The James Talarico Primer

It is so blatantly clear on social media how MAGOPs in Congress are hair-on-fire freaking out at the strong possibility of losing a once-deeply safe senate seat to James Talarico.  Their tweets are constant, like a rushing river.  Full of nightmare scenarios made up of lies.  And the fear of losing is palpable, so much so that you can almost see it oozing out of your computer screen. 

What’s most notable from all the attacks, though, is how empty and meaningless to an electorate furious at being unable to pay for healthcare, groceries and gas, and outraged at an unnecessary war they were promised would not occur. 

I thought it worth noting some of the most unrelenting and untrue smears that predominate the attacks against James Talarico, in case they come up in conversation, so there’s a way to respond.  And because it’s good to know what he’s actually said rather than what MAGOPs want others to think he’s said. 

1. He’s for open borders and illegals should be welcomed!

Actually – he’s said the exact opposite.  Talarico has said (very clearly) that he opposes open borders. In fact, he spoke out against the Democratic position during the Biden Administration.  What he’s said (again, very clearly) is that immigration should be treated like a front porch where there is a welcome mat but the front door is locked.

2. He’s a vegan!

Okay, I’m hesitant to explain this one, since I’m not sure why it’s even a reason to vote against someone.  Do MAGOPs believe that there is something disqualifying with being a vegan?  Yes, I do know this is Texas, where there’s a lot of barbecue.  But…well, yeah, okay.  They do also have salad there.  And baked beans. And pasta. Texas is a major farm producer and is even the leading grower of watermelon.  (Fun Fact: there are 2.5 million vegetarians and vegans in Texas, which is 6% of the voting population.) 

But fine, that aside.  James Talarico is not a vegan.  Nor a vegetarian.  Democrats released a photo of him at a campaign event chomping down on a huge beef rib.  And even that picture freaked out MAGOPs who still tried to ridicule it.

3. He says there are six genders!

Actually, no, he’s said there are six sexes.  Which is something different.  Furthermore, he wasn’t giving his opinion but stating what science says.  As he expressed it in a legislature debate, “Modern science obviously recognizes that there are many more than two biological sexes -- in fact, there are six, which, honestly, Representative Hefner, surprised me, too…The point is that biologically speaking, scientifically speaking, sex is a spectrum and oftentimes it can be very ambiguous.”

And here’s the thing: not only do scientists say what he says they say, but the National Institute of Health even has a long article on its website that confirms him.  (You can read it here.)  One short passage will have to suffice – “The view that there are only two sexes, male and female, is outdated and too narrow as it ignores a bounty of evidence that sex is not a binary and dichotomous property “ 

Then there’s the article in Scientific American -- “Sex Redefined:  The Idea of 2 Sexes is Overly Simplistic.  Biologists now think there is a larger spectrum than just binary female and male.”  Or an opinion article in the New York Times that states – “For biologically speaking, there are many gradations running from female to male; along that spectrum lie at least five sexes -- perhaps even more.”

4. He doesn’t look macho.

No, he doesn’t.  But then, neither did Gandhi, and he overthrew the British Empire.  And at least he does like beef ribs.  James Talarico, that is -- Gandhi was vegetarian.

5. He says that God is non-binary!

Actually…well, yes, he did say that.  And when I see the “outraged” charge, I always just ask them, “What sex is God??”  Do those complaining think that God is a man?  Or a woman?  Or perhaps just…God. 

But to clarify further, what James Talarico went on to later explain when asked by the Texas Tribune was -- “As the Apostle Paul says in Galatians: ‘In Christ, there is neither male nor female.’ So if someone has a problem with that, they shouldn’t take it up with me, they should take it up with the Apostle Paul.”

6.  He loves transgenders and wants children to be transgender!

James Talarico may love transgenders, but it wasn’t what he said.  Nor, not shockingly, did he ever say that he wants children to be transgender.  In the real world, he was on a radio show and asked to name “Something that you love that's not family or friends." He thought a moment, and then answered: "I love -- I'm just saying this because it's on my mind -- the trans children who showed up yesterday at the state capitol to advocate for their humanity."

Whoa!  He loves bullied children advocating for their humanity.  What a radical concept.  It would seem that that raises the more appropriate question to those who are outraged:  why don’t you think every human being, whoever they are, should advocate for their humanity?

7. He says the American flag is complicated!

Actually, yet again, James Talarico did not say this.  He was talking about how the American flag has too often become misused as a symbol, and so at times it has become divisive, twisted in ways contrary to its original intent, rather than a unifying standard to rally behind.  What he said (actually) was:  “The American flag is such a complicated symbol for most of us. And in many ways, like Jesus, like the cross, it's been co-opted, and in some ways, its true meaning has been betrayed.”  

That, of course, has nothing at all to do with the flag itself being complicated, but rather when it’s used as a wedge to divide people -- like believing that if others don’t wear a plastic flag pin it means they’re not patriotic.  Or burning the flag as an act of protest.  Or displaying the flag almost competitively to prove you love America more than the next guy. 

But mainly, I love how James Talarico has responded to these attempted slams.  I mentioned yesterday how he has taken the MAGOP smear of calling him “Talafreako” and begun selling “I’m a Talafreako” t-shirts on his campaign website.  But further, his response to questions in interviews has been direct and blunt.  And put the focus on the issues, where it should be.  Not on these meaningless personal attacks. 

For instance, he answered one reporter -- 

“I’m an eighth-generation Texan. I’ve been eating barbecue since before Ken Paxton’s first indictment. And if all they have on me is lying about me being a vegan, I feel pretty good about our chances this November.”

He told a group of reporters in Houston –

“Especially in this moment, when people are really fed up with the corruption and the extremism in our government, I think this contrast between a career criminal and a servant leader is going to be particularly stark.”  (“I have a legislative record -- Ken Paxton has a criminal record.”)

And he responded to CBS by noting –

“If Ken Paxton is worried about freaks, he should stop giving Epstein-style sweetheart deals to pedophiles.” 

For the record, that “sweetheart deal” was a plea bargain to a man facing a life sentence in prison after pleading guilty for repeated sexual abuse of a child, and instead pled to 30 days in jail and no record of being a sex offender.  So, one might think that Talarico’s addressing this will hold a great deal more weight than MAGOPs calling him ‘Talafreako.’

But then, I suspect when these are the top charges you have against your opponent, it not only shows  your panic, but more importantly that you have nothing else.

Meanwhile, James Talarico is campaigning against cut healthcare, skyrocketing gas prices, inflation, tariffs, a Trump war few people want, the Epstein files, the MAGOP leader with a 34% approval, and Ken Paxton's history of indictments, impeachment, and almost as many scandals as Trump.  And more.

This doesn't mean James Talarico will win.  But you can see the fear in every word that MAGOPs desperately say about him.