AOC and Democratic leaders volunteered in the state at the same time.
A few days after being criticized for making a controversial trip to Mexico, while millions of Texans were suffering from freezing temperatures amid water and electricity cuts, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was fired for posting photos of himself assisting in his relief efforts at the same time. his most prominent opponents came to the state to offer help.
Cruz visited some places in the Houston area on Saturday and Sunday. delivery of bottled water to residents and supplying food to the first attendees. Social media posts, which featured the senator wearing a Texas-flagged mask, received thousands of responses and tweets that clashed with Cruz over what many called a “photooperative” to counter the bad press he obtained. for his journey.
“My constituents made me truncate my vacation in Cancun and all I got was to be ashamed to bring their water,” said actress Patricia Arquette he tweeted in a reply to Cruz.
Cruz made a trip to Cancun with his family on Wednesday while many parts of the state were still without electricity, water and other supplies. Passengers at the airport and the plane photographed and videotaped it, and these images caused a flood of criticism and punctures.
Cruz was scheduled to return Saturday, but returned to Texas Thursday after the reaction. The senator’s office issued a statement saying the trip was for his two daughters, Caroline and Catherine, and their friends. He later told reporters that he had a second thought and, in retrospect, “would not have done so.”
Texas Democrat spokesman Abhi Rahman said in a statement to ABC News that Cruz’s actions this weekend would not diminish the senator’s wrong vacation.
“Ted Cruz showed everyone who he is when he left Texas during our greatest time of need. No amount of pandering will change that,” he said in a statement.
Cruz representatives did not immediately return messages to ABC News to comment on its activities this weekend. He returned to Washington Monday for Senate hearings.
Critics were key to highlighting that Cruz’s social media posts and charities took place at the same time as U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, DN.Y., one of Cruz’s strongest critics, flew to Texas to assist in relief efforts.
New York Congresswoman joined Texas Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, Penny Morales Shaw and Shelia Jackson Lee to help the Houston Food Bank and raised more than $ 5 million to help families affected by the storm.
Democratic congressmen also helped distribute food and water and spoke with families affected by the storm.
“Charity cannot replace politics, but solidarity is how we will tackle climate change and build a better world,” Ocasio-Cortez he tweeted.
In a statement to ABC News, the Houston Food Bank said between Feb. 17 and 21 it distributed 1,000 emergency pallets containing stable food, water and food products. The nonprofits congratulated the women in Congress for their efforts and outreach.
“Their efforts to raise awareness of the need here in Southeast Texas have been a great help,” the Houston Food Bank said in a statement.
Rahman said Texas Democrats are also grateful for Ocasio-Cortez’s assistance.
“Texas will not forget who was here for us during our greatest time of need and we will make those responsible who were not,” it said in a statement.