Georgia Republican governor candidate Brian Kemp really didn’t need any outside help to make him appear racist. He was doing that very well all by himself.
However over the weekend Kemp got some help anyway, as a white supremacist group that targeted Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum with racist robocalls began targeting Kemp’s opponent, Georgia Democratic governor candidate Stacey Abrams.
The recorded phone message has on it a voice that attempts to impersonate Oprah Winfrey.
Oprah was in Georgia on Thursday campaigning for Abrams, holding town hall meetings and canvassing door-to-door.
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The robocall, which went out to Georgia voters, contains overtly racist and anti-Semitic language. There was no information available as to exactly how many voters received the call or have heard the message.
When he heard about what was going on Kemp became angry and issued a statement saying that the robocall was “absolutely disgusting.”
“I stand against any person or organization that peddles this type of unbridled hate and unapologetic bigotry,” Kemp said in his statement. “These vile efforts to degrade and disparage others are contrary to the highest ideals of our state and country. We unequivocally condemn this group and their horrible actions.”
Abigail Collazo, Abrams’ director of strategic communication, sent out her own statement on Saturday. Â
In it, she accused Kemp and President Donald Trump of creating a political atmosphere that encourages such expressions of hate.
“Over the last few weeks we’ve seen increasing desperation from many dark corners trying to steal the election, cheat, lie, and prey on people’s fears rather than having the respect to listen to voters and speak to their hopes,” Collazo said.
She added that it was “pathetic” that Kemp “has only now suddenly decided to find a conscience as polls are tightening and Georgia voters are making it clear that they reject the kind of hate he and his allies have been spewing around the state. These automated calls are being sent into homes just days before President Trump arrives, reminding voters exactly who is promoting a political climate that celebrates this kind of vile, poisonous thinking.”
The group behind the robocall is The Road to Power, a white supremacist and anti-Semitic video podcast hosted by Scott Rhodes of Idaho.
The same neo-Nazi group had targeted Gillum with racist robocalls after he won the Democratic Florida gubernatorial nomination in the late-August primary and again in October.
Recent polls have shown that Abrams is running neck and neck with Kemp in the governor’s race that could make her the first African-American woman governor in U.S. history.
I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.
