FIRST ON FOX: James Talarico slammed for calling American flag ‘complicated symbol’ ahead of Independence Day
FIRST ON FOX: Conservative political action committee Lone Star Liberty is bashing Democratic Senate hopeful James Talarico ahead of Independence Day as "an America-laster" for calling the American flag a "complicated symbol."
In an attack ad released Thursday, Lone Star Liberty PAC ripped Talarico, a Democratic state lawmaker running to flip a critical Senate seat. The ad juxtaposes Talarico’s statement with images of Americans waving the flag. The ad concludes, "It’s not complicated. It’s 250 years of freedom."
Further, Lone Star Liberty spokesperson Gregg Keller told Fox News Digital, "It’s clear from James Talarico’s political record he hates America."
"Talarico’s gone out of his way his entire political career to make that clear: whether it’s saying the American flag is a ‘complicated symbol’ or his attacks on the Bible and the American family," Keller said.
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Keller drew a comparison between Talarico and the Republican Senate nominee, current Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
"We think it’s important Texans realize this Independence Day what the stakes in this election are: an America-loving Patriot, Ken Paxton, or an America-laster, James Talarico," said Keller.
JT Ennis, a spokesperson for Talarico’s campaign, responded to the critique by telling Fox News Digital that "James believes the American flag means freedom, opportunity, and hope -– and that this broken, corrupt political system is robbing hardworking Texans of the American dream that our flag promises."
He said that "meanwhile, Ken Paxton is vacationing in Iceland for the 4th of July after he became a multimillionaire in office and ripped off Texans by abusing his position of power to benefit himself and his billionaire mega donors."
Talarico is a former middle school teacher in San Antonio and a Presbyterian seminarian. He was propelled to the national stage earlier this year when he defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, for the Democratic Party’s nomination for U.S. Senate. Since entering the national consciousness, he has taken significant criticism over his history of controversial statements, including saying he "hates Christianity," calling God "nonbinary," and asserting that "radicalized white men are the greatest domestic terrorist threat in our country."
In one resurfaced clip, Talarico appears to be giving a sermon in front of a church congregation when he says, "I often think, when reclaiming symbols, I think about the American flag. I think the Confederate flag is a symbol of treason and terrorism. But the American flag is such a complicated symbol for most of us."
Talarico goes on to say, "In many ways, like Jesus, like the cross, it's [the American flag] been co-opted and, in some ways, its true meaning has been betrayed."
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Despite the criticism, Eric Koch, a Democratic strategist familiar with the race, told Fox News Digital that "this attack is going to fall flat for a very simple reason: James is a red-blooded American, an 8th generation Texan who was a teacher, preaches across the state, studies the Bible, and served his community in the legislature."
Koch said that "over the top attacks that are absurd on their face go in one ear and out the other — especially when you are defending the Most Corrupt Politician in America, Ken Paxton."
Fox News Digital reached out to Paxton’s campaign for comment.