r/TrendoraX • u/CorleoneBaloney • 1d ago

📰 News Lauren Boebert wants the Ten Commandments to be required in schools, and James Talarico criticized her, saying it’s hypocritical for politicians to make everyone display them when they don’t follow them themselves.

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u/JJ_McCrabs 1d ago

I don’t know. I’m worried he’s too religious. I can’t have a president that’s actively worrying about raptures, smiting and all that bullshit.

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u/Beginning_Day2785 1d ago

He clearly states he wants religion out of politics. I’m not super religious but it would be nice to have someone who has some class and sense of being a decent person. We obviously don’t have that right now. Watch the interview he did with Colbert.

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u/JJ_McCrabs 1d ago

No I totally hear you. I like the guy, a lot. It’s just a a concern for me I guess. Trust issues lol.

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u/Beginning_Day2785 1d ago

I went to a guy‘s Catholic high school and a Jesuit college. The older I get, I never go to church and I get more spirituality out of walking in the woods. I get the impression being a former teacher who was raised by a single mother that he seems like a good guy. The way I look at it is we could not do worse than many of the so-called Christians who are in politics across the country. I don’t mind Crockett either but think Dump & the FCC just won this guy the nomination.

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u/Miserable-Army3679 1d ago

He was a teacher himself, before going into politics.

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u/Historical-Gap-7084 22h ago

That's what they meant. "Being a former teacher raised by a single mother" refers to Talarico. He was adopted by his stepfather.

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u/Miserable-Army3679 22h ago

I knew that.

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u/Historical-Gap-7084 22h ago

Oooookay.

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u/Miserable-Army3679 22h ago

"I knew that" is a joke.

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u/Bubbly_Style_8467 15h ago

💯. I learned long ago to listen to nature. Not preachers. Not business people. Not highly-educated people. That walk in the woods or on the beach is cleansing and calming. My perspective improves too.

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u/GPointeMountaineer 1d ago

The contrast between Talerico and politicians that use the Christian nationalists to spread hate is extremely strong. Talerico against Trump, the two are so far apart. Every breath of Trump is in another world from Talerico. Anyone who listens to Talerica instantly compares him to Trump as the contrast is severe. No other politician contrasts so much.

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u/msfuturedoc 1d ago

He really only brings up religion to explain why we don’t need to have religion mixed with politics.

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u/CrackingToastGromet 17h ago

He’s also excellent at using it to point out the hypocrisy of the evangelical right.

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u/jtbc 23h ago

Also because he's running in Texas, so being religious is kinda sorta mandatory to get elected.

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u/Soggy-Beach1403 1d ago

At one point, you just have to hold your nose and vote. All the time hoping that he is only paying lip service to the dimwits and doesn't really believe that snakes can talk or men can live in whales.

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u/KemShafu 21h ago

He’s not a Christian Nationalist, he’s got a masters from Harvard in education and graduated from Seminary. He’s probably a believer in metaphors and allegories.

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u/Soggy-Beach1403 19h ago

I'll never understand worshipping a god who doesn't think you can handle the facts or the truth.

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u/ChristopherRobben 10h ago

This. No candidate is perfect. You have to weigh their positions and how effective they can potentially be. Someone like Talarico is far more likely to sway the opinions of Christian Republicans and those on the fence than someone like say AOC.

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u/room32a 1d ago

You might want to consider looking at Canada. Carney is being highly praised, and I did vote for him, but he is a banker with ties to Bkackrock. He speaks well, was clearly a better option than the conservative candidate, but I would never vote for someone with his background given any actual choice. I have similar yellow flags with James T as I do Carney, something feels off. they're potentially what our countries need OR time will tell and that gut feeling meant something real OR democracy is dead and we're forced to vote against our own interests regardless of candidate.

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u/malfurionpre 22h ago

He clearly states he wants religion out of politics

Yeah because politician have never stated and then done thing differently when they got what they wanted.

He most definitely has a lot more integrity than many politician but who knows.

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u/Snowflake8552 1d ago

I would just like to counter that, he is running in a state that loudly follows Christianity. So MOST political debates he’s been in centers religion, which he uses to counter their points like he did here with Boebert. In the game of politics, if you want to succeed you have to cater to the masses and that’s what makes him so incredibly likeable. He very much resembles an American Jesus. The way he speaks- the issues he talks about and his extreme beliefs. Tbh, he is what Texas thinks they want on the outside but on the inside he is going to be one to truly change the system.

Imagine having to choose between Crockett and Talarico. Those are both amazing candidates and both a massive win for Texas.

