With virus cases across the country reaching record highs and the death rates slowly rising, many states have issued additional restrictions to try and protect American lives leading into the holiday season.
There are few states where such restrictions are more needed than in Texas, where morgues are overflowing with bodies and the healthcare system struggles to cope with the influx of cases.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz, however, seems to be pretending the global pandemic is some sort of liberal plot to steal his Thanksgiving. He recently tweeted a meme daring anyone to "come and take" his Thanksgiving turkey.
https://t.co/HSCSdXkst9— Ted Cruz (@Ted Cruz)1606017576.0
WARNING: Potentially disturbing. National Guard troops unload bodies from one of the nine mobile morgue trucks at… https://t.co/nnnypv1rl0— Keenan Willard (@Keenan Willard)1605992902.0
Many online found the contrast between Texans' dire situation and Cruz's flippant tweet disturbing.
Yesterday, the Texas Division of Emergency Management announced that a team from the National Guard had been mobili… https://t.co/yXNvmZoXIV— Max Kennerly (@Max Kennerly)1606025722.0
In Texas: 1.16 million cases of COVID. 21,000 deaths. Yesterday alone: 11,000 new cases. 132 deaths. They just… https://t.co/FGGsNy0d6X— Scott Hechinger (@Scott Hechinger)1606070329.0
This is the Senator’s home state *this weekend* as the National Guard & jail trustees load tractor trailers with bo… https://t.co/sQ57JxHKBu— Gregg Favre (@Gregg Favre)1606070361.0
Meanwhile, even many healthy Texans are struggling to deal with the economic downturn caused by America's failure to deal with the virus in a responsible manner.
Instead of doing anything to help his constituents, Cruz would rather own the libs.
Thousands of cars lined up to collect food in Dallas, Texas, over the weekend, stretching as far as the eye can see. https://t.co/xLFGOcBkPK— CBS News (@CBS News)1605543300.0
Texas food banks: we’re overwhelmed with thousands needing help Ted Cruz: Haha. I have a turkey. Eff everyone else. https://t.co/ETdN73nONh— The Hoarse Whisperer (@The Hoarse Whisperer)1606072469.0
I hope this is a legitimate offer to the 25,000 people who were lined up at a food bank in your state last week. Or… https://t.co/I58lbZnk3o— Cori Bush (@Cori Bush)1606067537.0
@tedcruz They’re *trying* to come and take it, but the lines for food in Texas are a bit long. https://t.co/t6cPd8BxcH— Kevin M. Kruse (@Kevin M. Kruse)1606054160.0
there's a 2 mile long line of cars waiting at a Food Bank in Dallas and the Texas National Guard was called up to d… https://t.co/2mYjLjMTwz— Matt Oswalt (@Matt Oswalt)1606065452.0
Few on Twitter were very shocked by Cruz's insensitivity.
With Republicans unwilling to offer any further aid to Americans whose lives have been affected by the virus, their only remaining option is to mock their opponents.
Of course the right is focusing on fake culture wars while millions of people that voted for them literally cannot… https://t.co/qHtDlbz5nk— 🌽🌽Erica, the white trash socialist🌽🌽™️ (@🌽🌽Erica, the white trash socialist🌽🌽™️)1606060356.0
One reason we have 256K dead from a preventable disease in the United States is politicians more interested in trol… https://t.co/6CgEGTV3fH— Don "Big Chooch" Moynihan (@Don "Big Chooch" Moynihan)1606063690.0
It's not about a turkey you goddamn idiot, it's about not accidentally killing your grandma. https://t.co/l7nClzoECf— Lee J. Carter (@Lee J. Carter)1606056341.0
Even without taking the enormous human toll of the virus into account, it seems like there are better things Ted Cruz could be doing.
Trump: Your wife is ugly. Cruz: She’s not winning any beauty pageants, that’s for sure. Trump: Your dad killed J… https://t.co/cP5wI6QlTS— The Volatile Mermaid (@The Volatile Mermaid)1606127848.0
Ted Cruz has defended a Butterball Turkey more than when Donald Trump called his wife ugly, kids worthless, and his dad a murderer.— Tony Posnanski (@Tony Posnanski)1606137673.0
@tedcruz These messages from our “leaders” has your constituents dying in El Paso right now. Texas National Guard j… https://t.co/agCstH7i40— Ashley Bartholomew, BSN, RN (@Ashley Bartholomew, BSN, RN)1606061767.0
@tedcruz The Texas National Guard was called in this week because there aren’t enough workers to move the bodies.… https://t.co/zGiXbKJaoy— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel Jollett)1606054926.0
@tedcruz Welp. https://t.co/YMfsPF6Pdi— JerriLynn (@JerriLynn)1606091223.0
The virus isn't going away any time soon. Perhaps, if things get bad enough, Senator Ted Cruz will start to give Americans the respect their situations deserve.