ICYMI: Stacey Abrams Demolishes Kennedy on Georgia Voter Suppression Law

Voting rights activist, founder of Fair Fight, and pure force of nature, Stacey Abrams, testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) is a member of this committee. 

Abrams’ passion for protecting voting rights is matched only by her expertise in the subject. She has been an outspoken critic of Georgia’s voter suppression law.  

And, of course, Senator Kennedy is a blowhard, prone to putting his foot in his mouth. 

For two weeks Kennedy has been strawmanning criticisms of the Georgia law, dismissing claims the bill unfairly targets minorities by suggesting Democrats reject all voter ID laws and want ballot harvesting. 

During Abrams’ Tuesday testimony, Kennedy asked her if she thought the bill was racist. She replied, “I think there are provisions of it that are racist.” Kennedy challenged her to list the provisions she thought racist. 

And Abrams unloaded:

• It shortens the federal runoff period from nine weeks to four weeks.

• It restricts the time a voter can request and return an absentee ballot application.

• It requires that voters have a photo identification or some other form of identification that they are willing to surrender in order to participate in the absentee ballot process.

• It eliminates over 300 hours of dropbox availability. 

• It bans nearly all out of precinct votes.

Kennedy asked, “Is that all?” Abrams shot back, “No, it is not!” and continued listing provisions of the bill that unfairly target minority voters. 

Eventually, a pummeled Kennedy tapped out and said, “OK, I get the idea.”

Watch the delightful exchange below: