I find myself unable to defend, but also unable to condemn Senator Ted Cruz for fleeing to Cancun on United Airlines in the midst of a horrific disaster in Texas.
Ted Cruz Flies To Mexico. Did He Abandon His Constituents In Texas?
Texas is a mess this week. Bad weather layered upon bad weather layered upon further bad weather has meant frighteningly cold temperatures. The power grid was unable to keep up and millions are without power, with utility operators unable to even identify when power will be restored. Sadly, the death count is rising.
Enter Ted Cruz, the junior Republican U.S. Senator from Texas. While millions huddle in jackets inside homes not designed for such cold weather, Cruz and his family were spotted at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston jetting off in business class to the warm beaches of Cancun.
Re: the Ted Cruz/Cancun thing, this is the photo that unlocks the whole thing. He’s in a United terminal. In the top left you can that it’s 4:10 pm (or 4ish PM at least). To the left of that, you can see that he’s near gate E11, with its destination being Ft. Lauderdale. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/hUuUqSNBze
— Nesler (@thatnesler) February 18, 2021
Just confirmed @SenTedCruz and his family flew to Cancun tonight for a few days at a resort they’ve visited before. Cruz seems to believe there isn’t much for him to do in Texas for the millions of fellow Texans who remain without electricity/water and are literally freezing. pic.twitter.com/6nPiVWtdxe
— David Shuster (@DavidShuster) February 18, 2021
I’m not going to defend Ted Cruz, because he is an elected representative, a job which does not stop during a storm. The optics are really bad here and he would have earned himself more favors by staying behind, even if it meant sitting at home in the cold without electricity or water (though I suspect Cruz has a generator). Images of going to door-to-door checking on his constituents, especially if he ventured outside his affluent neighborhood in Houston, would have been a powerful gesture.
But I also note he has a wife and children and that protecting them is his fundamental job; more fundamental than his duty to the entire state. Furthermore, what can he really accomplish from his home in Texas that he cannot in Mexico? In fact, if he was without power at home, he could actually accomplish even less.
He cannot wave his hands and turn the power back on. He is probably not suited to go on a door-to-door rescue campaign. What he can do is demand accountability from Texas utility companies and state leadership. That can just as easily be accomplished from a beach in Mexico as from a home in Texas.
Scarcity is an issue here. Not everyone has the financial resources to escape Texas during a storm. There’s also not enough airline seats even if money was not an issue.
But it is the indignation over his conduct worries me.
Isn’t this outrage what birthed Trumpism in the first place? The “drain the swamp” rhetoric was not the issue, as the last four years demonstrated. Cruz, like Trump, seems woefully out of touch with his “average” constituents. But perhaps that is not the issue.
People voted for Trump because he said what millions were too afraid to say. There was no pandering or lip service. He spoke his mind, offended many, and delighted his base. People felt that Trump was “genuine” and in many senses he was…we have to give him props for appealing to his base by acting in a base manner.
When the so-called “liberal media” piles upon Cruz, ridiculing him for being a “bad person” it causes his support base (at least a plurality of the state), to dig in. It makes them more likely to support exactly the demagoguery that led to the rise of Trump and led Cruz, who Trump viciously attacked, to nevertheless support him anyway.
That’s my take at least…
CONCLUSION
View from the Wing, perhaps wisely, doesn’t take a position on the conduct of Senator Cruz. While my ultimate conclusion is neither to defend nor attack Senator Cruz, I do fear that the outrage over his conduct may end up doing more harm than good at promoting accountability. Speaking for me, though, you can bet I’d also get out of Texas if I had no water or power at home.
Do you think Senator Cruz should have traveled during the storm?
image: @thatnesler / Twitter
So with respect, what does all this have to do with travel, other than of course flying to Mexico is the issue? While I can not speak for others that read various travel blogs but I come here for two reasons one for any travel related posts that might be useful ( averaging pre covid 125K PAID business travel annually) and two something more on the lighter side from politics now we have to thank you for this. The very fact that you wrote and posted this your essentially condemning Senator Cruz, rightfully or wrongly. Having grown up in DC and going to Georgetown I can “smell” a political commentary “a mile away” Let’s get back to travel something you do fairly well.
