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On Christmas Day 2021, Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico celebrated receiving a Dr. Anthony Fauci doll — a decision he is now being mocked for.
“I got the coolest action figure for Christmas!” Talarico wrote on social media at the time. “Thank you to all the health care superheroes working today. Let’s help by getting vaxxed and boosted!”
Republican lawmakers and conservative pundits were quick to poke fun at Talarico when his nearly five-year-old post began recirculating on X earlier in the week.
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On Christmas Day 2021, Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico celebrated receiving a Dr. Anthony Fauci doll — a decision he is now being mocked for. (Alex Wroblewski / AFP via Getty Images)
“Do you think James Talarico still plays with his Fauci action figure?” Rep. Brandon Gill, a Texas Republican, wrote Wednesday.
Republicans, facing a well-funded challenger in Talarico, have sought to portray him as effeminate in an effort to harm his image among Texas voters. His opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, branded him as “too low-T for Texas,” and an AI ad produced by a conservative group portrayed the Democratic hopeful prancing around in a dress.
“It comes as no surprise that James Talarico has a Dr. Fauci action figure,” commentator Benny Johnson quipped on X.
The National Rifle Association, along similar lines, cautioned its X followers to “Never trust a grown man that plays with dolls.
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Anthony Fauci toy, left (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP) (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images) and Texas Senate candidate James Talarico, right. (Abigail Dollins/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) ((Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP) (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images) (Abigail Dollins/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images))
Talarico’s post resurfaced Wednesday as Fauci returned to the news cycle following his repeated refusal to answer questions under oath before Congress, invoking his Fifth Amendment right to avoid making self-incriminating statements.
At the time of his post, Talarico was serving as a member of the Texas House of Representatives, a post he still holds today. Even when he first posted the image of his toy, conservatives attacked the Texas lawmaker for attaching himself to what they believed to be unpopular lockdown policies.
“James Talarico called Fauci a superhero,” Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz wrote on X Wednesday. “Today, Fauci took the Fifth 111 times. Apparently accountability was sold separately.”
“If you push the lever, it pleads the Fifth,” the senator later added.
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Texas State Rep. James Talarico, D-Travis, and Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, shake hands. (Bob Daemmrich/Getty Images)
Fauci suggested that the hearing was the result of Sen. Rand Paul’s “unhinged obsession” with him.
Republicans appear to view Talarico’s admiration for Fauci as something that will hurt his electoral prospects, with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaign account posting “Christmas in July” alongside a Christmas tree and mask emoji in response to Talarico’s post.
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The figurine, which features a “removable mask” and can be purchased online for around $25, is part of a line of toys called “real life action figures” manufactured by a company called FCTRY. Other figures in the series include Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Talarico campaign did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Thursday.