OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
If there was ever a bumper sticker slogan that would fit the Democrats perfectly it is “rules for thee and not for me.”
That was shown again this week in a photo of Democrat Georgia candidate for governor, Stacey Abrams as she posed with school children. In the photo all of the children had their masks on but Abrams was maskless, Fox News reported.
Abrams visited Glennwood Elementary School outside of Atlanta this past week to kick off the third annual African American read-in, where she met with young students and teachers. The principal, Dr. Holly Brookins, took to Twitter after the visit to post four pictures on her Twitter account of Abrams’ visit, which included three pictures of Abrams without a mask, despite the Decatur City Commission reinstating a mandatory masking ordinance last month.
The picture that went viral was Abrams sitting on the floor with her legs crossed and smiling without a mask on while the dozens of children and adults behind her were all wearing masks. Abrams quote tweeted the picture and told Brookins that her visit was “spectacular, delightful, and outstanding.”
As of Sunday morning, Brookins’ Twitter account appears to be deactivated and Abrams’ quote tweet is no longer on her Twitter account, but that hasn’t slowed down the backlash as the picture spreads across social media.
The Democrat still received a ton of criticism on Twitter for her photo and hypocrisy.
“UNMASK OUR KIDS!!!!!” former host of “The View” Meghan McCain, the daughter of the late Sen. John McCain, said.
UNMASK OUR KIDS!!!!! pic.twitter.com/YlBSuarWyl
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) February 6, 2022
“The number of left wing politicians who post photos posing without masks while all the kids around them are wearing masks is stunning. Here is Stacey Abrams doing it. This is child abuse,” Clay Travis said.
The number of left wing politicians who post photos posing without masks while all the kids around them are wearing masks is stunning. Here is Stacey Abrams doing it. This is child abuse. pic.twitter.com/actF0YFGrz
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) February 6, 2022
“It’s also worth noting that as an obese adult Abrams is the person in this photo who is statistically at risk from covid the most BY FAR. Not the kids. At all,” he said. “I look forward to Abrams’s explanation for this photo. Maybe she was holding her breath like LA’s mayor.”
I look forward to Abrams’s explanation for this photo. Maybe she was holding her breath like LA’s mayor.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) February 6, 2022
“Stacey Abrams wants state government mask mandates for Georgians and their children. But it looks like they wouldn’t apply when she’s attending a photo op,” Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said.
Stacey Abrams wants state government mask mandates for Georgians and their children.
But it looks like they wouldn’t apply when she’s attending a photo op. https://t.co/A7H8U6eXKS
— Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) February 6, 2022
“In so many ways, this picture embodies the elitism, arrogance, cruelty, science denial, and glib authoritarianism of Joe Biden’s Democrat Party,” former Trump advisor Stephen Miller said.
In so many ways, this picture embodies the elitism, arrogance, cruelty, science denial, and glib authoritarianism of Joe Biden’s Democrat Party. https://t.co/hUkLNBKa1I
— Stephen Miller (@StephenM) February 6, 2022
Politico White House reporter Alex Thompson said he believes that Republicans will use the photo in their ads for the midterms.
“Have a feeling this photo—which Abrams promoted on her own account—of her appearing maskless surrounded by kids in masks is gonna be in a lot of ads this fall,” he said.
Have a feeling this photo—which Abrams promoted on her own account—of her appearing maskless surrounded by kids in masks is gonna be in a lot of ads this fall. pic.twitter.com/gYtDOMGTeK
— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) February 6, 2022
Abrams’ campaign pushed back on the criticism by, and we are not kidding, citing Black History Month being the impetus for the event.
“It is shameful that our opponents are using a Black History Month reading event for Georgia children as the impetus for a false political attack, and it is pitiful and predictable that our opponents continue to look for opportunities to distract from their failed records when it comes to protecting public health during the pandemic,” it said.
How that explains why she was maskless in a room full of masked kids is anyone’s guess.
“One of Stacey’s opponents downplayed the virus while trading stock to profit off the pandemic after his private coronavirus briefings as a Senator,” a spokesperson for the candidate said. “Another of her opponents attacked mayors seeking to protect their citizens and has failed to expand access to Medicaid even as rural hospitals close. This pathetic, transparent and silly attack is beneath anyone who claims he wants to lead Georgia.”
