Republican politicians react most aggressively any time one of them is shown the slightest discourtesy, but hypocrites that they are, they refuse give the respect and courtesy to others that they demand for themselves. That is doubly true when the recipient of their abuse is a champion for consumer rights, one that they truly fear, Elizabeth Warren. Yesterday’s House Oversight Committee hearing was ugly.

House Republicans have been adamant since last year that they don’t like the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — and they also made it apparent they don’t like Elizabeth Warren, the Obama administration advisor who is helping launch the agency.

After a bitter and contentious House oversight subcommittee hearing Tuesday, Warren showed that the feeling might be mutual.

The clash highlighted how Warren has become a lightning rod for opponents of the agency, created by last year’s financial reform law. And it also could explain why President Obama hasn’t nominated her to be the agency’s powerful full-time director despite strong support from congressional Democrats, consumer advocates and liberal interest groups.

Warren, a Harvard Law professor, is so beloved by liberals that some Democrats are encouraging her to challenge Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) in her home state next year.

"In one respect, I congratulate you for instilling such fear … because they understand how effective you are about getting the message out to the American people," Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) told Warren, apologizing to her for what he called "the rude and disrespectful" questioning by some Republicans.

Warren and Republicans clashed often during the hearing, which followed approval by the House Financial Services Committee this month of legislation limiting the consumer bureau’s power. That bill, however, is likely to die in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

The disputes started with allegations from subcommittee Chairman Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) that she had misled Congress about her role in federal and state negotiations with large mortgage servicers to resolve investigations into botched foreclosure paperwork.

McHenry said agency documents indicated that she and other consumer bureau staffers were actively involved in the negotiations, not just advising other federal agencies as she had said at an earlier hearing.

Warren denied misleading lawmakers and said the agency was only providing advice.

McHenry also pressed her about whether she would accept an appointment from Obama to head the agency… [emphasis added]