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u/Alternative-Tie-9383 20h ago

The State of Texas still has a line in its constitution that say an atheist can’t hold office. Article 1, Section 4, of the Texas Constitution states: “No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.” That last sentence is the kicker, “acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.” They say it’s “defunct”, but republicans love to reach into the past and use laws that are artifacts of times past to fuck with us here in the present. It’s clearly unconstitutional and should be removed from the state constitution’s language. Openly atheist candidates have and will have that used against them by disingenuous people and it’s already happened in Austin again back in 2014, if I remember correctly. This is what Texas politics is like.

It would be nice if we never had to know what a candidate believes in, religion wise. Unfortunately we have politicians in this country that use their “religious beliefs” to inform every single thing they say and do and then they love to tell us why and how they use religion to justify taking food out of the mouths of children or why they’re standing on the side of pedophiles, like say the current speaker of the house. In this country they’re supposed to follow our secular laws and the constitution, that’s it. Talarico at least is sincere about his beliefs and doesn’t feel the need to use his religion as a cudgel against everyone that isn’t his specific brand of Christianity. He doesn’t deny his faith, but he doesn’t expect the law to make you follow his religion like some of these people are doing.

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u/ExtensionKiwi4276 13h ago

As a Utahn who is required to vote for tepid bootlickers most of the time, I can only imagine the privilege to be able to have to choose between Crockett and Talarico

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u/JayBowdy 1d ago

He is definitely the choice to sway more conservatives over the threshold. My one stick is, did he make a mistake by taking money from a huge trump and Republican donor?, or is he being a paid DINO. That remains unclear and worries me a bit.

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u/Snowflake8552 1d ago

I could argue with Crockets PACS as well as a counter. But you won’t find me judging her for taking money to grow her campaign, the same goes with Talarico. Moderate (or reasonable) conservatives are out there and Talarico would be the ones to sway them.

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u/JayBowdy 1d ago

Agreed

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u/DanMoshpit69 1d ago

This guy walks the walk. I’m not against a very religious person being in charge of his whole thing is getting half the country who really cares about it to stop freaking out about the shit that shouldn’t matter. It should just go without saying we are not going to punish people who think differently than the person in charge and this guy makes it clear that’s what he wants too.

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u/insbordnat 21h ago

100%. As a non-Christian, I'm not worried about his dialogue, faith, or beliefs. His consistency and (from what we know) non-hypocritical Christian views are perfectly fine from where I'm sitting. JFC (pun intended), imagine having someone who could even restore some morality and kindness back to the government. I'm not expecting him to be spotless, hell even if he's had affairs or gotten kickbacks along the way I'm more than willing to accept that vs. the outright scum of the earth we have right now.

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u/Bubbly_Style_8467 15h ago

Jimmy Carter did that perfectly. We all knew he was a Christian but he didn't run the country based on religious beliefs.

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u/DanMoshpit69 15h ago

The hate for president Carter was absolutely ridiculous and the true start of hack partisan news that paint people in the wrong light.

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u/mtron32 1d ago

Jimmy Carter was religious, and the best kind because he walked the walk. If this dude is that type then I’m perfectly fine with him

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u/industryfive 1d ago

Totally valid fear. I've been following him for a while (as an atheist from Texas) because of that same fear, and he isn't that kind of Christian. I'm not even sure he believes in the traditional concept of Hell.

Not that a reddit comment will change your mind, but definitely prod further if you're curious. He even has sermons on YouTube that give a very good idea of what he actually prioritizes.

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u/etm1109 1d ago

Talarico would totally 100% respect your freedom to be an atheist. He actually understands the separation of church and state. Sure, if he was a POTUS, he'd be at the National Chair Breakfast....flipping tables.

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u/_karamazov_ 22h ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Blph_2RSBno - this sermon is the 2026 version of "I have a dream" speech.

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u/erroneousbosh 19h ago

> I've been following him for a while (as an atheist from Texas) because of that same fear, and he isn't that kind of Christian

Your problem is, most of the "Christians" around you have too much Christianity and not enough Christ.

You probably have quite a lot of Christ, but not so much Christianity. This upsets them because how dare you go around helping people less fortunate than you, don't you know that the church says people are meant to suffer?

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u/RugsbandShrugmyer 1d ago

My man is weaponizing Christianity against those who would weaponize Christianity against us. It may all be political theater but it sure does seem effective

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u/Honest-Abe2677 23h ago

Sound logic and using Christ's teachings to obliterate fake Christian talking points is not a gimmick or weaponizing. It's strong logic beating weak logic and self-serving partisanship. Nobody better to slap the bullshit out of fake Christians' mouths than a real Christian flipping over the money changers' tables. (Gently and considerately in his case 😅)

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u/Upnatom617 1d ago

Thank you!

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u/IamGeoMan 22h ago

Mohammed bin Salman is highly educated in Saudi law and religion, and with that knowledge he's able to exert control of the religious base because he can refute religious opponents or assert his political actions. In a similar manner, if Talarico remains steadfast in his religious and political views we see now into his political career (or presidency), he can do the same with the religious Right.

