Ted Cruz is known for an array of shameful stunts. But the lowest moment of his contemptible political career came in 2021, when he fled Texas for Cancun in the aftermath of a historic winter storm that killed 246 people and left millions without power.
Three years later, Cruz’s constituents still haven’t forgiven his slight. When Hurricane Beryl was on the verge of reaching Texas last weekend, he shared a safety message from local businessman Jim McIngvale, who offered help for those in need. “Mack is an American hero,” Cruz posted. “Stay safe & avoid high water as the hurricane makes landfall.”
In other words, McIngvale was offering to be the anti-Cruz. While the irony escaped the unpopular senator, it didn’t escape others.
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Mack is an American hero.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) July 8, 2024
Stay safe & avoid high water as the hurricane makes landfall. https://t.co/IuBHOhE5R3
There's such a PROFOUND LACK of self-awareness in this from Ted Cruz, retweeting someone saying "We're here for you" before a natural disaster, which only serves to remind people that Mr. Cruz infamously was NOT "here" for Texas during an earlier natural disaster, but in Cancun. https://t.co/QeftM071Xs
— Robert Elisberg (@relisberg) July 8, 2024
It’s a shame this hurricane hit Cancun before you could go there to escape it. https://t.co/mTgSHqHF6l
— AshleySTiger (@AsherSTiger) July 8, 2024
Not too worry folks, even though he is not in Texas helping, he has left his tiny dog to protect his house. https://t.co/Yw7DZm84bn
— Klaus 🌈 he, him, his #TaxTheChurches (@Klaus73950463) July 8, 2024
As Ted Cruz always says, "when the going gets tough, the tough head for Cancun." https://t.co/vVOPRQbdUc
— Bob Geiger (@GeigerNews) July 8, 2024
Is Ted Cruz even in the state? I'd guess not. https://t.co/dkL6AD6BTc
— G Gunn (@G_Gunn2) July 8, 2024
Fittingly, it doesn’t appear as if Cruz was home when he posted his warning message. He spent part of his weekend in Southern California, while gay-hating Texas governor Greg Abbott was in… South Korea?
That’s right: Abbott, who wants to build a $20 billion border wall and demonizes immigrants as threats, is overseas as a major hurricane makes landfall. In addition to South Korea, he’s visiting Japan and Taiwan on his 9-day trip. Abbott left Texas on Friday, just as Beryl was approaching.
While Hurricane Beryl closed in on Texas, Greg Abbott was visiting South Korea and Ted Cruz was whale watching in Southern California.
— Lose Cruz (@LoseCruzPAC) July 8, 2024
Texans deserve better. pic.twitter.com/I2UfKKXoAK
Cruz, for his part, is back in the Lone Star State. He stood outside Monday and posted a video, complete with a “#HoustonStrong” hashtag.
But his performative gesture wasn’t taken at face value. Once again, Cancun Ted’s constituents asked when he was catching the first plane out of town.
my man had to post proof of life lmao https://t.co/THeJp7cMLV
— jon singleton's bat flip (@brittanieshey) July 8, 2024
Green screen from DC plush office
— JoeyBonanno (@RealJoeBonanno) July 8, 2024
When are you heading to the airport?
— Joel L. Watts, MTS, MA, MHA (@eJoelWatts) July 8, 2024
Thank you Tod, you can go to the Bahamas now. You've done your part.
— Caballero (@HughAkston0) July 8, 2024
As an ardent climate change denier, it also seems callous for Cruz to record warning videos about Hurricane Beryl, a record-breaking storm. It’s the earliest category five Atlantic hurricane in records going back 100 years.
At least six people have died in Texas from the storm, including four in Houston, Cruz’s home city.
Though Beryl is now moving across the country, more than 5 million Texans are still without power. But Cruz doesn’t appear to be one of them. The attention-seeking pol has recorded five podcasts over the last week, all of which are about Joe Biden.
5 million Texans are currently without power.
— Sawyer Hackett (@SawyerHackett) July 8, 2024
Good thing Ted Cruz had time to record 5 podcasts in the last 7 days alone. pic.twitter.com/LAUWIPbbdQ
Cruz’s podcast has become an unwanted focus in his reelection campaign, and not just because he pontificates into a microphone instead of legislating. A couple of months back, a sketchy arrangement was discovered between one of his PACs and iHeart Media, the company that carries his thrice-weekly show.
Documents show that iHeart has sent over hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Super PAC in question since March 2023 Those donations appear to be illegal, since senators are prohibited from receiving gifts from registered lobbyists, such as iHeart.
In an updated filing, the Super PAC, Truth and Courage, reported receiving $156,185.72 from iHeartMedia in May. That brings the total to $787,000 since March of last year.
In a totally non-defensive response, Cruz imploded when a TV reporter confronted him about the unusual arrangement.
“It really is sad what’s happened to the media,” he fumed.
“Ethics questions surround Senator Ted Cruz’s fundraising arrangement with the company that distributes his podcast.”
— Sawyer Hackett (@SawyerHackett) April 4, 2024
Texas media continues to sound the alarm and highlight need for ethics investigation. pic.twitter.com/c3ttnpreJK
Cruz is mired in a tough contest with Democrat Colin Allred, who seems to have a real shot at unseating the homophobic incumbent. Cruz only leads Allred by four points.
Sensing danger, Cruz has already started raging about George Soros and other alleged dark forces working against him. But it’s apparent that Cruz is his own worst enemy.
The proof, as always, is in the replies.
Kangol2
106 F temps, 3 mil w/out electricity
both Abbott and Cruz are AWOL
Woody
These are the kind of stories we get when D…E…M…S are imploding and nearing us to world war.
Kangol2
106 F temps, mils w/out electricity
both Abbott and Cruz still AWOL
missvamp
recovery efforts will now be at a standstill for parts of the area. cause it’s raining again. i had a huge chunk of a tree down in my yard. we got most of it cut & moved. but my internet line is still on the ground, part of the tree in the alley(city won’t pick it up there). my glass patio table was wrecked & the mangled frame still has to be moved. my entire street looks like a war zone. my bf lives in another part of houston(i’m on the coast closer to galveston). his entire block has no power. a tree took out all the lines. another tree ripped up the water lines. he’s been screwed since mon @ 4am. mine was out for 10hours. we got lucky by comparison. i have friends all over houston & the area who still don’t have power.
CNY1983
heres a radical idea for texas: vote for people who are going to do something for you, not steal from you,