Ted Cruz strode confidently out onto the Republican National Convention stage Tuesday night and began speaking about his parents' different paths to Houston.

Eschewing a podium, Cruz, a former Texas solicitor-general and Senate hopeful who is viewed as one to watch in the Republican party, used a headset microphone and paced the stage during his coveted speaking slot.

He talked about his American mother rising to become a computer programming whiz. Sprinkling in a bit of Spanish, Cruz told the crowd how his father fled Cuba with only $100 sewn in his underwear after being tortured almost to death.

"He had nothing, but he had heart," Cruz said in Spanish, then in English. "We are all sons and daughters whose parents risked everything for freedom."

It was a great story. But it lacked a small detail: he didn't mention he was born in Calgary. 

Sure, Cruz's parents worked in the oil industry there and then moved to Texas when he was four. Plus, Cruz has repeatedly insisted Texas is his home.

But seeing as his Democratic opponent has already suggested he "go back" to Canada, it makes sense politically not to dwell on it.

During his well-received speech, Cruz said the coming election is a "stark choice of more spending, debt and government control" of the economy, "or free markets, fiscal responsibility and individual liberty."

"Fifty-five years ago, when my dad was a penniless teenager, thank God some well-
meaning bureaucrat didn't put his arm around him and say let me take care of you," Cruz said.

"Let me give you a government check and make you dependent on government. And by the way, don't bother learning English."