the way. New Year's Day dog walk ended with kidnapping attempt, shot fired. Colorectal cancer is now the No. 1 cancer death for young adults. Authorities have finally caught up with former Olympian Ryan Wedding. Report an error