Texas Sen. Ted Cruz mocked top Democrats in the state over recent infighting, catalyzed by a claim that state Rep. James Talarico called former Rep. Colin Allred a “mediocre Black man.”
“D on D,” Cruz said in a social media publication, referring to the fight among Democrats. He added three fire emojis and then emojis of clowns and popcorn buckets,” indicating he is enjoying the situation and mocking potential self-inflicted political damage.
Controversy among Texas Democrats arose after a podcaster and TikTok user named Morgan said Talarico made the remark during a private conversation the two had off the record, in which he also called his opponent in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, Jasmine Crockett, a “formidable and intelligent Black woman.” She noted that she doesn’t have a recording but stood by the claim.
Allred reacted with a video on social media, saying “we’re tired of folks using praise for Black women to mask criticism for Black men.”
He went on to suggest Talarico was masking insecurity about his own campaign and made a reference to the fact that he is an aspiring Presbyterian minister. “You are not saving religion for the Democratic Party or the left,” he said. “We already have Senator Reverend Dr. Raphael Warnock for that. We don’t need you. You’re not saying anything unique.”
The former lawmaker ended the video by saying he will now endorse Crockett after saying he wouldn’t when he dropped out of the race.
Talarico reacted with a statement, saying the claim that he called Allred a “mediocre Black man” was a “mischaracterization.”
“In my praise of Congresswoman Crockett, I described Congressman Allred’s method of campaigning as mediocre — but his life and service are not. I would never attack him on the basis of race,” Talarico said.
“As a Black man in America, Congressman Allred has had to work twice as hard to get where he is. I understand how my critique of the Congressman’s campaign could be interpreted given this country’s painful legacy of racism, and I care deeply about the impact my words have on others. I have always said that, despite our disagreements, I deeply respect Congressman Allred. We’re all on the same team,” he added.
Crockett also reacted to the development, saying it is “unfortunate that at the start of Black History Month, this is what we’re facing.”
“In former Congressman Colin Allred’s video, he drew a line in the sand. He made it clear that he did not take allegations of an attack on him as simply another day in the neighborhood, but more importantly, his post wasn’t just about himself,” she added.
Originally published on Latin Times
