Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who was mocked last week over a decision to flee to Cancun as millions in his state suffered amid storm damage that left them without power or running water, appears hopeful that a few jabs in his own direction will help repair his tainted image.
“Orlando is awesome. It’s not as nice as Cancun — but it is nice!” Cruz joked as he delivered remarks in the Sunshine State at the Conservative Political Action Conference, whose theme this year is “America Uncanceled.”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) at CPAC: "Orlando is awesome. It's not as nice as Cancun." pic.twitter.com/TghkHUhOPy
— The Recount (@therecount) February 26, 2021
The senator’s speech, titled “Bill of Rights, Liberty, and Cancel Culture,” was ammo aimed at cancel culture, which has become a key attack point for Republicans and a topic with which Cruz has recent firsthand experience.
As millions in his state endured winter storm damage last week that left them without heat or running water amid icy temperatures for days on end, Cruz was weathering quite a different storm.
After initially embarking on a Cancun getaway, his storm escape plans got cut short as tweets and commentary from both sides rained down on the move, which Cruz later acknowledged (after blaming his kids) was “a mistake.”
Cruz’s attempt at humor during CPAC follows his own harrowing, near-cancelling after the tone-deaf travel booking.