It’s Talarico vs. right-wing dirty tricks

Commentary: Texas politics is a bloodsport. Watching the fights over redistricting, tax cuts for the rich, school vouchers and religious displays in public schools is like watching a soap opera where it’s hard to discern who is backstabbing whom. The one thing that is constant is that whoever is in power will do anything it takes to stay in power. Lie, cheat, steal. There are no red lines.

Last month James Talarico became the Democrats’ nominee for the Senate after defeating Jasmine Crockett. He’ll face off against the Republican nominee in November.

On the GOP side, incumbent John Cornyn is in a runoff with Ken Paxton. Cornyn, who will be 80
years old by the time he’d complete another term, and older than both Democratic candidates combined, has been busy licking Trump’s Florsheim shoes. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has faced years of serious legal challenges, including a 2023 impeachment for bribery and abuse of office and a long-running felony securities fraud case settled in 2024 that required community service and restitution. He has faced accusations of aiding a donor and whistleblower retaliation. Not to mention his wife filed for divorce on “biblical grounds.” All of this makes him highly qualified to represent the GOP.

For decades, Republicans have proclaimed themselves the party of family values and Christian morals. They treat Donald Trump as the second coming of Jesus Christ while he signs Bibles as if he wrote them.

Now the party of Christian values has the gall to call Talarico demonic and question his faith. He is a Presbyterian seminarian and former sixth grade schoolteacher. That alone qualifies him for sainthood.

Within hours of Talarico winning the nomination for Senate, Republicans began their disinformation
campaign against him. “There should be a giant welcome mat out front.” As is, this quote implies Talarico is calling for open borders, and we should welcome immigrants with open arms.

However, reading further, the statement will lead us to what he actually said. “There should be a giant welcome mat out front and a lock on the door. We can welcome immigrants who want to come here and contribute to our economy, make us richer and stronger as immigrants have always done throughout our history,” Talarico said. “And we can keep out folks who want to do us harm. If anyone commits a violent crime in this country, they should be deported immediately. But that is not what is happening right now.”
Talarico’s call to love our neighbors as Jesus instructed us to do has met with fierce ridicule from the right as that would mean they should love trans folks, too. They have demonized trans people and are constantly creating new laws against them — the more punishing, the better.

Talarico has said that God loves transgender and queer children, and that they, too, are made in his image. Beliefs that are rooted deeply in his faith.

“The only minority destroying this country is the billionaires. Trans people are one percent of the population. Undocumented people are one percent of the population. We are all focused on the wrong one percent,” Talarico adding that politicians and the media are also focused on the wrong 1 percent. “Trans people aren’t taking away our healthcare. Undocumented people aren’t defunding our schools. It’s the billionaires and their puppet politicians.”

Cue the attack ads. “James Talarico is the most radical, woke Democrat Texas voters have ever seen and voters will reject his extreme statements praising transgenderism, twisting Christian beliefs and advocating for open borders,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee Regional Press Secretary, Samantha Cantrell.

Dementia Don added his gold-plated two cents’ worth about Talarico. “He’s so woke, h-he’s
grossly incompetent…. He’s such an insult to Jesus,” he said, because Trump is an expert on
the teachings of Christ.

Talarico’s response showed he is ready for the fight.

“You want to know what insults Jesus? Kicking the sick off their healthcare while cutting taxes for billionaires. You know what insults Jesus? Deporting the stranger and separating babies from their mothers. You know what insults Jesus? Bombing innocent schoolchildren in Iran and sending our brave men and women off to die in another forever war,” Talarico said.

Whether the Republicans choose the octogenarian or the serial criminal as their Senate nominee, expect them to return to their dishonest playbook and blanket the airwaves with anti-trans ads attacking Talarico as a radical left-wing lunatic who is a faux Christian, who stands at the border with welcome signs, passing out free healthcare, housing and money for immigrants.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent those of the Montrose Star. Johnny Trlica is the editor of Houston Rainbow Herald Facebook page and has been published in several newspapers and magazines. He grew up in Rosenberg, Texas, lived for over 30 years in the Montrose and now resides in Galveston, Texas. He may be contacted at HRHeditor@gmail.com.

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