SAD.
Georgetown? Really?
Not just ham-fisted name-dropping/lying, but also letting us know how much they purportedly spent on business travel plus incorrect use of quotes for…emphasis? If I were Georgetown, I’d disavow all knowledge of this “graduate”.
This is not an issue of who he is in the eye of Democrats. This would be an issue with ANYONE in his position, no matter his affiliation, in that the optics are horrible. It’s basic commons sense. If he is concerned for his wife and children he could have sent them to Mexico to sit at a resort.
Poor judgement on his part. No, there is probably not much he can do anyway. But his presence and a “we are in this together” attitude with his constituents would go a long way in giving people hope. Sometimes politics is not about doing anything other than showing empathy and compassion during difficult times.
Ditching his constituents when they’re in a dire time of need shows a distinct lack of leadership. Didn’t he also excoriate the mayor of Austin for traveling during this same pandemic? Stunning hypocrisy and abrogation of leadership aside, the whole thing comes across as a “Brave Sir Robin” move. Not good no matter how you slice it.
Matthew if your goal was to stir folks up to get your blog post trending on social media then you probably succeeded. I don’t come here (sorry – that will be past tense here on out) to hear about what you think about Cruz et al. There are many reasons here as to why Cruz fleeing the state while the rest of us Texans sit here in the dark with water boil notices is objectionable. Your blog post doesn’t even scratch the surface. Most laughably you were swayed by Cruz’s post-hoc justification about protecting his family. If anything Cruz travelling with his family makes them a bigger target. This blog has been failing for years (lol how many times have I rolled my eyes when you republished years old first class reviews because “the product hasn’t changed”). If you aren’t capable of experiencing the product that you purport to be an expert in you ought to reconsider professions.
I think you give up the ability to do stuff like that when you become an elected official. This has nothing to do with his party of who he supported and everything to do with his choice. He left to go to Cancun during a time when people can’t even stay warm in his state.
You mention protecting his family and that is a fair point, but he left. His family leaving doesn’t matter, they have no duty to the state and they should be free to do what they want.
I just don’t get how you can defend someone that is leaving the place that elected him during a huge natrul disaster to go on vacation. It shows a lack of care from him and really shows how people in goverment are all self centered at the end of the day.
What a horrible take. You’re suggesting he went to Cancun to work?
“Furthermore, what can he really accomplish from his home in Texas that he cannot in Mexico? In fact, if he was without power at home, he could actually accomplish even less.”
This must be parody.
He’s an elected representative that could easily keep his family warm while working from government offices that have internet and getting help to the millions of people in incredibly dangerous situations.
Instead, he left and took a vacation. Dude is not working from the beach in Cancun.
These political takes are ruining the blog.
That’s not what I suggested at all.
You said he could get more done in Mexico than in Texas. That’s crazy and just an absurd statement.
Yes, if he has no power or water or cell signal at his house.
@Matthew Klint
I like your writing a lot but this article is patently absurd. And if you won’t take my word for it take Trey Gowdy’s (an ultra pro Trump fox news contributor) — who also found Cruz’s behavior to be totally abhorrent.
But I’m not Trey Gowdy. I think the comment from “DCA Will Always Be National” below is a good one and probably right. I may have got this one wrong. I’m actually not a Cruz fan by any stretch because he didn’t have the balls to stand up to Trump, but I look at Beto’s photo ops more critically than Cruz’s escape.
“But I also note he has a wife and children and that protecting them is his fundamental job; more fundamental than his duty to the entire state. ” What an incredibly sexist statement! I am sure that Heidi Cruz is completely capable of taking their children to Mexico on her own. Does she need “protecting”? If she can’t travel unaccompanied, someone better let Goldman Sachs know that Ms. Cruz can’t take business trips on her own.
Wow, way to miss the point. The two are not mutually exclusive. It’s her duty too…
I did not miss your point. That is how you phrased your argument. But even so, was there a need for both parents to go? Cruz is apparently on his way back to Houston.
The Cruz FAMILY have a fundamental responsibility to keep their members safe, but they also have to balance their official responsibilities as public figures. TED, as a statewide elected official, bears a responsibility to concern himself with appearances, provide an example, and at least appear to care about the crisis around him. I know you weren’t intending to be sexist, but the whole “man must take care of his clan” struck that note with me too. You just can’t convince me that Ted is the only one in the family able to get his clan to warmer confines. It’s not a war zone, it’s a flight on a commercial carrier (in a premium cabin).
Don’t people also have a duty to their community and colleagues?
For example, doesn’t a healthcare worker have a duty to work during a pandemic, and not abandon post? Can’t just show up on vaccine day, but flee the country when s— hits the fan in a pandemic.
I see what you did there.
LOL – now he’s on his way back!
Would love to hear how you make sense of this one Matt. I’m still under the impression that it’s freezing in TX and that he would potentially be putting himself and his family in harm by doing so.
Chris I am not sure he was “defending” Cruz simply by posting this reflects to the contrary.
Let’s get back to travel.
And they say we have global warming LOL
I’m with everyone here. Regardless of what you think of Cruz, to suggest that the anger directed at a public official who vacations during a disaster in his/her own district is equivalent to “Trumpism” really misses the point.
Any elected official before and after Trump should not be fleeing their own district when there are tough times. Your constituents can’t flee so you should stay and help them out as much as you can.
Being “out of touch” is exactly the issue.
Despite not seeing the relevance to a travel blog, I will also throw in my $0.002 …
Yes, the optics are poor. He should be at least sensitive to that. But what really matters is whether or not Cruz actually uses his influence to effect meaningful change in Texas energy policy so that my friends in the Lone Star State never again have to worry about having access to power, water and heat because of a storm like this. Smart government regulation is not about keeping the people (read: companies) down, but protecting people. I’m not confident that he’ll do that, but I will keep an open mind.
Agreed.
At least he owned the fact he was a douche in hindsight criticizing CA on their energy policies…oops
It may be bad optics, but as a practical matter: what could he really do about this? It’s not like he’s going to defrost wind turbines or apply heat tracing to natural gas pipelines. And I seriously doubt that he has a truck and plow to clear his neighbors driveways. So I’ll give this the same shrug that the mainstream media gives for any democrat that does the same “let them eat cake” routine.
He could be working a phone bank calling elderly and at risk citizens and getting them help, like Beto. It’s called public service for a reason.
This should not be news on a travel site other than he is traveling. anyway, his money, his family. They are wearing masks and doing nothing wrong. Other politicians did way worse during lockdowns getting their hair done when others could not, having dinners at a fancy restaurants where nobody could, etc…
In fairness, I wrote about that too.
The point isn’t “what can he do about it?” The point is that he’s an elected official. He’s supposed to be a leader (though granting him that title is dubious, at best) of all his constituents regardless of political affiliation and show solidarity and compassion. Leaders lead from the front.
Without letting this devolve into a pissing match between military branches, you were in the AF and you should understand this. It’s not just the optics, it speaks to his character, too. Does a platoon/company commander bolt when his/her unit gets into a firefight? No. They can’t single-handedly win the battle but they don’t go anywhere until every soldier/Marine is accounted for and (hopefully) safe – whether they’re in the COC or in the firefight itself. I realize that is a bit of hyperbole, but you get the point.
Agreed. Federal lawmakers still have constituents and enormous influence.
Even if it was only for optics, Beto O’Rourke led a phone bank to check on the welfare of senior citizens. There’s something to be said about the intangible moral support that type of leadership provides. It’s not about shaming a political party.
To me, this situation is easily condemnable because Ted Cruz is a public figure, and with that level of celebrity comes a higher degree of scrutiny.
Exactly. Really disappointed this is coming from Matthew.
I’m quite jaded by US politics by now and so sick of politicians trying to act important by photo ops at food banks or on the phone. I’m sick of it. I despise politicians who do that, no matter the partisan identification.
Now being reported that he also took some police away from helping those in the city in getting water and emergency supplies out so as to “escort” his family to the airport. The entitlement is strong in this one.
