Oh, what a pity! Senator Ted Cruz confronted Representative Colin Allred in a debate last night, and the sense of secondhand embarrassment is still palpable.
It’s evident that occupying the role of Sen. Cruz during this debate was far from enviable.
The night was largely characterized by Rep. Allred drawing attention to Cruz’s history of voting against reproductive rights, his denial regarding the 2020 election results, and that infamous trip to Cancún while countless Texans endured a devastating snowstorm.
Rep. Allred began with a strong stance
At the beginning of the debate, Rep. Allred made it clear how he contrasts with Sen. Cruz. He emphasized not just the distinctions between the two parties, but also how each side represents the interests of Texans.
“I’m the exact opposite of Senator Cruz, who’s the most extreme senator in the United States Senate, possibly the most extreme in the past three decades,” Rep. Allred declared in his introductory comments. “But that’s not all. He’s mostly concerned with his own agenda. You can see that because he chose to go to Cancún when millions of Texans needed help, and lives were at stake. The truth is, we don’t need to be embarrassed by our senator. We can elect a new one.”
Rep. Allred effectively voiced what many were already contemplating: How can someone desert their constituents amid a natural disaster and energy crisis for a getaway to Cancún?
Sen. Ted Cruz stumbled when January 6 was brought up
Everyone recalls their location on January 6 during the insurrection. It remains one of the darkest days in U.S. history. Notably, Sen. Cruz had previously labeled the January 6th insurrectionists as “terrorists” but later retracted his statement, claiming he had mischaracterized his remarks.
During an appearance on FOX News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” Sen. Cruz walked back his words and referred to the insurrectionists as “patriots.”
This abrupt shift followed backlash from conservatives for initially labeling the insurrectionists as terrorists. Sen. Cruz attempted to refine his comments by stating that those who attacked law enforcement were terrorists. However, many in the Republican Party have sought to portray those who assaulted officers during the January 6th insurrection as patriotic demonstrators.
Rep. Allred firmly called out Sen. Cruz’s actions before and after the insurrection, asserting, “I must say, you can’t support the mob from January 6th and also support the officers. You can’t do both. It’s no laughing matter; it poses a threat to democracy.”
Sen. Cruz was one of the most vocal critics casting doubt on the election results in Arizona, part of his broader narrative alleging election fraud. He had even stated on January 2, 2021, that he would not support certifying the results of the 2020 election.
Social media users perceive Rep. Allred as the debate victor
In light of Cancún, reproductive rights, and the events surrounding January 6th, social media users quickly proclaimed that Sen. Cruz clearly lost the debate.
One thing is sure: it was an unfavorable evening for Sen. Cruz among voters. His inability to respond to a question regarding exceptions for abortion in cases of rape and incest left many viewers baffled. There was also considerable discussion about Sen. Cruz’s inclination to raise his voice during the debate, which projected an aura of desperation.
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