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Stacey Abrams Delivers a Democratic Appeal for Ballot Fairness Stacey Abrams, in Democrats’ Response, Calls for Ballot Fairness
(about 2 hours later)
WASHINGTON — Stacey Abrams, who narrowly lost her race in November to be Georgia’s governor, delivered the Democrats’ official response to President Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday night by outlining the party’s vision for lower health care costs and a more inclusive immigration policy, and pressing her case that access to the voting booth should be easier, not harder.WASHINGTON — Stacey Abrams, who narrowly lost her race in November to be Georgia’s governor, delivered the Democrats’ official response to President Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday night by outlining the party’s vision for lower health care costs and a more inclusive immigration policy, and pressing her case that access to the voting booth should be easier, not harder.
“Let’s be clear: Voter suppression is real,” Ms. Abrams said, speaking from Atlanta and surrounded by supporters. “From making it harder to register and stay on the rolls to moving and closing polling places to rejecting lawful ballots, we can no longer ignore these threats to democracy.”“Let’s be clear: Voter suppression is real,” Ms. Abrams said, speaking from Atlanta and surrounded by supporters. “From making it harder to register and stay on the rolls to moving and closing polling places to rejecting lawful ballots, we can no longer ignore these threats to democracy.”
[Read a transcript of Ms. Abrams’s speech.][Read a transcript of Ms. Abrams’s speech.]
Ms. Abrams’s loss in November dashed hopes that she would become the first African-American female governor, and the way she lost rankled her and her supporters, amid charges of voter suppression and ballot rigging. Her emphasis on voting rights Tuesday night fit the theme she struck when she conceded the race to her Republican rival, Brian Kemp, who supervised the election as Georgia’s secretary of state. But it also dovetailed with the goals of the new House Democratic majority, whose leaders have included language intended to expand voter registration in the first bill they introduced when they took control of the chamber last month.Ms. Abrams’s loss in November dashed hopes that she would become the first African-American female governor, and the way she lost rankled her and her supporters, amid charges of voter suppression and ballot rigging. Her emphasis on voting rights Tuesday night fit the theme she struck when she conceded the race to her Republican rival, Brian Kemp, who supervised the election as Georgia’s secretary of state. But it also dovetailed with the goals of the new House Democratic majority, whose leaders have included language intended to expand voter registration in the first bill they introduced when they took control of the chamber last month.
The issue is also deeply personal for Ms. Abrams. The election prompted her to start an advocacy group, Fair Fight Action, dedicated to expanding voting rights.The issue is also deeply personal for Ms. Abrams. The election prompted her to start an advocacy group, Fair Fight Action, dedicated to expanding voting rights.
“This is the next battle for our democracy, one where all eligible citizens can have their say about the vision we want for our country,” she said. “We must reject the cynicism that says allowing every eligible vote to be cast and counted is a ‘power grab.’ Americans understand that these are the values our brave men and women in uniform and our veterans risk their lives to defend.”“This is the next battle for our democracy, one where all eligible citizens can have their say about the vision we want for our country,” she said. “We must reject the cynicism that says allowing every eligible vote to be cast and counted is a ‘power grab.’ Americans understand that these are the values our brave men and women in uniform and our veterans risk their lives to defend.”
The “power grab” comment was a direct reference to Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, who used that phrase to denounce House Democratic legislation to expand access to the voting booth.The “power grab” comment was a direct reference to Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, who used that phrase to denounce House Democratic legislation to expand access to the voting booth.
The Democrats’ selection of Ms. Abrams signals that the party intends for her to play a prominent role in national politics, and already some Democratic leaders are imploring her to challenge Senator David Perdue, Republican of Georgia, a close ally of Mr. Trump who is up for re-election in 2020. She remains undecided, according to people who are close to her. Democrats hope an Abrams candidacy can mobilize minority voters and possibly put Georgia into play in the presidential contest.The Democrats’ selection of Ms. Abrams signals that the party intends for her to play a prominent role in national politics, and already some Democratic leaders are imploring her to challenge Senator David Perdue, Republican of Georgia, a close ally of Mr. Trump who is up for re-election in 2020. She remains undecided, according to people who are close to her. Democrats hope an Abrams candidacy can mobilize minority voters and possibly put Georgia into play in the presidential contest.
But even before Tuesday night’s speech, Ms. Abrams, 45, commanded a national platform. Democrats around the country were rallying around her history-making candidacy.But even before Tuesday night’s speech, Ms. Abrams, 45, commanded a national platform. Democrats around the country were rallying around her history-making candidacy.
Ms. Abrams is also the first black woman to deliver a State of the Union response, and her selection also signals a marked shift for Democrats. Just two years ago, the party selected Steve Beshear, the former Kentucky governor, to deliver the response to Mr. Trump’s first address to a joint session of Congress, in a clear bid to appeal to the white working-class voters who had helped elect the president.Ms. Abrams is also the first black woman to deliver a State of the Union response, and her selection also signals a marked shift for Democrats. Just two years ago, the party selected Steve Beshear, the former Kentucky governor, to deliver the response to Mr. Trump’s first address to a joint session of Congress, in a clear bid to appeal to the white working-class voters who had helped elect the president.
