The seething hatred the RNC and the Republican establishment have for Cruz has always been palpable. They believe his brinksmanship has exacted a political cost on their caucus. They believe, with justification, that Cruz helped to legitimize Trump early in the race. The former Republican House Speaker called him “Lucifer in the flesh.” And it was clear by the end of the Republican primary that Beltway Republicans could not bring themselves to stop Donald Trump’s takeover of their party if it meant embracing Cruz.

Now they will hate him all the more. The Republican apparatchiks will despise Cruz out of their own envy, because he demonstrated the courage to do what they would not: resist Trump to his face. They resist him only through their mealy-mouthed endorsements. They will hate Cruz for making them trash a vote of “conscience” while they defend a Trump candidacy they loathe. Cruz has provoked defense hawks like Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) to denounce him strenuously as “not a true conservative,” on the same night Trump put into question the whole NATO alliance in a tossed-off interview in the New York Times. Cruz has caused Trump’s useful idiots to out and embarrass themselves further.

When you become outraged at a man who encourages you to abide by your conscience, it means your conscience has already condemned you.