As Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (who was assumed to be a pro-Trump governor), looks to appoint a “never-Trumper” to a vacant U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Sen. Johnny Isakson, pro-Trump conservatives are not happy.
Kemp has made it known that he intends to appoint wealthy Atlanta WMBA co-owner and co-chair Kelly Loeffler to the seat, who could dump millions of her own cash into the Senate race. President Trump has urged Kemp to appoint proven pro-Trump conservative Congressman Doug Collins to the seat, but Kemp is not budging. Atlanta WMBA honored failed Democrat gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams and unabashedly supports abortion giant Planned Parenthood.
But conservatives point out that Loeffler never gave money to President Trump’s presidential race in 2016, despite being happy to do it for 2012 Republican nominee Willard (Mitt) Romney.
But in Kemp’s apparent power-hungry and stubborn way, he’s choosing to appoint a wild card, who conservatives are calling a “RINO,” meaning “Republican in name only.”
After Kemp wrote on Twitter that he intends to be “supportive” of President Trump, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) clapped back, telling Kemp, “[President Trump] told you how to be supportive: Appoint [Rep. Doug Collins]. You are ignoring his request because you THINK you know better than [the President]. If you substitute your judgment for the President’s, maybe you need a primary in 2022. Let’s see if you can win one w/o Trump.”
Others have criticized Kemp’s pick, including Tea Party Patriots co-founder Jenny Beth Martin, who wrote, “Appointing Ms. Loeffler to the U.S. Senate wouldn’t just be promoting a liberal to replace a conservative, it would make a mockery of those who cast votes for Senator Isakson, Governor Kemp and President Trump.”
Tea Party Movement co-founder Debbie Dooley wrote on Twitter, “He was elected with support of Trump’s base, who don’t like betrayal…. Speaking of Stacy Abrams, Kemp’s Senate pick is supportive of Stacy Abrams and has even had Abrams do legal work for her team. She also gave Abrams an award… Consider me on #TeamTrump not #TeamKemp”
Trump-hating Kemp aides tried to cover for Kemp’s disloyalty. One named Ryan Matthew Mahoney wrote on Twitter to Rep. Matt Gaetz, “Self-serving politicians who wear tight, acid-washed jean shorts and cowardly hide behind their keyboard can’t cut it in South Georgia.”
Kemp press secretary Cody Hall wrote on Twitter to Gaetz, “Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz seems to be struggling with [Stacey Abrams] syndrome. Like Stacey, he’s not the Governor either.”
The low jab by Hall doesn’t have much substance behind it, especially since Gaetz has never given an indication he would want to run for Florida Governor, and he is defending Trump right and left in the House, where he is desperately needed. Note, this also is coming from a press secretary for Gov. Kemp, a position no one elected him to, or had a say in, just as Kemp’s misguided Senate pick.
A reason why Kemp could be propping up Loeffler is her vast wealth, and promises may have been made before his election as governor, to which he now must answer for.
Firebrand conservative radio show and Fox News host Mark Levin wrote on Twitter, “Looks like Georgia Governor Kemp is another Romney. He’s about to appoint a RINO to the Senate. His surrogates are trashing conservative critics like Gaetz.”
The ire coming from the pro-Trump right about Kemp’s Senate pick should have swayed Kemp to appoint Rep. Doug Collins, as asked by the President, however, Kemp seems to want to betray the people of Georgia, the President, and the nation, by appointing another RINO to the Senate.