Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) extended an invitation to Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Twitter, urging him to provide insights into the historical background of America’s contrasting political parties. However, Cruz’s response was probably not what she anticipated.
The Twitter exchange began when Cruz initially commented on the travel advisory issued by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for Florida, which criticized the state for devaluing and marginalizing the contributions and struggles of African Americans and other communities of color.
“This is bizarre. And utterly dishonest.” Cruz stated in a tweet Sunday. “In the 1950s & 1960s, the NAACP did extraordinary good helping lead the civil rights movement. Today, Dr. King would be ashamed of how profoundly they lost their way.”
A user responded in accusation that Cruz “would’ve been first in line to filibuster against the voting rights act, and the civil rights act,” in the 1950s and ’60s.
“Nonsense. That shameful filibuster was led by Democrats – your party. My party – the Republicans – proudly voted for the Civil Rights Act in much higher percentages than the racist Dems,” Cruz retorted in a tweet.
AOC inserted herself into the dialog by saying, “Why don’t you go ahead and tell people what happened to the parties after that, Ted.”
Cruz took her up on the offer and responded in a tweet thread, saying, “Sure. – First, the Dem party founded the KKK. – Then the Dem party wrote Jim Crow laws. – Then the Dem party filibustered the Civil Rights Act.”
1/x Sure.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 23, 2023
– First, the Dem party founded the KKK.
– Then the Dem party wrote Jim Crow laws.
– Then the Dem party filibustered the Civil Rights Act. https://t.co/ix3fACqwkB
“Today, the Dem party filibusters school choice – trapping millions of Black kids in failing schools. – Today, the Dem party pushes abolishing the police, which results in many more Black lives murdered. – Today, every Dem senator voted against my bill to stop DC from throwing 40% of Black kids out of schools bc of vax mandate,” Cruz continued.
1/x Sure.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 23, 2023
– First, the Dem party founded the KKK.
– Then the Dem party wrote Jim Crow laws.
– Then the Dem party filibustered the Civil Rights Act. https://t.co/ix3fACqwkB
