AOC and Democratic leaders were volunteers in the state at the same time.
Just days after he was criticized for embarking on a controversial trip to Mexico while millions of Texans suffered from icy temperatures amid water and power outages, Texas Senator Ted Cruz came under fire for posting photos of himself with assistance at the same time, one of his most prominent opponents came into the state to offer assistance.
Cruz visited some places in the Houston area on Saturday and Sunday, deliver bottled water to residents and the provision of food to first responders. The social media posts, in which the senator appears in a mask with the Texas flag, were met with thousands of replies and tweets that Cruz slammed for what many people called a ‘photo-op’ about the bad press he received because he undertook his journey, to counter.
“My constituents cut short my vacation to Cancun and all I got was to carry my water,” actress Patricia Arquette said. tweeted in a reply to Cruz.
Cruz embarked on a trip to Cancun with his family on Wednesday, while many parts of the state were still without power, water and other supplies. He was photographed by the passengers at the airport and in the plane and taken on video, and the images gave rise to a flood of criticism and stabbing.
Cruz was due to return on Saturday, but flew to Texas on Thursday after the setback. 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 he had second thoughts, and said afterwards, “I would not have done it.”
Abhi Rahman, a spokesman for the Texas Democrats, said in a statement to ABC News that Cruz’s actions over the weekend would not diminish the senator’s misleading holiday.
“Ted Cruz showed the whole world who he is when he threw Texas in our greatest time of need. No amount of pandering is going to change that,” he said in a statement.
Cruz representatives did not immediately send messages to ABC News for comment on his activities over the weekend. He was back in Washington DC on Monday for Senate hearings.
Critics were key in emphasizing that Cruz’s social media messages and charitable actions took place at the same time that U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, DN.Y., one of Cruz’s harshest critics, flew to Texas to help with relief efforts.
The New York Congresswoman worked with Texas Congresswomen 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.
The Democratic congresswomen also helped distribute food and water and talk to families affected by the storm.
“Charity cannot replace policy, but solidarity is how we face climate change and build a better world,” Ocasio-Cortez said. tweeted.
In a statement to ABC News, the Houston Food Bank between February 17 and February 21 said it was distributing 1,000 emergency pallets containing shelf-stable food, water and products. The nonprofit praised the congresswomen for their efforts and outreach.
“Their efforts to raise awareness of distress here in Southeast Texas have been a great help,” the Houston Food Bank said in a statement.
Rahman said the Democrats in Texas are also grateful for the help of Ocasio-Cortez.
“Texas will not forget who was there for us during our greatest time of need, and we will hold responsible those who were not,” he said in a statement.