A cartoon published by Politico on Tuesday mocks Texans being rescued from flooding damage as God-obsessed, Confederate Tea Partiers who show insufficient appreciation for the government's assistance.

In the work by left-leaning cartoonist Matt Wuerker, a man with a Confederate flag t-shirt and a Tea Party flag is air-lifted from his flooded home on a helicopter. To complete the unsubtle imagery, the man's home contains a Texas flag reading, "Secede."

He yells, "Angels! Sent by God!" as he is taken to safety, while a disgruntled Coast Guard worker says, "Er, actually Coast Guard … sent by the government."

The online response was overwhelmingly negative, with observers saying it was nasty, mean-spirited, and an inaccurate portrayal of Houston, which tends to vote Democratically.

This "cartoon" from @politico @wuerker is vile and contemptible. Disgusting beyond civil words. https://t.co/H1AhZKJQYG — Michael Q Sullivan (@MQSullivan) August 30, 2017

So, if something happens to, say, CA, will @politico do a cartoon saying they don't want help from their fellow man because they ❤️ gov? — Amelia (@AmeliaHammy) August 30, 2017

You've obviously never been to Texas. Garbage person = garbage cartoon. — JCF (@jcfris1) August 30, 2017

I can’t believe someone looked at that cartoon and said "Yeah publish that!!" — Heather (@hboulware) August 30, 2017

This is the most ignorant political cartoon I've seen in years. Shameful really. — Savage Prime (@mcballz) August 30, 2017

The only ignorance and stupidity I see here is the kind coming out of @politico. Retract and apologize. This is disgusting. @wuerker too. https://t.co/CL5rLs6JIV — Brandon Morse (@TheBrandonMorse) August 30, 2017

The secessionist movement is now more of a California thing. Will you be mocking them too? — Ken Webster Jr (@ProducerKen) August 30, 2017

Congratulations, you hired the woke equivalent of the Onion's cartoonist pic.twitter.com/jV1IdNOLfi — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) August 30, 2017

So, @wueker, apparently you don't know any Christians… or that Houston tends to be pretty liberal? — (((Aaron Worthing))) (@AaronWorthing) August 30, 2017

This is how people like @wuerker at @politico see Texas No matter people are drowning as we speak, they have to get their stupid insults in pic.twitter.com/s8ob8DP8ju — Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) August 30, 2017

The very epitome of political bigotry aimed directly at people in peril. Way to go, geniuses.https://t.co/TZ91O817mM — D.W.Robinson (@_DWRobinson) August 30, 2017

Houston and Harris County went hard for Hillary. Grind your ax somewhere else. pic.twitter.com/uwoEvQZ5BR — The leaks are real (@kylejack) August 30, 2017

.@politico's staff cartoonist has never actually met anyone from Texas, apparently. https://t.co/vt5WGrAcU6 — Ian Tuttle (@iptuttle) August 30, 2017

An additional note about this shameful cartoon: Texas has the second-largest number of active and reserve military personnel, behind Calif. https://t.co/vt5WGrAcU6 — Ian Tuttle (@iptuttle) August 30, 2017

This is pathetic and insensitive to those afflicted by #HurricaneHarvey https://t.co/fAhgv52zEZ — Gabriella Hoffman (@Gabby_Hoffman) August 30, 2017

Houston takes in more international refugees than any city in the country. This characterization as backwards yokels is offensive. — The leaks are real (@kylejack) August 30, 2017

Oh, government is doing all the rescuing, all the housing, all the donating? What a miserable message. Shame on him, and you. — Anti-Hipster (@corrcomm) August 30, 2017

Intended to attack Americans, further divide the country, in a time of crisis. This is disgusting and needs to be condemned. — Jason (@UCCowboy) August 30, 2017

Many of the storm victims being rescued from devastating damage to their homes have expressed gratitude to both their rescuers and God.

As the response grew, Wuerker tweeted the cartoon was meant to be a dig at secessionists, not all Texans.

Just trying to point out times like this we're lucky to have rescue services. Don't see how this takes away from private individuals heroism https://t.co/Tk4xCqyV0v — Matt Wuerker (@wuerker) August 30, 2017

Respectfully— it's making fun of the Secessionist movement. Not at all aimed at all Texans. https://t.co/aI4RxRNjFm — Matt Wuerker (@wuerker) August 30, 2017

Politico deleted the tweet promoting the cartoon shortly afterward, although it is still up here.

UPDATED 2:12 P.M.: This article was updated with Wuerker's explanation for the cartoon and that the tweet promoting it was deleted.