Not sure if this is okay for DU... someone let me know? Before your alert, and I'll remove.

[MerryBlooms]

https://youtube.com/shorts/Edys3ENRKy0?is=r5kVRMwbaHTC7M08

[MerryBlooms]

1. And Platner...

[AZJonnie]

2. Even if I don't agree with everything said, it's just a political take, seems fine to me

But I've been wrong before about how people will react to things like this

[MerryBlooms]

3. Thanks. 🤗

[Bluetus]

4. I agree. I hope there are not people here who feel the need to suppress that view

Last edited Tue Jul 7, 2026, 10:11 PM - Edit history (1)

but maybe there are.

I found the take interesting. Basically, his argument is that Talarico and Crockett are essentially the same candidate, other than pigment. And he goes from there to argue that Tararico can't win without bringing in a bunch of MAGA people, but Crockett somehow could win without that? That doesn't really connect.

But I'm not sure that he is completely wrong. If we change the argument a little to say that Talarico doesn't need to win any drop-dead racist MAGA votes, and isn't trying. But Talarico is trying to appeal to thinking non-racist Christians, who tend to be Republican, especially in the plantation states. Indeed, Talarico might be able to get 2% more votes from "Christians who aren't really racists but don't want to vote for a black person or woman because, well, you know, Christianity."

I can give that argument the benefit of the doubt. But his punch line is, (my paraphrase) "If Talarico wins some of this white Christian vote, he will lose more black votes than he gains." That had better not be the case. If so, then either of them would lose the Texas Senate race once again.

I have always been a big admirer of Crockett, even to the point that I think I have a crush on her. But trying to be objective (And I should mention I am an atheist), I believe Talarico is just about as optimal a candidate as we will find to get past the 45-48% barrier we always seem to face in Texas.

[AZJonnie]

9. I can give the argument the benefit of the doubt, but I still think it's incorrect

I disagree with the fundamental premise in his particular case. And the biggest reason I reject it is based on simple math/statistics. African Americans are statistically MORE likely than Caucasian Americans to self-identify as Christian, claim the religion is VERY important in their lives, and to report their church attendance at the 'at least 1 time a month' level. On top of that, his messaging is closer to what one would hear in a predominantly black-attended church versus a white-attended one.

To me this math suggests it's unlikely that for every white vote he gets, he's going to LOSE more black votes than he gains, as the guy in the video seems to be arguing. JT is in no way, shape, or form, conveying that he is a himself racist, nor does he seem to be pandering to 'the racist vote' in any way.

Thus, whatever white votes JT picks up by being his honest, good self, I don't think they'll come at the expense of losing MORE Black votes. I think the poster is annoyed that Talarico beat out Crockett, and is extrapolating that frustration out into directions I don't think necessarily logically follow.

[Bluetus]

11. FWIW, the black church tradition is vastly different from the white church tradition

Naturally there are overlaps, as each person makes their own choices. Coincidentally, I attended a meeting today at a "black Presbyterian" church on the subject of outreach through the arts (these are programs we have been collaborating on for years.) I agree that many black folks attend more regularly, but I contend this is a byproduct of the community and its history in America. Black folks had to hang together to survive the original slave centuries, as well as the racist society that remained when slavery was legally ended. The church is not as much about heaven and the afterlife as it is about the values of looking out for each other. By the way, Jesus talked more about those values than he did about the afterlife.

I was always a little confused as I got to know many of my black friends. It seems like whatever name comes up, the answer is always "Oh yeah, we go way back. You know he's a cousin of mine, don't you?" There is just a much higher degree of connectedness in that community, and it can be a beautiful thing.

I guess what I am saying is trying to compare "black Christian votes" to "white Christian votes" in some kind of equation is fraught. But I will also say that all the black folks I know well, are very in tune with what is going on politically, and they think about the long cause. Their struggle has always spanned generations. And I believe this means they will give Talarico a fair hearing and I think they will have his back strongly. I'm sad to say this is not as likely for white Christians supporting Crockett.

[MerryBlooms]

10. White Male Christian vs Black Female Christian...

Yep.
Same platform.
Yep.
I'm not going to fool myself with my white experience. Mine was minimal. My brother called my dad the N word because he got so dark in summer fighting fires. One brother who baby sat me said, If you don't stop crying, I'll wet your lips and stick you to the wall, Ner! Then pin me at the shoulders and drip spit until it almost hit my face. If I tried to get away, he'd let the spit go and laugh. Sadistic.

Yes, I always cried when I was left with my brother.

[PJMcK]

5. Still there (n/t)

[malaise]

6. Nailed it

Rec

[DoBW]

7. your link

this part you can remove when you post > ?is=r5kVRMwbaHTC7M08
si means source identifier, it's a tracking ID

[msongs]

8. hint? clue? what is it about?