Carville supports comedians who doubted Crockett’s chances in the Senate

James Carville Defends Comedian’s Comments on Candidate

Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville has come to the defense of a comedian who suggested that Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett may not be the strongest candidate for the Texas Senate seat.

In a recent episode of the podcast “Political War Room,” Carville discussed a column by Michelle Goldberg, a liberal columnist for The New York Times. Goldberg supported comedian Bowen Yang and podcast co-host Matt Rogers, who faced criticism for their remarks on Crockett’s viability. She argued that the backlash highlighted a deeper issue that could jeopardize Democrats’ chances in the Senate this fall.

Carville remarked that Goldberg’s piece pointed out how the criticism of Yang and Rogers was disproportionately harsh, leading them to issue apologies. He expressed that this response was driven by a mix of misogyny and racism, and praised Goldberg for addressing it effectively.

As he often does, Carville used the moment to issue a warning to other Democrats. He stated that there are essentially two camps within the Democratic coalition: those who prioritize identity politics above all else and those who believe that winning elections is paramount. He emphasized, “If we don’t win, we haven’t accomplished anything.”

Continuing, he criticized the former view, saying, “Okay, you just sit there. Dig one stump into a-0, put one in your mouth, and switch every five seconds.” Carville clarified his position, noting that while he supports James Talarico, he doesn’t back Crockett, contrasting it as a matter of candidate effectiveness rather than identity. “This has to do with their ability to articulate their message… You don’t do it by making fun of a guy in a wheelchair. That’s not a good idea,” he added.

Crockett Responds to Critics

Crockett, for her part, indicated that she believes she can still resonate with voters. She urged Democratic primary voters to consider who could actually win in the general election, declaring, “Let’s nominate James Talarico… join the winning side.”

Carville has previously expressed support for Talarico, acknowledging that their policy goals are aligned but that Talarico is less encumbered by the challenges facing Crockett.