Washington (CNN) -- There are political upstarts, rebels with and without a cause, and then there's Ted Cruz. 

The first-term Republican senator from Texas has achieved the rare notoriety of having almost everyone in Washington mad at him, at least for now. 

His legislative maneuverings led to last year's 16-day government shutdown, and he almost single-handedly scuttled this week's congressional approval of a year-long debt ceiling extension that denies fiscal conservatives a key negotiating tool until after the November elections. 

Democrats dislike Cruz for his right-wing social and economic policies such as vehement opposition to gay marriage and President Barack Obama's signature health care reforms. 

Cruz's Republican colleagues, especially those in the Senate, are angry because he forces them to choose between conservative purity and political pragmatism, a particularly tough spot in an election year. 

To Cruz, a tea-party favorite who arrived in Washington just over a year ago, it's all about telling the truth -- as he sees it. 

Election-year logic explains GOP dysfunction 

Cruz: Politicians are lying to the people 

Washington politicians -- including fellow Republicans -- don't want to be honest with America about their unwillingness to tackle tough issues like the rising federal debt, Cruz said Thursday in an interview with conservative talk radio host Mark Levin. 

"People don't like to be lied to," he said to explain historically low approval ratings for Congress, adding that forcing Republican politicians to tell the truth "makes their head explode." 

Others, including fellow legislators, say Cruz puts his personal agenda of galvanizing a right-wing political movement ahead of what's best for his party as a whole as it tries to reclaim control of the Senate and retain its House majority in November. 
What is Ted Cruz's position?
Where is he from?
How do people in Washington feel about him?
Did he cause the shutdown?
How long did it last?
Why do opposition party members not like Cruz?
What else?
What are his own party members mad at him for?
Does the Tea Party like Cruz?
Does he believe honesty is important?
he has right-wing social and economic policies
 Cruz for his right-wing social and economic policies
Texas
Republican senator from Texas 
almost everyone is mad at him
almost everyone in Washington mad at him, at least for now. 
yes
His legislative maneuverings led to last year's 16-day government shutdown,
16-dayys
16-day government shutdown
his opposition to gay marriage
dislike Cruz for his right-wing social and economic policies such as vehement opposition to gay marriage 
his opposition to President Barack Obama's health care reforms.
vehement opposition to gay marriage and President Barack Obama's signature health care reforms. 

because he forces them to choose between conservative purity and political pragmatism
 Republican colleagues, especially those in the Senate, are angry because he forces them to choose between conservative purity and political pragmatis
yes
a tea-party favorite 
yes
 it's all about telling the truth