TX Dem On Why He Fled the State to Block GOP Voting Bill

> TURNING NOW TO THE UNITED STATES WHERE A GROUP OF TEXAS STATE DEMOCRATS HAVE COME TO WASHINGTON, DC TO BATTLE A RESTRICTIVE NEW VOTING LAW.

THE REPUBLICAN-BACKED BILLS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT AMONG ETHNIC MINORITIES.

ONE IS JAMES TALARICO AND JOINING TO EXPLAIN WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT NATIONAL VOTING RIGHTS.

THANKS, CHRISTIANE.

REPRESENTATIVE TALARICO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING WITH US.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

FIRST THING I WANT TO KNOW, WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE MOST EGREGIOUS ASPECTS OF THE BILL THAT TEXAS IS TRYING TO PASS?

THERE'S SO MANY TROUBLING PARTS TO THE VOTER SUPPRESSION BILL.

EARLY VOTING HOWS, MAKING IT HARDER TO DISTRIBUTE MAIL-IN APPLICATIONS, GETTING RID OF DRIVE-THROUGH VOTING, REALLY HELPFUL FOR WORKING FAMILIES.

WHAT YOU HAVE A LOT OF KIDS, IT'S HARD TO THE POLLING LOCATION QUIETLY.

IT'S EASIER TO JUST KEEP IN THE BACK OF THE MINI VAN AND DRIVE THROUGH AND VOTE THAT WAY BUTBLO ME IS THE PART OF THE BILL THAT EMPOWERS PARTISAN WATCHERS UNTRAINED PARTISAN WATCHERS TO ANTICIPATE THE POLLING PLACE.

I REPRESENT DISTRICT WHERE SOME OF MY CONSTITUENTS ARE MY FAMILY MEMBERS INCLUDING MY MAMA AND I CAN'T IMAGINE HER GOING TO VOTE AT HER POLLING PLACE, EXERCISING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND HAVING A PROUD BOY BREATHING DOWN HER NECK AS SHE DOES SO.

THIS IS OBVIOUSLY POLITICAL BUT ALSO VERY PERSONAL AND I THINK WE ALL WANT OUR GRANDPARENTS, OUR PARENTS, KIDS TO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO VOTE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND BE ABLE TO VOTE WITHOUT FEAR OF INTIMIDATION.

WHY DO YOU SAY THAT THOUGH?

WHY COULDN'T IT GO THE OTHER WAY?

THERE WAS A FAMOUS CASE YEARS AGO IN PHILADELPHIA THAT WAS A BIT OF A CAUSE WITH THE RIGHT-WING MEDIA WHERE MEMBERS OF THE NEW BLACK PANTHER PARTY TOO WITH THEIR HATS AND SOME OUTFITS WERE AT A MAJORITY BLACK POLL IN PHILADELPHIA AND SAID THAT THEY WERE WITH SECURITY AND WHITE PEOPLE OUTSIDE WERE DRIVING AROUND, NOT SURE WHY, AND FOUND THE PRESENCE OF THESE PEOPLE INTIMIDATING EVEN THOUGH THAT WASN'T THEIR POLLING PLACE AND OF COURSE, IT BECAME A BIG CASE AND SUED AND THESE TWO PROSECUTED AND THERE WE GO.

WHY COULDN'T IT BE THE OTHER WAY THAT PEOPLE, THE NEW BLACK PANTHER PARTY COULD SORT OF DECIDE THEY'RE GOING TO DESCEND ON WHEREVER AND DO THE SAME THING?

HOW DO YOU KNOW IT'S DIRECTED TOWARDS PEOPLE OF COLOR?

THIS BILL WOULD OPEN IT UP TO ANY PARTISAN ACTOR TO COME IN AND DISRUPT THE OPERATIONS OF THE POLLING PLACE WHICH SHOULD BE DISTURBING TO EVERYONE.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

THE ONLY REASON I BRING UP FEAR ABOUT THE PROUD BOYS IS BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN THE BLACK PANTHERS STORM THE U.S. CAPITAL AND I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM QUESTION THE LEGITIMACY OF THE LAST ELECTION, SO WHAT I WORRY ABOUT IS GIVEN THE CURRENT CLIMATE WHAT TYPE OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ATTRACTED TO THIS ROLE OF BEING POLL WATCHER.

