One of my biggest pet peeves is when Democrats decide to pick up a Bible and proceed to cherry-pick a verse that they believe supports their position about a certain socio-political topic and, best of all, shows that those dastardly Republican Christians are nothing but major hypocrites.
It gets on my nerves in a big way because they'll somberly recite the chosen verse, signal their virtue, then not elaborate further. If you were to confront them about a major un-Christian thing they support with their full chest, like abortion, suddenly the Bible is just a book written by a bunch of dudes a long time ago that were probably hallucinating on mushrooms or something.
Don't ask too many questions. Just be cool to other people... ya know, like Jesus said.
Democrat Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a candidate for U.S. Senate, did this very thing recently. Talarico's taking the Bible out of context is made even worse by the fact that he's a "Presbyterian seminarian," which means he's supposed to be a shepherd of the Lord, not a Democrat Party mouthpiece wearing a shepherd's mask.
Standing on a pulpit, Talarico decided to quote 1 John 4:20, which states, "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar."
He goes on to say, "You can't love God and abuse the immigrant," adding in the "outcast," and "the poor" for good moral measure.
Scripture says you can’t love God and hate other people.
— James Talarico (@jamestalarico) December 17, 2025
You can’t love God and abuse the immigrant.
You can’t love God and bully the outcast.
You can’t love God and oppress the poor.
In the face of a neighbor, we glimpse the face of God. pic.twitter.com/RKfdsbALvT
Now, I'm no Biblical scholar, but I do know a thing or two about what is and isn't acceptable. Bearing false witness is one thing God expressly forbade, and another is Romans 13, which states, "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves."
However, let's focus on the issue of false witness for a moment.
The entire point of Talarico's speech wasn't to defend the immigrant, the poor, and the outcast; it was to paint his opponents as those who are hateful toward the downtrodden. It's a dirty tactic because Republicans, conservatives, and everyone else on the Right (including those who found themselves on it because the Left surged leftward) don't hate any of these people. We're more than welcoming to those who immigrate here legally and make themselves a part of America's success and advancement.
What we don't like are those who come into the country illegally, or through "asylum" channels, only to turn around and burden our system, increase our crime, and act like absolute fools who have no desire or will to contribute to the American system.
Like this guy. *LANGUAGE WARNING*
Somalian in the US mocks Americans:
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 16, 2025
“You work all f*cking day… Thank you for working so hard so I can be home all day free. Go to work for me white boy… Go to work for me you f*cking white animals!”
WE WANT HIS IMMEDIATE ARREST AND DEPORTATION LIVESTREAMED PLEASE @Sec_Noem… pic.twitter.com/DprvgeX9mc
He's gotta go. Not because I hate him, but because he's clearly not here to help; he's here to mooch and mock those who allow him to exist here in peace.
By the way, I wonder if Talarico would admonish this Somali immigrant for hating his neighbors the way he finger-wags at us. I doubt it, because his fellow virtue signalers would come down on him, and his flagging campaign support would be even more damaged.
Ejecting illegals and criminals is the law of the land, and as such, illegal immigrants and criminals are to be deported. That's not hatred, that's the rule of the land that Talarico wants to assist in governing.
Moreover, he's purposefully conflating the "immigrant" with illegal immigrants, which is, itself, a lie he's foisting on anyone who will listen. Again, we don't hate immigrants in America. What we hate is a concept. Coming here from your third-world country to make our country a third world is a concept, and we're more than allowed to hate a concept.
Talarico is using the word of God to push a narrative that's false on several different fronts, and God warned people that doing this kind of thing can result in severe punishments.
Perhaps Talarico should read Matthew 7:15-23.
Editor's Note: This article has been updated post-publication for clarity.