That is very disgusting if true.
Here you go it’s confirmed Matt: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.businessinsider.com/ted-cruz-cancun-trip-houston-police-security-detail-winter-storm-2021-2%3famp
Can you revise the article to say you condemn him now?
Very bad.
He must’ve needed help with his luggage.
The mayor of Austin,Texas shot a PSA on staying home SIP and shut down Austin from his Villa In Cabo with 8 of his friends!! where is Nancy Probably flew back to Napa on her Private(taxpayers) Jet???
Awesome deflection dee! Can always count on you for a “whaddabout” post.
Speaker Pelosi flies commercial BTW…I sat behind her on an AA LGA-DCA flight a few years ago in fact. Keep spouting that fake news though.
You are right Matt. There’s nothing Ted Cruz could have done to help. AOC just raised a million dollars for Texas based relief organizations today. Beto O’Rourke helped organize volunteers to make over 750,000 wellness calls to Texas seniors to help connect them to food, water, shelter, and transport. But, yeah, nothing Ted Cruz could have done. Might as well jet off to Cancun. Its not like he has a platform where he could convince people to do anything. Maybe if he was one of those people who could, say, lie about elections being stolen and have people ready to take action based on whatever he says. But he’s just Ted Cruz, nothing he could have done.
Also, he just put out a statement trying to blame his children for the trip, and hide behind them to save his political skin. Spare me the crap about him having to “protect” his family.
Initially the spin was that he was just accompanying his family there and had always intended to come right back. Not that anyone actually believed that or that Mr Cruz cares about the truth but…
From @ByERussell
Spoke to a source at United Airlines, Senator Ted Cruz rebooked his flight back to Houston from Cancun for this afternoon at around 6 a.m. today (Thursday). He was originally scheduled to return on Saturday.
Seriously? Yet another cheap shot political post. When was the last such political cheap shot you posted concerning Queen Nancy or Biden or any dem? lol, unimaginable. MUST DEMONIZE CONSERVATIVES ONLY. And what does this have to do with travel, you ask? Actually nothing. Which is why we have to keep reminding ourselves that these are “travel blogs”. What a shame that liberal “travel” bloggers can’t help themselves and feel the need to dutifully pass on whatever latest petty cheap shots MSNBC and CNN are throwing out today with the most pathetic attempts at relating it to our “travel” interests. Do any of you liberals have ONE original thought other than MUST DEMONIZE A CONSERVATIVE or are you required to only think and say exactly what MSNBC and CNN talking heads tell you to think and say? You are nothing but one huge echo chamber. I would feel embarrassed for you, but “luckily” none of you are capable of thinking outside your defined liberal echo chamber so no worries about you being embarrassed.
But give it the old college try! Maybe stop with the typical lecturing and holier-than-thou-ing virtue signaling and your incessant demonizing of the evil Right and stick with your professed blog subject. We get more than enough of the incessant petty demonizing everywhere else. Just a thought.
Go start up that Conservative Travel Blog if you’d like. Should make for great content. Almost as good as the sum total of Conservative Comedians’ laughs generated (crickets chirping)
ua-nyc.. you’re making Al’s point exactly
I am cutting Ted Cruz no slack at all, after he mocked California so viciously last year when limited black-outs occurred, mostly to prevent fires and save lives.
“California is now unable to perform even basic functions of civilization, like having reliable electricity.”
Or
“Hope you don’t like air conditioning!”
Raphael “Ted” Cruz-August 19, 2020
Remember that this is the guy who John Boehner (R) called “Lucifer in the flesh” and other unprintable things too.
His staff was completely non-responsive to information requests about this trip. Why, if there was nothing wrong with it?
He now says that he flew there just to bring his daughters on their vacation, implying that his return today was planned. However, we now learn that he was not scheduled to return to Saturday.
Meanwhile, Beto O’Rourke has organized Texans to check in on seniors and take them to warming shelters, if necessary. Some had food in a couple of days. I’m not saying he’s this great hero, but he is being compassionate and helpful.
Cruz’s actions say, “Let them eat frozen cake.”
