Texas voters get ‘Are you white?’ political texts targeting James Talarico

Several viewers reached out to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth after receiving text messages asking them, “Are you white?” The messages then claim James Talarico called white men “America’s top terror threat” and direct recipients to a political attack website paid for by the American Political Action Committee.

The text messages and attack site refer to a comment made by Talarico after a mass shooting in which he said, “Radicalized white men are the greatest domestic terrorist threat in our country.” Talarico was referring to a Department of Homeland Security report released during the first Trump administration that described white supremacist extremists as the “most persistent and lethal” threat among domestic violent extremists.

Talarico ally Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, described the texts as a throwback to the racial politics of the 1980s and 1990s.

Veasey said he believes the messages are an effort to appeal to voters who are frustrated over issues including the war and high prices.

“They’re upset about the war, they’re upset about these high prices,” Veasey said.

SMU political science professor Matthew Wilson said the texts are likely to be just the beginning as outside groups pour money into the competitive U.S. Senate race.

“You’re seeing people…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business