She began her speech with a message about faith and family: Her librarian mother and father, a shipyard worker, both became United Methodist ministers. The family had only one car, Ms. Abrams said, “so sometimes my dad had to hitchhike and walk long stretches during the 30-mile trip home from the shipyards.” One rainy night, she said, he gave away his jacket to a homeless man.She began her speech with a message about faith and family: Her librarian mother and father, a shipyard worker, both became United Methodist ministers. The family had only one car, Ms. Abrams said, “so sometimes my dad had to hitchhike and walk long stretches during the 30-mile trip home from the shipyards.” One rainy night, she said, he gave away his jacket to a homeless man.
It was an anecdote meant to showcase Democrats’ concern for working people — a theme that House Democrats have hammered home with their so-called For the People agenda of lowering prescription drug prices, passing an infrastructure measure and ending corruption in Washington. Ms. Abrams hit hard on those themes throughout her address.It was an anecdote meant to showcase Democrats’ concern for working people — a theme that House Democrats have hammered home with their so-called For the People agenda of lowering prescription drug prices, passing an infrastructure measure and ending corruption in Washington. Ms. Abrams hit hard on those themes throughout her address.
“In Georgia and around the country, people are striving for a middle class where a salary truly equals economic security,” she said. “But instead, families’ hopes are being crushed by Republican leadership that ignores real life or just doesn’t understand it. Under the current administration, far too many hard-working Americans are falling behind, living paycheck to paycheck, most without labor unions to protect them from even worse harm.”“In Georgia and around the country, people are striving for a middle class where a salary truly equals economic security,” she said. “But instead, families’ hopes are being crushed by Republican leadership that ignores real life or just doesn’t understand it. Under the current administration, far too many hard-working Americans are falling behind, living paycheck to paycheck, most without labor unions to protect them from even worse harm.”
She also attacked Mr. Trump over his immigration policies.She also attacked Mr. Trump over his immigration policies.
“We know bipartisanship could craft a 21st-century immigration plan, but this administration chooses to cage children and tear families apart,” Ms. Abrams said. “Compassionate treatment at the border is not the same as open borders.”“We know bipartisanship could craft a 21st-century immigration plan, but this administration chooses to cage children and tear families apart,” Ms. Abrams said. “Compassionate treatment at the border is not the same as open borders.”
Ms. Abrams was not the only one to counter Mr. Trump. Two presidential hopefuls — Senators Bernie Sanders, independent of Vermont (who has not yet announced his candidacy but is widely expected to), and Kamala Harris, Democrat of California — delivered their own responses.Ms. Abrams was not the only one to counter Mr. Trump. Two presidential hopefuls — Senators Bernie Sanders, independent of Vermont (who has not yet announced his candidacy but is widely expected to), and Kamala Harris, Democrat of California — delivered their own responses.
Ms. Harris, a former prosecutor who in 2017 became the second black woman to serve in the Senate (after Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois) delivered an eight-minute address, livestreamed on her Facebook page before Mr. Trump took the rostrum in the House chamber. She took the president to task for policies that she said benefit the rich and powerful, and outlined her own vision for a politics of unity rather than division.Ms. Harris, a former prosecutor who in 2017 became the second black woman to serve in the Senate (after Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois) delivered an eight-minute address, livestreamed on her Facebook page before Mr. Trump took the rostrum in the House chamber. She took the president to task for policies that she said benefit the rich and powerful, and outlined her own vision for a politics of unity rather than division.
“At this difficult moment we can have faith that the American people are spirited, resourceful and resilient,” Ms. Harris said, “and because of who we are we can come together around that common purpose.”“At this difficult moment we can have faith that the American people are spirited, resourceful and resilient,” Ms. Harris said, “and because of who we are we can come together around that common purpose.”
Ms. Harris challenged Mr. Trump on a range of fronts, arguing that his economic policies are geared to “help big corporations and foreign interests,” and that his foreign policy has hurt American farmers and consumers because of the trade wars he has instigated. And she confronted Mr. Trump on his immigration policy, particularly his administration’s decision to separate children from their parents seeking asylum at the border.Ms. Harris challenged Mr. Trump on a range of fronts, arguing that his economic policies are geared to “help big corporations and foreign interests,” and that his foreign policy has hurt American farmers and consumers because of the trade wars he has instigated. And she confronted Mr. Trump on his immigration policy, particularly his administration’s decision to separate children from their parents seeking asylum at the border.
“When you hear claims that our problems would all be solved if we just built a wall on our southern border, don’t forget the babies ripped from their parents’ arms and the refugees fleeing violence and abuse that are being turned away,” she said.“When you hear claims that our problems would all be solved if we just built a wall on our southern border, don’t forget the babies ripped from their parents’ arms and the refugees fleeing violence and abuse that are being turned away,” she said.
Like Ms. Harris, Mr. Sanders outlined a progressive vision, questioning why Mr. Trump had failed to mention climate change in his address, faulting his “disgraceful” immigration policies and complaining of the president, “He is trying to divide us up.”Like Ms. Harris, Mr. Sanders outlined a progressive vision, questioning why Mr. Trump had failed to mention climate change in his address, faulting his “disgraceful” immigration policies and complaining of the president, “He is trying to divide us up.”
“Trump said tonight that we should quote govern not as two parties but as one nation,” Mr. Sanders said. “I agree. But Trump’s agenda of providing tax breaks to billionaires while throwing millions of Americans off health insurance is the exact opposite of what the American people want.”“Trump said tonight that we should quote govern not as two parties but as one nation,” Mr. Sanders said. “I agree. But Trump’s agenda of providing tax breaks to billionaires while throwing millions of Americans off health insurance is the exact opposite of what the American people want.”