State troopers look on as opponents of an abortion bill yell after the House of Representatives formally approved the measure on Wednesday, July 10, in Austin. A state Senate committee is scheduled to vote Thursday, July 11, on whether to send its version of the bill to the full Senate. The bill would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, allow abortions only in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks.
Editor's note: Ruben Navarrette is a CNN contributor and a nationally syndicated columnist with the Washington Post Writers Group. Follow him on Twitter: @rubennavarrette.
(CNN) -- Once again, the eyes of the nation are upon Texas.
When it comes to political news and the occasional shenanigan, our second most populous state always seems to come in first.
The latest dust-up in the Lone Star State is about women's reproductive rights. The Democratic minority last week stopped a bill being pushed by the Republican majority that would have shut down most of the state's abortion clinics and banned abortion in the state after 20 weeks.
But the ruckus is also about saying the wrong thing in the wrong way, and coming off like a jerk in the process. It's about etiquette and character, and how intensely unlikable a politician can become when he is running low on both.
Likability counts for a lot in politics. Voters often make choices about which candidate to support based on whether we can relate to them or feel comfortable around them.
Meanwhile, a lot of Americans feel uncomfortable about late-term abortion. It's a barbaric procedure that opponents consider infanticide. It's also where many people like me, who are pro-choice, draw the line.
The Democrats' victory in the legislature is credited to Sen. Wendy Davis, who staged an 11-hour filibuster to push the debate past the stroke of midnight and the end of a special session.
Showdown over abortion in Texas
Davis: Perry has demeaned his office
The victory was short-lived. Gov. Rick Perry called a second special session to allow Republican legislators more time to get the legislation passed and onto his desk, where he is eager to sign it.
This high-stakes game of Texas Hold 'em could well be a preview of the 2014 matchup for the state's top job.
At one end of the table sits Davis. A rising star in the Democratic Party who represents Fort Worth, she has long been thought to be interested in running for governor. Now, thanks to Republican attempts to shut her down, she has an issue. The campaign ad writes itself: "Davis bravely stood up to the Republican majority, and backed them down."
At the other end, you'll find Perry. I wrote for the Dallas Morning News for five years. And I know this much: The governor has always been a paradox. One on one, he's very effective. He's charming and personable, and easy to relate to. But when he steps into his public persona, as in debates or at press conferences, he becomes less likable. Out goes the class president, and in comes the schoolyard bully.
It was the latter that showed up when Perry addressed the National Right to Life conference in Grapevine, Texas, near Dallas, a few days after Davis' filibuster. Obviously still smarting from the setback, Perry fired off these condescending remarks:
"Who are we to say that children born in the worst of circumstances can't grow to live successful lives? In fact, even the woman who filibustered the Senate the other day was born into difficult circumstances. She was the daughter of a single woman. She was a teenage mother herself. She managed to eventually graduate from Harvard Law School and serve in the Texas Senate. It is just unfortunate that she hasn't learned from her own example that every life must be given a chance to realize its full potential and that every life matters."
Katy, bar the door. Perry's comments were rude, presumptuous and highly inappropriate. There are plenty of ways to disagree with a political opponent and make a point without getting personal and dredging up details of her personal life -- and in this case, her mother's personal life.
Perry as much as suggested that Davis should be more sympathetic to unborn babies because, given her life's circumstance, her mother might have had an abortion and Davis wouldn't be here.
During an appearance on CBS's "Face the Nation," Davis was asked to respond. Here's what she said:
"Well, what went through my mind was that that was a terribly personal thing to say. And, of course, I've been in the political arena for some time. It takes a lot to offend me. But what I was offended about was the statement that it makes on behalf of women throughout the state of Texas. I think it showed disregard for the fact that we all, we each, own our own personal history. We make choices and -- and have the opportunity to take chances that present themselves to us. What this is about is making sure that women across the state of Texas have the same opportunity to make those choices and have the same chances that I had."
Davis got it right. In the abortion debate, women have long insisted that they have the right to control their bodies. Now do they have to take the next step and assert control over their life stories?
It looks like, in Texas, the answer is yes. Women do need to reassert control over their life stories. Otherwise, others -- including elected officials -- will try to take over those narratives to serve their own purposes. That's what Perry did to Davis, and it reflected badly on him. He won't apologize. But he should.
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The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ruben Navarrette.
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Speaker of the House Joe Straus strikes the gavel after a provisional vote on the abortion bill passed during the special legislative session on Tuesday, July 9.
Supporters of the abortion bill react in the gallery of the Texas House after the bill was provisionally approved on July 9.
Opponents of the abortion bill yell outside the Texas House after the bill is provisionally approved on July 9.
State Rep. Jodie Laubenberg, sponsor of the abortion bill, leaves the Texas House floor after the bill passed on July 9.
Anti-abortion activists take part in a rosary procession around the Capitol as the House debates the bill on July 9.
State Sen. Wendy Davis speaks at a news conference outside the Texas Capitol as the Texas House prepares to begin debate on the bill on July 9. In late June, she blocked the bill with a filibuster, talking for more than 10 hours, running out the clock on the regular legislative session.
Supporters of the bill listen to speakers at a rally organized by the Texas Right to Life Organization on Monday, July 8.
Abortion rights activists march from the Texas Capitol on July 8.
Members of the public line up for an opportunity to speak at a Senate hearing on a proposed abortion bill at the State Capitol on July 8.
Republican Sen. Bob Deuell set two pairs of infant shoes on the counter while speaking at the Senate hearing on July 8.
Anti-abortion protesters gather on the ground floor as abortion rights protesters gather on the balcony of the outdoor rotunda of the State Capitol on July 8.
Abortion rights activists on the balcony react as an anti-abortion group prays below during the Senate hearing on July 8.
Opponents of the abortion bill walk in circles around supporters of the bill as a committee holds hearings on the bill at the Texas Capitol on Tuesday, July 2. Gov. Rick Perry called this second legislative special session in an effort to pass the restrictive abortion law through the legislature. The first attempt was defeated after opponents were able to stall the vote until after the first special session had ended.
A man blows a horn as supporters and opponents of an abortion bill gather near a hearing for the bill at the state Capitol on July 2.
Abortion rights activists Melissa Gabriel, Ally Parks and Tina Johnson look over anti-abortion demonstrators on July 2.
Anti-abortion activist Pamela Whitehead of Katy, Texas, argues with an abortion rights activist on July 2.
Opponents of an abortion bill chant outside the hearing for the bill on July 2.
Texas Sen. Wendy Davis, center, is surrounded by Texas representatives and senators after leading a rally in support of women's rights to reproductive decisions at the Texas Capitol in Austin on Monday, July 1.
Natalie Maines and her father Lloyd Maines play the National Anthem at a rally supporting women's right on July 1.
Women's rights demonstrators gather at the capitol in Austin on July 1.
Anti-abortion demonstrators tape the word "life" over their mouths as they stand in the rotunda of the Texas capitol on July 1.
Supporters on both sides of the issue crowd into the rotunda of the Texas Capitol on July 1.
Anti-abortion activists pray in the Capitol on July 1.
Demonstrators on both sides gather in the Capitol on July 1.
Davis leads a rally in support of women's rights to reproductive decisions on July 1.
Opponents of an abortion bill yell chants outside a hearing about the bill on July 2.
Protestors gather in the gallery of the Senate chamber on July 1.
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