U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas drew harsh criticism this weekend for tweeting a “war on Thanksgiving” meme while the national guard helped El Paso deal with overflowing morgues and Dallas residents flocked for emergency food aid.
Cruz, a Republican known for his frequent Twitter brawls with celebrities, tweeted out the meme Saturday. Its imagery plays on the “Come and Take It” flag flown during Texas’ war for independence.
Right-wing figures ranging from fellow Texas Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Roy to talk radio hosts have embraced the “war on Thanksgiving” culture-war narrative to falsely claim government officials are forcing Americans not to celebrate the holiday amid the pandemic.
In reality, the Centers for Disease Control and others have recommended people avoid large gatherings and travel, celebrating instead with their immediate households to avoid worsening already escalating COVID-19 numbers.
Twitter users dogpiled Cruz over the callous tweet, pointing out that his own state has been hit particularly hard as coronavirus cases balloon. U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minnesota, shared an article about thousands lining up for an emergency food distribution in Dallas, while others retweeted articles about the alarming COVID-19 death toll in El Paso.
“Twitter isn’t real life. Memes aren’t legislation,” one user tweeted in response to Cruz’s meme. “Americans are suffering & too many — too far removed from our struggle — are thinking about re-election.”
Predictably, new anti-Ted Cruz memes also appeared. (In addition to the myriad already created during his more than seven years in the Senate.)
While it’s easy to understand the outrage, arguing with Cruz on Twitter is kind of pointless. To a large degree, he’s made his name as a politician taking to social media to bait progressives and play to his base.
It’s increasingly clear Cruz has little interest in truth or working to find any middle ground. After all, this is guy who said with the fucking cameras rolling that he “guaranteed” COVID-19 restrictions would evaporate a week after Joe Biden won the election.
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This article appears in Nov 18 – Dec 1, 2020.
