Unearthed clip exposes the Talarico comment that triggered backlash from parents
James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, once dismissed public outcry about explicit material in Texas public schools as a kind of "conspiracy theory" at a July 2022 hearing on education.
"We’re going to spend hours hearing bills that are just kind of conspiracy theory-driven and kind of kooky stuff. And we’re going to hear some of that today, I think, in the public testimony — not the invited testimony, but the public testimony," Talarico said then as a member of the Texas House of Representatives.
The resurfaced moment adds to the pile of past statements dealing with gender, immigration and law enforcement, complicating the political calculus for Talarico as he aims to convince voters in Texas that, even as a Democrat, he could represent a Republican-leaning constituency in the Lone Star State.
At the time of the 2022 hearing, many parents were raising concerns about news that schools and libraries across the country were featuring explicit materials that bordered on pornography.
In particular, an Ashland, Ohio, board meeting made news after a group of angry parents highlighted graphic illustrations from books like "It’s Perfectly Normal," "Making a Baby," "Own Your Period" and "Puberty is Gross but Also Really Awesome," all titles featuring some level of sexual references.
Similar outcries emerged in Kentucky, Oregon and North Carolina.
In Texas, state Rep. Matt Krause, a Republican, sparked similar backlash when he circulated a list of roughly 800 titles he believed were inappropriate for students. He expressed his alarm in a letter to Texas school districts.
"I am writing to you as the Chairman of the Texas House Committee on General Investigation," Krause wrote. "The committee may initiate inquiries concerning any ‘matter the committee considers necessary for the information of the legislature or for the welfare and protection of state citizens.’
"Please identify any other books or content in your district, specifying the campus location and funds spent on acquisition that address or contain … sexually explicit images, graphic presentations of sexual behavior that is in violation of the law or contain material that might make students feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress because of their race or sex or convey that a student, by virtue of their race or sex is inherently racist sexist or oppressive whether consciously or unconsciously."
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In January 2022, several counties began evaluating their own books, leading some, like Granbury Independent School District, to pull 130 titles from shelves.
By July, the issue had made its way before the Texas Legislature in the form of an "interim charge," made by Republican Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan. It was a kind of exhortation for lawmakers to examine the issue, charging them to "monitor and analyze the state policy on curriculum and instructional materials used in public schools."
As a part of the Committee on Public Education, Talarico received the charge but expressed reservations about its substance, making his "conspiracy theory" comment.
He went on to ask Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath about the issue.
"I want to ask you about curriculum in Texas, of course, critical race theory, pornography; these are the things we see bubbling up on social media that’s going to be discussed here," Talarico said.
"Are you aware of any curriculum in the state of Texas that, one, bullies students based on their race or, two, grooms students with pornography?"
Morath, after noting that Texas is a very big state and the issue is "very complex," gave his blunt assessment.
"The answer is yes," Morath said.
"We have complaints that would appear to substantiate periodic problems in those areas, arguably. I can’t tell you it’s widespread. We’ve reviewed, in some cases, materials that were made available to students that I think the common citizen would agree would be inappropriate."
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Even after the testimony, Talarico challenged the idea that explicit materials in schools were widespread.
"I would characterize as a conspiracy theory that’s being raised is that these are systemic policy problems in the state of Texas," Talarico said.
Following Talarico’s remarks, parents spoke out against his characterization.
"I actually drove in last night, so I’ve been here a very long time. And hopefully my comments and testimony today aren’t gonna be as ‘kooky’ as Representative Talarico had stated it was gonna be," one parent quipped.
Talarico’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.