BE HONEST THAT THERE IS NO, WE DON'T WANT TO PAINT A FALSE EQUIVALENCY.ONE SIDE QUESTIONEDE LEGITIMACY OF THE AMERICAN ELECTIONS AND SO WE'VE GOT TO BE HONEST AND CLEAR EYED ABOUT THAT FACT.

ONE OF THE REASONS I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THIS IS I'M JUST CURIOUS WHY YOU SEE IT SO DIFFERENTLY FROM YOUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES.RE GOING TO CHANGE TE RULES, WHY DO THEY ASSUME THESE GO DOWN TO THEIR BENEFIT.

SOME BELIEVE IT'S UN-AMERICAN.

ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES JOINED US IN VOTING AGAINST THIS BILL FIRST TIME AROUND BACK IN THE SPRING AND HIS ARGUMENT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.

THE 2020 ELECTION, WE SAW HISTORIC VOTER TURNOUT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND REPUBLICANS DID QUITE WELL.

THEY WON AT ALL LEVELS UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT.

WE HAVE TO THEN START TO GET THEM TO BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY AGAIN.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE MODERN REPUBLICAN PARTY BECOMING A MINORITY PARTY AND DON'T FEEL THEY CAN OR NEED TO CREATE A MAJORITY GOVERNING COALITION AND THEY'VE LOST THE LAST SEVEN, SEVEN OF THE LAST EIGHT POPULAR VOTES IN THIS COUNTRY WHICH IS A TROUBLING STATISTIC FOR THEM.

SO WE'VE GOT TO HAVE BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES INVESTED IN THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM.

THIS IS GOING TO SURVIVE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT IF YOU RETURN TO TEXAS, HE WILL ARREST ALL OF YOU.

ALSO IMPLIES THIS IS KIND OF A JUNK IT WITH PRIVATE PLANES AND HANG OUT IN WASHINGTON HOTELS AND ESSENTIALLY SHIRKING YOUR DUTIES.WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO TH?

THIS IS ANYTHING BUT FUN.

WE HAVE LEFT BEHIND EVERYTHING BACK IN TEXAS AND MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHE THAT HAVE PREEXISTING CONDITIONS ARE RISKING THEIR HEALTH BY TRAVELING IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS ACTIVE PANDEMIC.

I HAVE COLLEAGUES OF MINE QUARANTINING IN THEIR HOTEL ROOMS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS BUT ALL OF THAT IS WORTH IT BECAUSE THIS IS BIGGER THAN ANY INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATOR OR ANY INDIVIDUAL AMERICAN.

THIS IS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT OUR PRECIOUS DEMOCRACY WILL SURVIVE.

WE CELEBRATED AMERICA'S BIRTHDAY AND IF WE EXPECT THIS AMERICAN EXPERIMENT TO SURVIVE ANOTHER5 P NOW.

DEMOCRACIES AROUND THE WORLD ARE GOING TO DIE SLOWLY.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS OVERNIGHT.U CAN'T POINT TO A PAR DATE IN TIME WHEN THE DEMOCRACY DOES BUT IT JUST HAPPENS OVER TIME WHEN JOURNALISTS REFUSES TO STAND UP FOR DEMOCRATIC VALUES AND I REFUSE TO LET THAT HAPPEN IN MY BELOVED HOME STATE OF TEXAS OR THE COUNTRY WE ALL

INITIALLY, I THINK THE MOVE THAT THE TEXAS DEMOCRATS MAKE TO COME TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO WAIT IT OUT, EVEN FACING ARREST AND SORT OF RIDICULE IN THE STATE.

GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION BUT NOW A LOT OF THE POLITICAL WRITERS ARE SAYING, WELL, WHAT ELSE YOU GOT?

ALL YOU HAVE AND WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT, BUT THERE IS NO STRATEGIC WAY FORWARD HERE AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE POINT.

THE REALITY OF IT IS IN TEXAS, REPUBLICANS CONTROL 18 SEATS IN THE STATE SENATE.

