Ted Cruz’s Dr. Seuss Tweet Has People Scratching Their Heads

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) tried to spin the decision of Dr. Seuss Enterprises to stop publishing six children’s books containing racist and outdated imagery into an attack on President Joe Biden.

But the Texas Republican — still under fire for abandoning his winter storm-hit home state for a family vacation in Cancun, and then joking about it during his Conservative Political Action Conference speech last week ― was immediately mocked on Twitter.

In two tweets, Cruz on Wednesday appeared to suggest Biden was somehow responsible for the publisher pulling the books.

Who knew Joe Biden was such a great book seller. pic.twitter.com/7SNmUOQGaB

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 3, 2021

Could Biden try to ban my book next?

One Vote Away was the #1 Bestseller on Amazon a couple of months ago...maybe Joe could get it back there?

GET it HERE: https://t.co/qts9gyKX1A https://t.co/C7nrpwQhPr

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 3, 2021

Critics were more than puzzled by the posts:

They didn't discontinue The Cat in the Hat or Green Eggs and Ham and Joe Biden had nothing to do with a company's decision to stop publishing racist stuff.

As I asked on my show last night: can Cruz get through any week/day without saying something ridiculous or dishonest? https://t.co/bNuX5flZhw

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) March 3, 2021

do... do you think joe biden runs the seuss estate..

— Rob DenBleyker (@RobDenBleyker) March 3, 2021

Hey @tedcruz as long as we are talking about books I found a couple you might be interested in next time we have a crisis in Texas. pic.twitter.com/KtOE3tcfwr

— WhatIfBarackOrHillarySaidIt 😷🗳️ (@IfBarack) March 3, 2021

Omg I just realized that none of those books were “canceled”. Plus it’s Dr. Seuss’s estate that’s “cancelling” them, not Biden. But Cruz never lets facts get in his way. https://t.co/pXnzqKeBLk

— Lisa Wetzelberger (@LisaWetzelberge) March 3, 2021

Congrats. You solved ZERO problems your TX constituents are facing today with this tweet.

But the dumb culture wars are lining your pockets... https://t.co/iROv2dTIPa

— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) March 4, 2021

Kinda weird that you’re touting a “best seller” list as an example of “banned” books. Of course, that’s completely on brand for you

— Kyle Kolbe (@kkolbe77) March 3, 2021

Maybe you missed it while in Cancun but Biden has not done anything to cancel book publication.

Nada. Nothing. Zilch.

Private sector decision, Senator. https://t.co/T3sDhsprK7

— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) March 3, 2021

The amazing thing about Cruz is that he gets absolutely owned in the replies every single time he posts a dumb-as-pigshit tweet like this, but he just keeps at it, undeterred. I almost admire that. Almost. Anyway, he’s an asshole. https://t.co/652FUnLL27

— Gary Whitta (@garywhitta) March 3, 2021

“And To Think That I Saw It On A Cancun Beach” by Dr. Cruz https://t.co/6cQ7ereMvC

— Aditya Sood (@adityasood) March 3, 2021

Republicans are having a multi-day freakout over a private publishing company's decision to let some of its books go out of print, which has nothing to do with the President or Congress.

Meanwhile, they are trying to block aid to address the deadly pandemic and economic crisis. https://t.co/AoDpleld2a

— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) March 3, 2021

Says the tour guide to Cancun. https://t.co/4rSyjS0skQ

— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) March 3, 2021

Again, having failed at governing, the @gop turns to culture wars.

It's all they've got.

Call them out on it. Every time. https://t.co/kDtwOXOPJy

— Billy Ray (@BillyRay5229) March 4, 2021

they are also available in e-book versions so they don’t weigh down your carry-on bag next time you bail on your state to go to Cancún https://t.co/OPicW3O7VG

— elizabeth ann lowder (@getlowder) March 4, 2021

WTF is this all about.

Cruz is smart enough to know that Biden had absolutely no involvement with the decision of the Dr. Seuss estate to stop selling a few of his books. (Not any of these bestsellers.)

But Cruz thinks people are dumb enough that this will be effective. https://t.co/S2JZrfuuAo

— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) March 3, 2021

I feel like this attempt to stir up ignorant anger in your base is more transparent than usual.

— Amanda (@AmandaGaBaBa) March 3, 2021

Joe Biden had nothing to do with the decision to stop publishing a handful of Dr. Seuss books.

Joe Biden hasn't even mentioned Dr. Seuss.

I'm genuinely curious why you think Joe Biden has anything to do with this right-wing culture freakout. https://t.co/J4iaPzM7q5

— Matthew Chapman (@fawfulfan) March 3, 2021

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.