Posted on 09/04/2026 12:54:49 PM PDT by JeepersFreepers
Democrat U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico spoke of “dismantling” capitalism while dismissing the future of Texas’ oil and gas industry during a 2020 climate forum, newly resurfaced video shows.
The comments, first reported by CNN, came during a virtual candidate forum hosted by the Austin Sierra Club while Talarico was serving his first term in the Texas House.
During the forum, Talarico was asked what lawmakers could do to address the effects of climate change on minority communities.
“I am so thankful that you asked this question, and also thankful that young activists have really drawn the link between climate change and white supremacy and capitalism in our country,” Talarico said.
“And I think only ending the ways that all three of those oppressive systems work together, are we going to be able to begin the process of dismantling them.”
Earlier in the discussion, Talarico described what he called the “multifaceted threat of a climate crisis, an economic crisis, and a social justice crisis.”
He said a “New Deal effort” would be “the only approach to start to address all three in a thoughtful and meaningful way.”
Talarico also questioned the future of the oil and gas industry, comparing Texas’ position as a national energy leader to dominating an obsolete technology.
“We all know that Texas has been a leader in oil and gas, but in many ways that’s like being the leader in cassette tapes in the 1980s,” Talarico said. “That industry is not gonna last.”
Six years later, Talarico is presenting a markedly different message as he campaigns against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton for U.S. Senate.
His campaign told CNN that Talarico is now a “proud capitalist” who supports the oil and gas industry.
“James is a proud capitalist and agrees with the majority of Texans that racism, natural disasters, and a billionaire-controlled economy are all problems we need to address,” campaign spokesman JT Ennis said.
The Paxton campaign responded to the resurfaced remarks by pointing to Talarico’s comments about both capitalism and the oil and gas industry.
Campaign spokeswoman Madison Cercy said the report “just confirmed what we already knew: James Talarico is a Democratic Socialist who wants to destroy economic opportunity, ban oil and gas, and raise taxes to pay for his radical agenda.”
“Talarico called capitalism an ‘oppressive system’ and said the Texas oil and gas was ‘not gonna last.’ His views and values are completely antithetical to Texas and are a threat to our way of life,” she added.
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One question for Comrade Talarico: Once the “oppressive capitalist system” is “dismantled,” how does food get produced and distributed?
Talarico’s “capitalism” may be opressive but the free market isn’t and is way ahead of whatever is in second place.
He’s now one of them proud capitalists. His commercials show him driving a pickup and talking to his grandpa on the porch about love.
Although the vote for Majority leader is hidden from our view you can be pretty sure Cornyn voted for that POS Thune and that Paxton won’t. Another reason I want Paxton to win .
What? Our society is based upon capitalism. Capitalism keeps us from being a monarchy, dictatorship or socialist state. If Talarico believes not in capitalism, then please go somewhere else where your words are welcomed.
Paxton needs to run that and Talarico’s other hateful, extreme statements in every freaking commercial break.
Moron James Talarico will want to destroy Capitalism, but has no clue what he would replace it with. If we didn’t have Capitalism he would be living in a cave and trying to catch wild animals for food.
I say I say pull the garbage shut lever and send him down into the ash can of history.
There’s no political, economic and social system more oppressive than socialism and communism.
History can provide no example of a long term healthy, happy, prosperous and productive society under communism.
Can someone explain how the United States government, under the Constitution, could be allowed to do that? I don’t mean those in power just doing what they please, which happens a lot. I mean those in power operating under the Constitution.
But he leads in the polls in texas?
Capitalism has a lot of problems and can be oppressive. It’s just much better than all the other systems.
Polls are for idiots.
Exit polls are for morons.
Believe them when they tell you what they want to do.
How bitterly my parents argued against me when I said that Democrats are essentially socialists. That was 50 years ago.
Amen. Shout it from the mountaintops.
The only PRODUCTIVE society is one based on Capitalism.
Are these words getting out to people, or are the mainstreams just ignoring it?
If people are hearing it, what could make them want to vote for him? Either the polls are real and stupidity has damaged us too severely, or they’re fake polls designed to discourage us.
I cannot believe people would be fine with all this communist talk and American culture bashing, let alone Texans.
His true believers are amazingly gullible. I honestly think Hillary was more convincing. Some of the cynical followers are in it for money or power.
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