DEMOCRATS ONLY 13.

THEY PATROL 83 SEATS IN THE HOUSE.

DEMOCRATS ONLY 67 BUT REPUBLICANS CONTROL FAR MORE STATE LEGISLATORS THAN DEMOCRATS DO AND THAT'S BEEN A LONG-TERM PROJECT OF THEIRS.

SO WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU'VE LOST THAT WAR LONG AGO?

A COUPLE OF THINGS.

YOU HAVE A STATE REP IN TEXAS ON YOUR SHOW TALKING ABOUT VOTING RIGHTS SO IN SOME WAYS, WE'VE ALREADY WON BY FOCUSING THE NATIONAL ATTENTION AND THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION ON THE ISSUE OF DEMOCRACY AND THE ISSUE OF VOTING RIGHTS.

SO THAT'S ONE.

BUT THE REASON WE'RE IN WASHINGTON, DC RIGHT NOW AND NOT IN TEXAS, THE REASON WE'RE A NATIONAL CAPITAL IS BECAUSE WE'RE BEGGING, PLEADING, IMPLORING OUR FEDERAL COUNTERPARTS TO TAKE FEDERAL ACTION TO PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN STOP REPUBLICAN-HELD LEGISLATURES WITH THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND LAST, WE HEARD THIS WEEK FROM THE DAUGHTER OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AND BOTH REMINDS US THAT ALTHOUGH JOURNALISTS FOCUS ON WHO'S WINNING THE DAY OR THE WEEK, THIS STRUGGLE WAS A LOT LONGER THAN ANY INDIVIDUAL NEWS CYCLE.

SO WE MAY NOT WIN EACH INDIVIDUAL DAY.

WE MAY NOT WIN EACH INDIVIDUAL WEEK BUT THE HOPE IS THAT WE'RE BENDING THAT ARC OF THE MORAL THAT'S BIGGER THAN ANY ONE OF US AND BIGGER THAN ANYONE'S CAREER.

IT'S ABOUT THIS AMERICAN EXPERIMENT AND WHETHER IT WILL SURVIVE IN GENERATIONS TO COME.

THOSE WHO DO HAVE AN OUTSIDE OR BIGGER THAN USUAL VOICE IN THAT.

OF WEST VIRGINIA AND CINEMA OF ARIZONA.

THE STRUCTURAL PROBLEM THAT WE SPOKE TO THEM ONLY IF THE DEMOCRATS ARE WILLING TO FORGO THE FILIBUSTER, SENATE RULE THAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR THE MINORITY OR EVEN THE EQUIVALENT AT THIS POINT TO BLOCK LEGISLATION.

THEY COULD DO THAT.

BUT THESE TWO DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING THAT THEY WON'T DO THAT AND I'M WONDERING WHAT KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS YOU'VE HAD WITH THEM.

I KNOW YOUR GROUP MET WITH SENATOR MANSON LAST WEEK OR DON'T KNOW IF YOU MET WITH SENATOR CINEMA BUT HOW ARE THOSE PROCEEDING?E LEFT WITH SENATOR N VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT VOTING RIGHTS BILL WAS POSSIBLE IN THE U.S. CONGRESS AND SENATOR MANSION IS A FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE.

HE KNOWS ALL ABOUT ELECTION LAW.

HE CARES A LOT ABOUT VOTING RIGHTS.

REITERATED THAT MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE MEETING WITH OUR SO I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE AN ALLY IN SENATOR MANSION.

WE MAY DISAGREE ABOUT WHAT TACTICS MAY GET US THERE BUT MANY SUPPORT THE FULL VERSION BECAUSE THE ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY IS MULTI-COMPREHENSIVE AND SAVE OUR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM BUT MY CONSTITUENTS IN TEXAS ARE OUT OF TIME AND THEY'RE HAVING THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE UNDERMINED, AS WE SPEAK, AS I'M TALKING TO YOU RIGHT NOW.

AND SO WE NEED AT LEAST SOME FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS ACTION TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS BACK IN TEXAS AND I AM VERY HOPEFUL THAT SOME TYPE OF ACTION ON VOTING RIGHTS WILL PASS THROUGH THE U.S. CONGRESS AND SIGNED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN.

