[Nodong-il Column] An Unfamiliar Political Language: Love

Since early this year, videos of an American politician have frequently appeared on YouTube. His name, James Talarico, was unfamiliar. It is unusual for a Democratic state representative to make a mark in Texas, “the reddest of red states.” It was not just his name that was unfamiliar. His language and demeanor were also rare. The language he uses, including his frequent quotations from the Bible, and his composure even when delivering forceful messages are qualities seldom seen in politics today. Political speeches like this can easily sound like tedious sermons or a school principal’s sleep-inducing lecture. But Talarico’s appeal was exceptional. He also stands out for his likable personality, precise command of language, and ability to deliver speeches that move listeners. Even while criticizing President Trump or his opponents, he weaves in messages of love and inclusion.
The same was true at Talarico’s victory celebration, held on the night of the 3rd, local time, at the Long Center for the Performing Arts in Austin, Texas. His speech, after winning a seat in the U.S. Senate in the midterm elections, drew enthusiastic applause and cheers from young people. The slogan attached to the front of the podium particularly caught the eye: “Love thy neighbor.” The name was unfamiliar, and the Bible verse was even more unusual at a political rally. U.S. media say Talarico’s speech deeply moved audiences by sharply criticizing the politics of division and hate and bringing together communal “love” and “(economic) justice.” “Hate is boring.” Those were Talarico’s words as he declared an end to hate politics. Saying that “hate doesn’t lower electricity bills or teach children to read,” he emphasized a politics focused on people’s livelihoods rather than hate. He also pointed out that citizens were weary of adversarial politics like professional wrestling, where opponents are mocked and turned into enemies.
Talarico pointed to a system in which billionaires and politicians profit by dividing citizens along party, racial, and religious lines and turning them against one another. He also invoked David and Goliath to emphasize solidarity among the disadvantaged. Elon Musk poured at least $225 million (about 300 billion won) into Texas alone, where Tesla and SpaceX are headquartered, to support the Republican candidate. But that was overshadowed by the election of Texas’s first Hispanic woman Democratic governor and, for the first time in more than 30 years, a Democratic U.S. senator from Texas. Talarico’s words were a metaphor for how grassroots donations (David) overcame the influence of a billionaire (Goliath).
Born in 1989 (age 37), Talarico is a young politician who has served in the Texas House of Representatives since 2018. He had a difficult childhood, including a mother who suffered domestic violence. After college, he taught children as a middle-school teacher at a public school in the impoverished area of San Antonio. He reportedly decided to enter politics after witnessing the poverty children faced and the inadequate funding for education while he was teaching, seeking to change the laws and institutions behind these problems. At 29, he made a splash by becoming the youngest person elected to the state House, but his profile remained confined to local politics. His election to the U.S. Senate this time has turned him into a national political star almost overnight.
While serving in the state House, Talarico enrolled in seminary and studied theology. He was able to secure victory by recasting a religious message long monopolized by conservative Christianity in terms of “love and justice, and protecting the vulnerable.” It may be premature, but Talarico is already being widely touted as a potential future leader. As a Democratic senator elected in a conservative stronghold, he has proved appealing to moderates and religious voters. Former President Obama compared him to former President Kennedy and lavishly praised him as a promising figure for the future. Some have called him a second Kennedy or a second Obama.
Many are watching to see whether Senator Talarico will remain true to his original principles and maintain the language of love, rather than hate and division, in national politics. He could become a second Kennedy or Obama, but he could also become a second Jimmy Carter, the “best ex-president,” who was a Bible teacher. An individual’s character and abilities may be enough to win an election, but it remains to be seen whether the same formula for success will work in the jungle of politics, where the interests of parties and groups collide sharply. That may be getting ahead of ourselves, but it also speaks to how rare an asset his language and demeanor are in modern politics. That is also why he has captured the hearts of Americans weary of the politics of hate and division. If his language of love were to propel him all the way to the presidency, it could have a major impact not only on the political climate in the United States but also on politics around the world. President Trump’s example suggests as much. It remains to be seen whether love can become the keyword that “overcomes everything” as Talarico moves forward.
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