Critics accuse Ted Cruz of ‘false compassion’ as he hands out water after trip to Mexico

Fresh off a trip to a Mexican resort town, Texas Senator Ted Cruz seemed eager to show he was helping others during the statewide emergency that was temporarily – left behind this week .

The Republican lawmaker has come under fire for his decision to fly to Cancun as a winter storm – and a creaking power grid – left millions of people without electricity and lately without clean water across the state.

Two days after admitting his “mistake” and returning home, new photos of Cruz were published on his official Twitter account.

Inside them, Cruz – his sleeves rolled up and wearing a Texas flag face – was distributing bottles of water to those who needed them. The photos were captioned “#TexasStrong”.

But some commentators suggesting Cruz’s gesture seemed somewhat hollow.

Writer Melissa Ryan, a former digital strategist for Democratic campaigns, accused Cruz of showing “false compassion”.

“I’m glad someone from Ted Cruz’s Senate office finally gave him instructions on how to fake compassion, humanity, and create the illusion that he cares about the people he cares for. been elected, ”she wrote.

I’m glad someone from Ted Cruz’s Senate office finally taught him how to fake compassion, humanity, and create the illusion that he cares about the people he was elected to serve. https://t.co/6JuuzUzpf2

– Melissa Ryan (@MelissaRyan) February 21, 2021

Lawyer Bradley Moss, suggested that Cruz would still prefer to be in Cancun.

CNN analyst Jessica Huseman noted the official guidelines on returning from overseas travel. “Stay home and quarantine yourself for a full 7 days after travel,” advise the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While TV personality Keith Olbermann joked, “I guess you take these waters.”

Democrats were also keen to promote their own efforts through social media.

Beto O’Rourke, who narrowly lost to Cruz in their Senate race in 2018, helped organize emergency supplies and registration calls with residents.

Others, like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, tweeted about their fundraising efforts.

“Charity is not a substitute for good governance,” AOC tweeted earlier this week. “But we won’t give up on helping those in need when the going hits the fan.”

Cruz said on Friday that the trip to Mexico was “obviously a mistake” and that he had accompanied his daughters on vacation with their friends.

In a subsequent sympathetic interview with Fox News’ Hannity, Cruz was then asked about the “quick drop-off trip” to Mexico.

“I had originally planned to stay the weekend and work there remotely, ”said Cruz.

“But as I was heading over there, you know, I started having doubts almost immediately, because the crisis here in Texas, you have to be here on the ground.

“And as much as you can do by phone and Zoom, it’s not the same as being here.”

Electricity has been restored to most Texas homes affected by the blackouts, but nearly half of the state’s population are still on boil water advisories.