I WANTED TO TALK WITH YOU WHILE I HAVE YOU.

YOU'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF ATTENTION FOR A COUPLE OF EXCHANGES YOU'VE HAD WITH PEOPLE WITH SOME DIFFERENT POLITICAL VIEWS.

ONE OF THEM THAT KIND OF STOOD OUT WAS AN EXCHANGE YOU HAD WITH A FELLOW LAWMAKER AROUND CRITICAL RACE THEORY OR AROUND A BILL THAT WOULD REGULATE HOW HISTORY CAN BE TAUGHT IN TEXAS SCHOOLS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON THROUGHOUT THE BILL, IT READS LIKE A HOW TO GUIDE IN HISTORICAL WHITEWASHING.U AWARE THE NEW VEF THE BILL FROM THE SENATE REMOVES THE WRITINGS OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS?

I AM.

ARE YOU AWARE IT REMOVES THE WRITINGS OF DR. MARTIN LUTHERR.?

YES.

ARE YOU AWARE THIS NEW VERSION OF THE BILL FROM THE SENATE REMOVES THE HISTORY OF NATIVE AMERICANS?

.

THE WAY THE BILL IS LAID OUT.

THAT'S A YES.

NEW VERSION OF THE BILL.

REMOVES THE HISTORY OF NATIVE

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN ANSWER.THIS ISN'T A TRIAL.

WHY WOULD IT REMOVE THE WRITINGS?AT'S THE STATED REASONR TAKING THOSE OUT?

IF YOU CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION, I'D BE APPRECIATIVE BUT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS THE FARTHEST FRINGES OF THE REPUBLICAN BASE WANT TO SEE A CERTAIN TYPE OF WHITE POWER PRESERVED.

CULTURAL, POLITICAL AND SOCIAL.

THAT'S HOW THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO THIS.

I DON'T THINK IT'S ALL REPUBLICANS OR ALL OF MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES BUT WE'VE GOT TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE POLITICAL COURAGE FROM MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO STAND UP TO THEIR OWN COALITION.

ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THE TEXAS BILL IS IT WOULD RYE THINGS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CURRICULUM IF THEY CAUSED DISTRESS OR MADE SOMEBODY FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE AT HEARING IT AND AS A TEACH E, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT HOW THAT STRIKES YO WOULD YOU SAY YOU CAN'T FOR CALCULUS OR GEOMETRY OR TRIG, THAT MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE, WOULD YOU NOT TEACH THAT OR AS AN EDUCATOR?

ONE RULE AS A TEACHER IS TO BE HONEST WITH MY STUDENTS.

KIDS HAVE SOME OF THE BEST BS DETECTERS AROUND, RIGHT?

THEY CAN TELL WHEN YOU'RE NOT SHOOTING STRAIGHT WITH THEM AND IF TRUE LEARNING IS GOING TO HAPPEN FROM THE CLASSROOM, IF YOU'RE GOING TO CULTIVATE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TEACHER AND STUDENT, IT HAS TO BE BUILT ON TRUST AND HONESTY.

I THINK SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES AUTHENTICALLY FEEL IF WE'RE HONEST WITH OUR KIDS ABOUT OUR HISTORY, THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF OUR PAST, THAT STUDENTS WILL STOP LOVING AMERICA.AT HAS NOT BEEN MY EXPE.

RONALD REAGAN TALKED ABOUT INFORMED PATRIOTISM.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO ACHIEVE IN OUR CLASSROOMS.

WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO DEVELOP A TRUE LOVE OF COUNTRY AND LIKE ANY RELATIONSHIP, RECOGNIZE WHO THEY ARE AND EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM, GOOD PARTS AND THE BAD PARTS AND CHOOSE TO LOVE THEM THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN PUPPY LOVE WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER, WHEN YOU DIDN'T REALLY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PERSON.

JUST THOUGHT THEY WERE CUTE.

LIKED THAT THEY WERE FUNNY AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.