“Ted, you’re doing a heck of a job.”
“WOULDN’T YOU?” No I wouldn’t. Looks and is absolutely indefensible.
Austin resident here. I’ve actually been stuck in Denver since Sunday because no planes have landed at AUS all week. Hopefully I’ll get back on Saturday…
While I’ve been up here in Denver, I’ve enjoyed great hotel rates, consistent upgrades, and uninterrupted internet service. Ted had options other than Mexico if he needed to “go somewhere safe,” but he, like most elected officials, don’t believe what they say or do to others applies to them.
I wonder if he’s actually required to get a COVID test to fly back to the USA. I’m sure there’s probably a carveout for members of the Senate in there.
He’s on an important assignment, leave him alone.
https://babylonbee.com/news/heroic-ted-cruz-goes-to-cancun-to-lasso-the-sun-and-bring-it-back-to-texas
Absurd article. Absurb behavior by a U.S. Senator. Enough said.
Matt, how do I unsubscribe from your emails? I am looking for serious info on travel, not political or quasi-political musings.
Stop the political bull crap posts please. No one gives a crap about your take on politics. It’s ruining an otherwise great blog.
So maybe all the healthcare workers should have followed Cruz lead and not gone to work in the pandemic. After all they have a duty to take care of their families.
Fire fighters should not go into a burning building . After all if anything happens to them who will take care of their families.
Quite the specious argument there.
My Senator has ridiculed other govenrment officals for ‘playing’ when he thought they should be on duty. As such he should be ready for the critisism this has generated.
Clinton was slick. Cruz is slimmy. IMO
I would perfer someone else to be my Senator. But I find nothing wrong with him taking off to Cancun asside from the optics, COVID (although his family most likely is fully vacinated (see optics)) and the fact that he doesn’t have the integrity to speak the truth as his wife did in her alleged tweets albeit before the fuss.
As to whetther or not this is a subject for a travel blog: if it upsets you 1) don’t read the article; 2) stop reading the blog.
Read more about Klint’s man crush on Cruz here:
https://liveandletsfly.com/ted-cruz-mask-investigation/
“I met Ted Cruz and his wife Heidi while attending a Kentucky Derby afterparty in 2016….We had a nice conversation…he seems to be a decent guy who I’ve met on other occasions as well.”
Man crush. Lol. Nice detective work, Alan. You exposed me!
Appalling, scandalous and disgraceful . His wife and children were not in imminent danger, unlike so many others. “The optics are bad” is a massive understatement…he’s either a total numpty or so arrogant he doesn’t care (…they’re not mutually exclusive and often seen in combination).
He’s a gonna at the next election …and good riddance…
Let’s hope so!
GOP = GREEDY OLD PERVERTS! It’s all about “ME, ME, ME” and for the Rich!
Lying Ted is a soulless Lucifer-in-flesh who once fought to keep a man in Jail for 16 years for stealing a calculator (see below)!
https://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20160112/Opinion/605201713
Hmm.. makes me wonder: Did you ever post anything about this?
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/president-obama-slammed-failing-visit-louisiana-flood-sites-n633541
I doubt it. Can’t go against team blue!
A couple of commenters above have the right idea. Me as a private citizen? Of course I’d get my family the h*ll out of Dodge (er, Dallas) if I lost power. Thankfully my lights stayed on, but if they had gone out, my plan of last resort was to drive the 75 miles to Durant, Oklahoma (OK reportedly had no power issues) and get a hotel there. Nor do I blame anyone with the means of doing so from doing so.
Ted Cruz doesn’t get that option, though. Fair or not, as an elected leader, P=R, and the optics of skipping town while your constituents shiver are horrible. Yes, doing something like handing out bottled water on the street corner would have been a cheap PR stunt, but something like that would have been the right thing to do. Or even just giving a Zoom interview from his freezing living room and grandstanding against ERCOT. If it’s wrong for Steve Adler, et. al. to scream “Stay Home Stay Safe” while they’re off vacationing in Cabo (and yes, Democrats, it is), then Cruz’s stunt isn’t any better.