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Ted Cruz Takes Heat After Ditching Frozen Lone Star State for Crisp Cancun

Ted Cruz might not have thought this one all the way through.

Things are downright dire in Texas this week, as an enormous and stunning weather event continues to wreak havoc on The Lone Star State.

Not only was the normally-balmy state blasted with sustained arctic cold and brutally slippery precipitation, but an attempt to mitigate damage to the power grid through the use of rolling blackouts completely backfired, leaving millions cold and in the dark for days.  This included a number of nursing homes and hospitals, and created issues with the water supply as well.

This is why Texas Senator Ted Cruz’s trip to Cancun this week is coming under such fire. 

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz acknowledged on Thursday that he had traveled to Mexico for a family vacation this week, leaving his home state as thousands of constituents struggled without power or safe drinking water after a powerful winter storm.

The high-profile Republican, a potential White House candidate in 2024, said in a statement that he had accompanied his family after his daughters asked to go on a trip with friends, given that school was canceled for the week.

“Wanting to be a good dad, I flew down with them last night and am flying back this afternoon,” Cruz said after The Associated Press and other media outlets had reported details of the trip.

Cruz also intimated that he was still working in some capacity.

“My staff and I are in constant communication with state and local leaders to get to the bottom of what happened in Texas,” Cruz said. “We want our power back, our water on, and our homes warm.”

This didn’t stop his critics from pouncing, however, and soon Cruz was facing all sorts of heat over the decision….even from within his own party.

“That’s something that he has to answer to his constituents about,” state Republican Party Chairman Allen West said when asked whether Cruz’s travel was appropriate while Texans are without power and water.

“I’m here trying to take care of my family and look after my friends and others that are still without power,” West said. “That’s my focus.”

 

 

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