SUPERFICIAL.HE REPUBLICANS ARE G TO DO WITH THIS BILL IS INSTILL A PUPPY LOVE OF COUNTRY AND I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY IS INSTILL A TRUE LOVE OF COUNTRY.

FROM WITHIN OUR STUDENTS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED IN YOUR STATE?

FORMER GOVERNOR, GEORGE W.

BUSH, LATER BECAME, OF COURSE, PRESIDENT BUSH, 43rd PRESIDENT KNOWN FOR HIS BIPARTISAN.

HE HAD CABINET OF PEOPLE WHO HE REGULARLY CONSULTED WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE DEMOCRATS AND KNOWN FOR HAVING GOOD WORKING REPUBLICANS WITH DEMOCRATS AND KNOWN AS PRESIDENT.

HAD A DIVERSE CABINET.

NOMINATING CONVENTION ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE IN HISTORY.

WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED?

SOMETHING I'VE LEARNED IN POLITICS IS TO FOCUS LESS ON PERSONALITIES AND FOCUS MORE ON SYSTEMS.

IF FORMER PRESIDENT BUSH OR GOVERNOR BUSH AS THE CASE HERE IN TEXAS, IF HE WERE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TODAY, I THINK YOU'D SEE HIM ACT A LOT MORE LIKE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND OTHERS BECAUSE POLITICIANS ARE RATIONAL ACTORS.

WE PURSUE WHAT INCENTIVES ARE PUT IN FRONT OF US BY THE SYSTEMS IN WHICH WE WORK.

SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THIS CURRENT SYSTEM IS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BECAUSE OF OUR GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION, THE SENATE AND ELECTORAL COLLEGE WITH SPECIAL PREFERENCE TO WHITE RURAL STATES AS WE ALL KNOW, TEND TO BE IN THE REPUBLICAN CATEGORY.

BECAUSE OF THAT BASIC STRUCTURAL FACT, TRY TO APPEAL TO AS MANY AS POSSIBLE TO THE MAJORITY COALITION.W ALL THAT IN PRESIDEN AND HARRIS IN THEIR CAMPAIGN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE.

NOT JUST TRYING TO APPEAL TO THE DEMOCRATIC BASE BUT THE COALITION OF PROGRESSIVES AND MODERATES AND SUBURBAN VOTERS IN ORDER TO WIN BECAUSE THE SYSTEM FORCED TO DO SO.

BECAUSE OF THESE STRUCTURAL FACTORS, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CAN WIN AN ELECTION THROUGH THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND THE POWER MAINTAINED THROUGH THE SENATE BY A MINORITY OF WHITE RURAL VOTERS, PRIMARILY MEN AND THAT'S BAD FOR DEMOCRACY BECAUSE THAT MEANS ONE PARTY NEEDS TO GOVERN FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

THEY ONLY FEEL THE NEED TO GOVERN THEIR TRUE MINORITY.

BUT THAT MEANS THAT POLICY OUTCOME WITH VOTER SUPPRESSION BILL AND THE LEGISLATURE.

THERE'S A CHANCE YOU COULD LOSE YOUR SEAT AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE BUT LET'S SAY YOU DO LOSE YOUR SEAT, WOULD IT HAVE BEEN WORTH IT?

ABSOLUTELY.

I'LL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT MYSELF IN THE MIRROR BEFORE I GO TO BED AND THAT'S WORTH MORE THAN ANY POLITICAL SEAT THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN AND I KNOW MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS, MY FAMILY MEMBERS, FORMER STUDENTS WILL BE PROUD OF ME AND THAT'S ALL YOU CAN REALLY ASK FOR IN THIS LIFE.

BEING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IS A WONDERFUL HONOR.

WONDERFUL PRIVILEGE BUT IF IT COMES WITH THE COST OF SACK FAK SACRIFICING YOUR OWN PRINCIPLES, IT'S NOT WORTH HAVING.

I KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS RIGHT AND NORMAN TO SELMA WHO HAVE SPILLED BLOOD TO SACRIFICE AND STAND UP WITH THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND THAT'S ALL YOU CAN ASK FOR.

REPRESENTATIVE JAMES TALARICO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING