The Story: Georgia’s controversial new election law may have landed the state in foul territory with Major League Baseball. According to media reports, the league is considering its options for moving the All-Star game — originally scheduled to be played at Cobb County’s Truist Park — out of Georgia.
Biden Weighs In: Joe Biden was asked during an ESPN interview what he thought of the push to move the game and Biden said he would support moving the game. “I think today’s professional athletes are acting incredibly responsibly,” Biden said. “I would strongly support them doing that. People look to them. They’re leaders.”
Backlash: Biden’s remarks drew backlash from local leaders who are often on opposite sides of the political spectrum and who are at odds on the election law itself. Gov. Brian Kemp responded in a Fox News interview and called Biden’s support of pulling the game “ridiculous.”
“When the President of the United States says something, you know a lot of people pay attention,” Kemp said. “But what Joe Biden needs to do is look at the side-by-side of Georgia and Delaware. You know, he’s focused on trying to get Major League Baseball to pull the game out of Georgia, which is ridiculous.” Kemp went on to argue that Delaware has no in-person early voting and requires an excuse for absentee ballots.
County’s newly-elected chairwoman, Lisa Cupid — a democrat — was also critical of Biden’s remarks.
“While we are both frustrated by the recently-enacted elections legislation, the President’s remarks concerning moving Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game out of Cobb County sends an unfortunate message to those residents and businesses here who have supported him,” Cupid said. “I would be open to a discussion with the President and others about alternative actions that would channel our frustration into an opportunity to use this event as a chance to openly discuss this legislation, voter participation, and inclusion and then find an applicable response.”
Photo: Editorial credit: Rob Hainer / Shutterstock.com
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About The Public Record: This article is part of an ongoing series highlighting statements by public officials called The Public Record, where we present recent quotes and actions of public officials or candidates. You may not be able to attend every public meeting or see every occasion where your representatives speak, but you still have a right to know what your representatives and those who hope to represent you have been saying.
“Because public men and women are amenable ‘at all times’ to the people, they must conduct the public’s business out in the open.” -Charles L. Weltner Sr., former Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court
