Bass’ Old Social media Post Revisted
Karen Bass’s recent jaunt to Africa has raised eyebrows and sparked intense scrutiny.
The Los Angeles mayor returned to find her leadership questioned after leaving the city during a critical time when fires were already threatening nearby areas. Her absence—on a taxpayer-funded “official” trip—has invited sharp criticism, and for good reason.
The premise of the trip is baffling. As the mayor of California’s largest city, Bass should be focused on managing crises at home, not participating in delegations to Ghana. Any justification for this trip, whether economic or symbolic, seems flimsy at best, particularly given the timing. The appearance of prioritizing international optics over immediate domestic responsibilities paints a troubling picture of misplaced priorities.
Oh boy. Here’s Karen Bass going after Ted Cruz, who was not a state official and had zero role in the response to the 2021 Texas ice storm.
Meanwhile, Bass used taxpayer money to fly to Africa for a pointless photo-op while her city burned. pic.twitter.com/MDnZEo1xVm
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) January 9, 2025
Compounding the issue is a resurfaced social media post from Bass, unearthed by RedState, in which she criticized Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) for traveling to Cancun during Texas’s 2021 ice storm. At the time, she suggested his decision reflected a failure of leadership so severe it merited broader political repercussions. Yet, Cruz, a federal legislator, played no direct role in managing the state’s emergency response. His decision, while questionable in optics, did not amount to an abdication of duty.
Jennings: Karen Bass was in Africa
Crockett: The storm came through Texas and Ted Cruz decided he was going to flee. pic.twitter.com/dUMPRZ9LB7
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 9, 2025
Bass’s situation, on the other hand, is categorically different. As Los Angeles mayor, she is the primary authority responsible for coordinating and guiding the city’s response during emergencies. Her absence during escalating fires left a leadership vacuum. The stark contrast between these two scenarios underscores a hypocrisy that her critics, including Delegate Stacey Plaskett’s clumsy defense, fail to reconcile.
Plaskett, a vocal figure known for controversial takes, tried to equate Cruz’s trip with Bass’s actions. Her argument falls flat. The situations are not comparable, and attempts to blur that distinction come across as desperate deflections. Bass’s decision to leave Los Angeles in a time of need is indefensible, and her inability to provide meaningful answers upon her return only deepens the wound.
Reminder that Karen Bass was vetted and on Biden’s shortlist for VP.
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) January 9, 2025