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Although the evidence doesn't prove that it's almost impossible that Senator Cruz is the Zodiac Killer (for example, the Killer's last murder was on 1969 and Cruz was born on 1970), it still doesn't prevent people from creating jokes about it. The creation of the years-long meme has been dated back to 2013, but began to gain popularity during the 2016 Presidential Primaries. A poll conducted by Public Policy Polling on February 2016 asked Florida Republicans if he was the Zodiac Killer, along with general election-related questions, and concluded that 10% believe that they thought the Senator was the infamous murderer while 28% were not sure. Even Cruz's wife, Heidi, was asked about the issue and denied that his husband had any connection with the Killer.
In 2017, the meme hasn't been as mainstream as it was last year, however, the public was soon reminded of it thanks to Cruz's tweet. The tweet, however, garnered mixed reactions from Twitter. Some praised Cruz for having a good sense of humor about a truly strange joke, while others believe that the meme is dead and it's time to move on.
In my opinion, I think that it's pretty cool of Cruz to bring some comedy from the political world to the public. Even though it's not really common for serious politicians to make jokes, it's still nice to know that it's possible for them to acknowledge memes especially during a time of political polarization.
Do you agree with those who praise Cruz for acknowledging the meme or do you believe that it wasn't necessary for a politician like him to recognize the joke? Why or why not?
NY Times Article
Picture Link
See the original tweet here
11 comments:
I think it was an interesting move on Ted Cruz's part to acknowledge the joke, especially given the evidence that he really could not be the Zodiac Killer. In my opinion, it's an example of how politicians can utilize social media platforms to feel "closer" to the people, which is what Cruz seems to be doing here. "Memes" seem to be what are relevant to today's youth, and though I don't share the same opinions as Cruz, I think he's using their popularity and relevance to the younger generation to his advantage, which I applaud.
While I don't think Cruz acknowledging the joke was necessary, I think it is humorous and a sort of show of good sport. He could have responded angrily, but instead chose to embrace it and laugh along with us. I also think him acknowledging this will form a connection between him and some Americans, particularly young adults and teens who have used the joke. Similar to Kamille, I also feel that he's using this joke to his advantage to gain popularity, which is a smart move on his part.
Even though some people are responding negatively to his usage of the joke, they are still giving a response, which means he got their attention. Despite some negative comments, this spread of Cruz's response to the joke will gain him some publicity, which is probably what he was going for.
I'm actually curious to know what overall effect that memes have had in politics. Memes like this interlink the social and political world, which may actually get people slightly more interested in politics (good thing) but there are also many memes that have been designed to misinform people (bad thing). The Zodiac Killer meme is relatively harmless because it is so ridiculous, but on the other hand, many people believe(d) a meme that circulated after the election that “quoted” Donald Trump as saying that Republicans are "the dumbest group of voters," even though he never said it.
I think that Ted Cruz acknowledging the Zodiac Killer meme was an act of valor. Comedy in politics is often a breath of fresh air and Cruz can only gain from acknowledging the joke now as it humanizes him which is important in politics, as it allows people to relate more with the politicians they may or may not support.
I don't believe Cruz acknowledging the meme was a negative action or unofficial. I think it is his effort to show that he has a sense of humor and can take a joke from the public, showing that he can relate with the public and isn't just a political figure separate from the people. It has been seen through previous events that greater support from the people can be gained when political figures resonate well with them in terms of being relatable, feeling connected, and seeming like one of them.
I also think that Cruz's acknowledgement of the meme is pretty cool as I do think that politicians should have express their more humorous side to their personality. Not only can it help popularity as Kamille said, the acknowledgement of the joke brings us closer to politicians and make them feel more human. Being a politician doesn't mean someone has to be serious 24/7. They should be more lighthearted on certain occasions.
I agree with the comments above. At the end of the day, politicians are people just like us and by Cruz acknowledging the meme, it makes him seem more personable (at least to me) since he is able to laugh at something that was meant to be humorous and not take offence to it.
I think all politicians should embrace memes. This is because of the importance that politician will connect with the younger and newer generations. The age group that votes the least is the young adult group. Either it will be cringey, or the politician will able to communicate with a younger generation. The fact that Cruz did this is great. As Timmy stated, it makes i=him seem way more human rather the white old people we usually envision when we picture politicians.
I think it’s funny that he recognized the ongoing meme. I think it is important though, to recognize that Cruz could be mocking Trump to some extent due to his claims about Cruz. I agree with Michael that memes sparking interest in politics is a good thing and so is social media as long as facts are cross checked with a reliable news source. The issues come when people take memes literally or don’t fact check what they see on social media.
I actually find it light hearted and funny that Ted Cruz acknowledged the meme because often times politics get really rigid and I think this personally makes him seem more likable. It was an intended joke, not meant to offend anyone. It shows that he has a humorous personality and people can relate to him more because of it. I agree with Timmy that his light heartedness is a good thing because it can appeal more to the people.
I don't really think it's that serious if Ted Cruz jokes around, I think it's pretty cool to know that all politicians aren't as serious as they appear to be.
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