Sen. Ted Cruz has triggered a stir on-line after saying smoking is an individual’s personal “rattling alternative.”
The Texas Republican made the remark in response to a New York Publish report that mentioned New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration had performed a survey in search of opinions a couple of full ban on the sale of tobacco merchandise within the state.
Cruz shared the newspaper’s tweet concerning the article, and wrote that Democrats “are nanny-state authoritarians.”
He added: “Personally, I do not smoke cigarettes, however if you happen to select to take action, it is your rattling alternative!”
Dems are nanny-state authoritarians.
Personally, I don’t smoke cigarettes, however if you happen to select to take action, it’s your rattling alternative! https://t.co/AExEwKya8A
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 22, 2023
His alternative of phrases prompted a backlash, with many calling Cruz a hypocrite for not taking the identical stance in terms of abortion, marijuana legalization, and different points.
“Now do uteruses,” progressive commentator Brian Taylor Cohen replied to Cruz’s tweet.
“Aren’t you guys pushing a nationwide abortion ban? Would possibly wish to sit this one out,” Democratic strategist Zac Petkanas tweeted.
“That is wealthy,” tweeted writer Ellen Hopkins in response.
“Hey @tedcruz …. Y’all Repubs are telling us what we are able to learn; do with our our bodies; who we are able to love; that our children should have bible tales of their lecture rooms, however historical past should be whitewashed…. nanny-state authoritarians? The projection is off the charts.”
That is wealthy. Hey @tedcruz …. Y’all Repubs are telling us what we are able to learn; do with our our bodies; who we are able to love; that our children should have bible tales of their lecture rooms, however historical past should be whitewashed…. nanny-state authoritarians? The projection is off the charts https://t.co/EggfqcNXc5
— Ellen Hopkins (@EllenHopkinsLit) April 22, 2023
Hopkins’s books are among the many most banned within the U.S., in keeping with PEN America.
“Your physique, your alternative, proper? Until you are trans, or pregnant, or a pupil in public college, or a marijuana person, or a POC present in public,” Caitlin Moore tweeted. “Go residence, Ted, actually nobody likes you.”
One other Twitter person wrote: “Republicans throughout the US are telling youngsters which books they will learn, telling lecturers what elements of historical past or human sexuality they will focus on, telling girls they have to give beginning to undesirable infants, and banning drag exhibits. However, certain, it is the democrats who’re nanny-staters.”
Newsweek has contacted Cruz’s workplace for remark through e-mail.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP through Getty Pictures
Cruz beforehand prompted anger on Twitter after utilizing the hashtag #YourBodyYourChoice, a slogan usually utilized by advocates for abortion rights, in a 2021 tweet in help of basketball gamers who reportedly refused to get vaccinated towards COVID-19.
The Texan celebrated the Supreme Courtroom’s overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling final 12 months, calling it “nothing in need of an enormous victory for all times.”
Roe‘s fall led to abortion being banned with no exceptions for rape or incest in Cruz’s residence state.
In 2021, Texas enacted a controversial regulation that empowers non-public residents to sue abortion suppliers and those that help anybody in search of an abortion after about six weeks of being pregnant.