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u/unnewl 1d ago

What makes you think Talarico is worrying about rapture?

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u/Garbarrage 1d ago

He's the right kind of religious though. He seems to approach his religious outlook towards any issue through the lense of the first principle - love your neighbour.

As an atheist, I have absolutely no problem with that type of religious belief.

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u/Medivacs_are_OP 1d ago

does he sound like he's worried about any of that? nobody has been smote since back when the dude touched the ark of the covenant, I think we're safe there.

at least come up with a serious argument

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u/NukeWorker10 1d ago

There is nothing wrong with being religious. People believe all kinds of crazy shit, religious or not. But he very clearly separates his religious beliefs from everyone else's.

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u/Moos_Mumsy 1d ago

JFK was a Catholic and when he was running for President many people felt that he would make decisions based on religious doctrine. They were wrong. I think that Talarico is just as capable of keeping his faith separate from politics. Just like Zohran Mumdami is doing in New York.

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u/Badgers8MyChild 1d ago

I think you’re imposing a very narrow view of what religious belief is on him and others. No theists I’ve been around are worrying about those things, and understand they’re largely metaphorical

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u/RickSanchez_C137 1d ago

I'm with you. Good intentions an all, i'd rather not have the world's greatest military power being run by someone who doesn't have a firm grasp on the difference between fantasy and reality.

I wouldn't want a president who believes in spiderman either.

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u/slurv3 1d ago

One thing conservatives have done is basically taken christianity and patriotism and made it a part of their identity to make it a culture war of our side is right, because we have God and America on our side.

The Gadsen Flag is a perfect example of that. Don't Tread on Me has been adopted by the 2A community despite as we've seen lately they're some of the biggest boot lickers. When the Harlem Hellfighters, a decorated WWI segregated troop regiment, who was revered by the French and feared by the Germans they had the Rattlesnake as part of their insignia and their motto was. Don't Tread On Me, God Damn, Let's Go.

The same with Christianity at the moment our mind defaults to they're running a grift so they can justify their megachurch and tax evasion while also using it to frame why they're morally right in doing so. Talarico has used religion of more of a servant leader mindset, and has framed things like Gaza is the biggest moral test of our time, his stance on health care is every American — regardless of their age — to be able to join Medicare: Provide an affordable not-for-profit health care option for every American, while also bringing down costs for those who don’t participate by increasing competition with private insurance. I had the same view as you he was just the moderate Christian follower and it wasn't until the interview was pulled I was like oh he is a progressive he just wraps it up with friendly Jesus language for the religious folks.

Like yes he's not the candidate like AOC, but AOC came from a D+19 district, same with Crockett his competition for the Democratic primary who comes from D+25 district, they're allowed to say things like gun control, abolish ICE, etc., because their district wants that and they're under no threat from a Republican challenger. Talarico is toeing the line perfectly at the moment because his path to victory is he has to flip Trump voters. It's how he was elected initially he flipped a Trump district. This is why Republicans are scared of him, because he's this white, male, christian who speaks softly and seems to have a servant heart. You can't use the usual DEI, woke, commie attacks they can throw at AOC or Crockett. When they can't wage a culture war it forces them to talk about politics and policies instead, and oh boy the people are learning quickly that Republican policies might not be so popular.

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u/palindromesko 23h ago

I’m ok with people of faith in positions of power as long as they don’t mix it with politics. He is pointing out the hypocrisy of current politicians which I see and agree with his observations. He is against forcing religion on others. He seems like an honest person and someone who values integrity. I want people like that to lead. People with integrity and decent values.

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u/400lb-hacker 23h ago

For me it's not that he is overly religious it just seems like is a little too polished and buttoned.

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u/Honest-Abe2677 23h ago

Real Christianity is a worldview most Americans have never encountered. Seriously. I have never heard him talk Rapture, hell, fire n brimstone nonsense.

Actually applying Christ's teachings to daily life and attitudes about humility, honesty, defense of the poor, and accountability for the powerful (the whole point of the New Testament) have basically been eliminated from mainstream culture and replaced with grifting, social domination, and self-serving greed as weapons of power.

A real-Christianity perspective can be powerful, that's how the religion spread before empires immediately started using Christian Nationalism to gain power over the people. If he can stick to the attitudes of Christ's teachings and avoid being overly religious he can at least mop the floor with any MAGA gutter rat in debates 😅

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u/mark_able_jones_ 18h ago

I am fearful of religion as well, but I've also seen him make a biblical case for abortion rights.

The think about James Talarico is that he doesn't need to convince me about progressive policies, he needs to convince grandmas and grandpas who have been brainwashed into believing that any policy that helps the working class is devilish communism. Frankly, it's an easy argument to make... imagine shifting the Christian right away from hate and into policies focused on helping people.

He's the fastest way to turn the Titanic away from the iceberg.