The Trump-Raffensperger battle in Georgia continues
While there are several contentious primaries around the country, one that is heating up is the race for Secretary of State in Georgia. The Guardian reported that incumbent Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger recently campaigned in Washington, Georgia, and took questions from the attendees. One man was shy about raising his hand but stopped Raffensperger on his way out. Once he posed his question, it was obvious why he didn’t want to ask: “How did that make you feel?” “That,” of course, refers to the infamous phone call from then “president” Donald Trump, asking Raffensperger to “find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have because we won the state.” The nerve of that man is astounding. If the other person had one more than you, you lost. Imbecile.
Because Raffensperger refused to break the law for Trump, Trump tapped one of his lackeys to run against Raffensperger. Jody Hice totally bought into Trump’s “stolen election” lies and continues them to this day. Should Hice prevail, we can expect elections that are really stolen in the future. As the Guardian so eloquently stated, the primary on May 24 “could determine whether the person overseeing the next presidential election in Georgia is someone who prevented an election from being overturned or someone who tried to overturn the last one.” Yes, Raffensperger is just another dyed-in-the-wool Republican; however, he could have easily gone along with Trump and chose not to. Hice will willingly overturn the next election for a Republican and think nothing of it. According to the Guardian, the race is very close.
It is imperative that the voters of Georgia to do the right thing in this year’s Republican primary in Georgia. Three Republicans in Georgia refused to bow to Trump’s threats, and all three are up for reelection: Raffensperger, Governor Brian Kemp, and Attorney General Chris Carr. Polls show that Kemp is running away with his race against Trump flunky David Purdue. While Raffensperger may be considered a “hero” by some for refusing to subvert democracy, he is a Republican to his core, wholeheartedly supporting the new restrictive voting laws signed by Governor Kemp following the 2020 election, which include banning giving food and water to people waiting in line. According to the Guardian, Raffensperger would also like to see an end to no-excuse mail-in voting and getting rid of the federal blackout period that prevents roll purging within 90 days of an election. Yes, he’s a classic Republican, and as Nsé Ufot, CEO of the non-partisan New Georgia Project said: “He did not break the law that one time. That does not mean that he does not align with the party’s priorities and with their lies and rhetoric about voting.”
Raffensperger is certainly no hero to democracy. He just refused to break the law – that one time. There is a big difference between refusing to break the law and fully embracing the idea of open elections which allow everyone the chance to exercise their right to vote. The choice, however, between Raffensperger and Hice is clear: Hice would not hesitate to break the law to help someone like Donald Trump.
Shirley is a former entertainment writer and has worked in the legal field for over 25 years