4 times politicians displayed hypocrisy, forsook mandates

By Emily Hawley, Op-ed contributor Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks at the annual International Christian Concern Capitol Hill policy day in Washington, D.C., May 24, 2017. | (Photo: The Christian Post/Samuel Smith)

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has come under fire for traveling to Cancun, Mexico with his family while millions of Texans suffered from the effects of a deadly winter storm with sub-freezing temperatures and widespread power outages that claimed the lives of nearly 60 people.

Cruz’s decision to take his family on vacation during one of the worst winter storms in recent Texas memory drew pushback from Democrats and critics who have pointed to his past criticisms of leaders who vacationed or took part in leisure activities during times of crisis.

But Cruz is not the first politician to be accused of holding a double standard. Many in recent years have also faced backlash for seemingly hypocritical actions that have drawn the ire of opponents and constituents.

In the last year alone, several politicians have been accused of engaging in acts of hypocrisy. The following pages highlight four times politicians have been accused in the past year of not following the expectations they or members of their political party have set.