Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) sparked the ire of the internet after he responded to an old tweet he sent in August mocking Democrats following power outages in California.
The tweet resurfaced and the lawmaker was slammed as Texas is experiencing days of power outages due to winter storms, leaving almost 4 million people in the Lone Star state without power and out in the cold.
In August, Cruz took a dig at Democrats when responding to a message from the California governor’s office that urged residents in the state to conserve energy during a heat wave as the state experienced power blackouts. Over 350,000 people were affected in California at the time.
“California is now unable to perform even basic functions of civilization, like having reliable electricity,” Cruz tweeted. “Biden/Harris/AOC want to make CA’s failed energy policy the standard nationwide. Hope you don’t like air conditioning!” he said at the time.
But now as a massive winter storm has left millions in Texas without power for days following the failure of the Texas’s power grid, Twitter users resurfaced Cruz’s criticism of California, and the tweet went viral.
Cruz responded to the backlash on Tuesday tweeting, “I got no defense. A blizzard strikes Texas & our state shuts down. Not good. Stay safe!”
Social media users were quick to remind Cruz that his policies have contributed to the crisis.
I got no defense. 🤷🏻♂️
A blizzard strikes Texas & our state shuts down. Not good.
Stay safe! https://t.co/kBPGrGHmvI
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 17, 2021
People in TX i would not be blaming any other person from another state what is happening in TX it is the ppl that u have voted for that has put u were u are with no power no heat ppl dying but the Republican's will blame everyone else for their mistakes here listen to this pic.twitter.com/6rw7LYjDRn
— Tricia (@queentrucker) February 17, 2021
A blizzard? I'm in Texas & all I saw was 7 in of snow. My lights didn't even flicker. Luckily I'm one of the few counties that pull from the Eastern grid. My heart goes out to the Texans that are on the Texas grid. But President Biden came through for Texas.
— Maggie Stephens (@magsstephens3) February 17, 2021
Ted- 3 things.
1. It wasn’t a blizzard.
2. This has been a problem for decades.
2. It’s due to an outdated power grid run by a corrupt corporation.
-The answer is for every Texan to vote every Republican out of office for several election cycles until the party gets fixed.
— Zingamomma 🎶🇺🇸😷🇺🇸🎶 (@tubawidow) February 17, 2021
I work in power & water.
Texas has been told REPEATEDLY to winterize their infrastructure for over a decade now, but politicians like you have continually blocked it.
So yes, you have ABSOLUTELY no defense.
— No unity without accountability (@TheTruePooka) February 17, 2021
— Timothy Ferris (@irishson19161) February 17, 2021
Maybe you should spend less time kissing Trump’s ass and more time fixing things in the state you represent.
— lisastark35 (@lisastark351) February 17, 2021
You got a deregulated energy grid, Ted. This is on you.
— Tom (@TomBalawejder) February 17, 2021
With his failed energy policy for Texas… I ask, oh.. let me get this guy to ask he has a way with words. pic.twitter.com/OYHymud8r3
— Gill (@Dan_Gill22) February 17, 2021
I disagree. You have an excellent defense.
You are morally and intellectually incapable of refraining from being a huge bag of dicks.
HBOD Syndrome is real. Millions suffer! I mean most of those suffer from being subjected to HBOD but you take my point.
— IncitementToResurrectionHat (@Popehat) February 17, 2021
Translation: If Dems ran Texas things would be way better.
Ann Richards would never have let this shit get this bad.
— PCR RitesGood (@pcrritesgood) February 17, 2021
This wasn’t a blizzard, it was a few inches of snow – it was an epic failure in leadership!
— Melissa Belcher (@Belchermissy) February 18, 2021
This is a good time to note that the electrical grid in Texas was deregulated, privatized, and removed from interconnected networks to avoid federal regulation and increase profits to a small number of wealthy individuals.
— Mark James (@MarkJam92731126) February 17, 2021
Cruz is a pathetic piece of human garbage who attacks California during our emergency situations yet has nothing when his home state is suffering. Tx must get rid of Cruz.
— B. Janine Morison 😷 (@bjaninemorison) February 17, 2021