No matter your political view, rude and boorish behavior from our politicians should be unacceptable. Those who represent us should display the best of us - even when disagreements get heated.

Shame, then, on our own U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry. This week he became Exhibit A of the coarse incivility that has become the hallmark of political discourse in this country. His refusal to admit his error in judgment and apologize shows not only a lack of maturity but a lack of respect for the office he holds and for the people he represents here in North Carolina.

Sadly, rudeness and intimidating behavior are considered badges of honor for many politicians these days. McHenry's skewering of White House adviser Elizabeth Warren during a hearing about new consumer financial protections seemed to confirm that. But his bullying antics, and childish tit-for-tat with Warren over, of all things, whether she could leave for another previously scheduled appointment crossed every etiquette line imaginable. When he flat-out called her a liar - a charge that can be considered a crime if taken literally (yes, it is a crime to lie to Congress) - her shocked expression mirrored that of many others.

Of course, that intemperate power play was only subtext for objections many conservatives have to the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and to a push for Warren to be its first head. McHenry and others have fought like hungry wolves against the agency - claiming it would have too much unchecked authority over banks, credit card companies and mortgage service providers.

McHenry has been a lead bulldog on this issue, carrying water for Wall Street interests that are among his biggest financial supporters. He accused Warren not only of lying about the innocuous issue of when she could leave the hearing but of lying about her role in helping state officials negotiate a settlement with mortgage servicers that had improperly foreclosed on homeowners. He and others say Warren overstepped her legal authority by helping state attorneys general. McHenry said this "is just further example of her disregard for congressional oversight."

But the Dodd-Frank Act not only gives Warren the right to participate, but the law requires it. Critics may not like the new law but they are wrong to impugn the integrity of those who are following it.

Warren least of all deserves these attacks. As an academic she sounded some of the first warnings about abusive financial dealings, deregulation problems and rising consumer debt issues. More than a decade ago she began calling attention to a looming financial disaster and began pushing for reforms. As special adviser, she has been hard at work on strategies to educate consumers and to protect them from abuses by financial agencies.

In January, she brought in Holly Petraeus, wife of Gen. David Petraeus, who in the past has been mentioned as a GOP presidential candidate, as head of the consumer bureau's efforts to curb financial abuses against military families. Holly Petraeus headed a Better Business Bureau on consumer issues for military families.

Warren recognizes that consumer protections have no party label. McHenry needs to show he does as well. Maybe the voters can help him see the light when he comes up for re-election.