Tweets by Republican lawmakers from Texas mocking California power outages are being criticized this week as the Lone Star State grapples with winter storms that have caused many to lose power in their homes.
GOP lawmakers dinged Democrats when in 2019 massive heat waves in California caused widespread power outages that impacted 30 of the state's 58 counties.
Over the weekend, an unusual winter storm left millions in Texas without power, causing the state's power grid operator to declare its highest state of emergency and bringing to light the Republican lawmakers' old tweets.
ADVERTISEMENTHere are three Texas Republicans mocking California power outages last year and my Dallas bathtub this morning, a literal block of ice pic.twitter.com/ViGZuTZz40
— Brandon Friedman (@BFriedmanDC) February 16, 2021A tweet by Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzGOP rises to meet Ukraine challenge to define itself White House pushes back on 'disingenuous attacks' against JacksonHawley says sentences in 10 child porn cases raise red flags on Supreme Court pick MORE (R-Texas) from August received particular attention for blaming Joe BidenJoe BidenBelarusian president says Putin is 'completely sane' and 'in better shape than ever' Arizona Democrat tests positive for COVID-19 Thousands of Mariupol residents forcibly taken to Russia, city council says MORE and Kamala HarrisKamala HarrisHarris swears in Shalanda Young as White House budget chief in historic firstIrish PM tests positive for COVID-19 during visit to DC Security grants available for HBCUs that received bomb threats MORE, who were then running for president and vice president, and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezPro-choice Latina group launches incumbent protection campaign Congress must strengthen protections against insider trading by its members and their families Five myths about Generation Z MORE, who represents New York, for wanting to make California's "failed energy policy the standard nationwide."
My parents hv been without electricity for almost 24hrs in Houston they are not even rotating power outages in Houston anymore. Looks like Republicans like you took energy for granted, and didn’t invest enough in the power grid in Texas.
— Cloudydays16 need PPE now (@cloudydays1971) February 16, 2021ADVERTISEMENTSenator Ted Cruz: "Hope you don't like air conditioning!"https://t.co/vj6ZR6DpJP
— Brian Kahn (@blkahn) February 16, 2021
Retweeting a post about this article, Cruz said Tuesday evening that he had "no defense" and urged Texans to "stay safe" amid the blizzard.
I got no defense. ♂️A blizzard strikes Texas & our state shuts down. Not good.Stay safe! https://t.co/kBPGrGHmvI
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 17, 2021A tweet by Rep. Dan CrenshawDaniel CrenshawSullivan: Sanctions relief in Venezuela must be 'tied to concrete steps' House passes bill banning Russian oil imports, authorizing sanctions Can SpaceX save NASA's International Space Station? MORE (R-Texas) from September also resurfaced in which he quote-tweeted the account of the mayor of Los Angeles and wrote, "Alexa, show me what happens when you let Democrats control energy policy."
The mayor's tweet had suggested Californians turn off excess lights and unplug appliances to conserve energy.
Alexa, show me what happens when you let Democrats control energy policy. https://t.co/PLtgofajlg
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) September 8, 2020ADVERTISEMENTRep. Ruben GallegoRuben GallegoSupport in both parties grows for providing air power to Ukraine Democrats urge DOJ to address 'insider threats' from candidates who deny 2020 results Democrats hunt for the right campaign stars MORE (D-Ariz.) tweeted on Tuesday that the impact of the winter storm in Texas should be a lesson "to stop dunking on other states when they are going through disasters."
“I hope this will teach Texas politicians to stop dunking on other states when they are going through disasters. All Americans deserve help and empathy from fellow Americans no matter if it is a blue or red state. (I am guilty of this and will be better),” Gallego tweeted.
I hope this will teach Texas politicians to stop dunking on other states when they are going through disasters. All Americans deserve help and empathy from fellow Americans no matter if it is a blue or red state. (I am guilty of this and will be better)
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) February 16, 2021Updated at 8:26 p.m.