On Monday, NBC’s Today show was eager to hype partisan, left-wing efforts to bully the state of Georgia into abandoning recently-passed voting reforms opposed by the Democratic Party out of fear of losing future elections. The propaganda masquerading as news coverage was designed to pressure businesses into cutting ties with the state and causing economic damage, all in pursuit of doing the DNC’s bidding.
“Boycotting everything from Coca-Cola to the Masters?,” co-host Hoda Kotb asked during a tease for story. She then proclaimed: “The growing backlash facing businesses and events in Georgia in the wake of that state’s controversial new voting laws.” In a later tease, Kotb touted: “Inside the growing calls for an economic boycott of the state’s businesses and events, including the Masters and baseball’s All-Star game, coming up after this.”
In the report that followed minutes later, correspondent Blayne Alexander breathlessly told viewers:
Here in Georgia, it has only been the law of the land for less than 96 hours, but already several groups have now filed a lawsuit to strike it down. Now, some Republicans are praising this as a potential model for other states, but Democrats, including President Biden, are slamming it as blatant voter suppression.
Declaring “a new battle over the ballot,” Alexander warned that “Georgia’s new voting law, passed by the Republican-led state legislature, is facing major backlash.” She briefly noted arguments from both sides:
Republicans say the changes make elections more secure, and allow many counties to expand early in-person voting. But critics say the changes amount to voter suppression, saying the law specifically targets black voters who turned out in record numbers for the 2020 election.
However, Alexander then promoted far-left efforts to cancel the entire state of Georgia:
The National Black Justice Coalition is calling on the famed Masters tournament to pull out of the Peach State, writing in part, “Professional golf should not reward Georgia’s attacks on democracy and voting rights with the millions of dollars in revenue that the tournament generates”....The head of the Major League Baseball Players Association is also adding pressure, telling The Boston Globe that players want to discuss moving this summer’s All-Star game out of Atlanta.
She seized on the White House weighing in: “Meanwhile, President Biden is calling the law Jim Crow in the 21st Century and vowing that his Justice Department will take a look.”
Wrapping up the slanted segment, Alexander made sure to use the contentious situation in Georgia to try to help push a scheme by congressional Democrats to shove through legislation designed to rig elections in their favor nationwide:
One of the people that’s reacting is Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock.... he and Washington lawmakers are preparing to mount a battle of their own over voting rights legislation. He says that what’s happening here in Georgia is only giving him more fuel to get it passed.
Perhaps Democrats and their left-wing media allies will next call for businesses to leave the United States in order to extort the nation into accepting blatantly partisan election laws.
NBC’s promotion of far-left intimidation tactics was brought to viewers by Allstate and American Express. You can fight back by letting these advertisers know what you think of them sponsoring such content.
Here is a full transcript of the March 29 report:
7:40 AM ET
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: We’re back, 7:40, In-Depth Today. And this morning, Georgia once again at the center of the political universe.
MELVIN: Yeah, the state was thrust into the national spotlight during November’s elections. And now, it’s drawing attention once again, and criticism, over that controversial new voting measure that was just signed into law.
HODA KOTB: NBC’s Blayne Alexander is in Atlanta with a closer look at the changes and that controversy. Hey, Blayne, good morning.
BLAYNE ALEXANDER: Well, Hoda, guys, good morning to you. Here in Georgia, it has only been the law of the land for less than 96 hours, but already several groups have now filed a lawsuit to strike it down. Now, some Republicans are praising this as a potential model for other states, but Democrats, including President Biden, are slamming it as blatant voter suppression.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Growing Backlash Against Georgia Voting Law; Civil Rights Groups Call for Boycott Over Controversial Reforms]
With the historic 2020 election barely in the rearview mirror, Georgia is facing a new battle over the ballot.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN [GEORGIA VOTER]: It’s just another way to keep us from turning our vote in.
ALEXANDER: In Atlanta and around the country, Georgia’s new voting law, passed by the Republican-led state legislature, is facing major backlash. Among the changes, enforcing new ID requirements for mail-in ballots, limiting the use of ballot drop boxes, and making it illegal to approach voters in line to offer food or water. Republicans say the changes make elections more secure, and allow many counties to expand early in-person voting. But critics say the changes amount to voter suppression, saying the law specifically targets black voters who turned out in record numbers for the 2020 election.
The National Black Justice Coalition is calling on the famed Masters tournament to pull out of the Peach State, writing in part, “Professional golf should not reward Georgia’s attacks on democracy and voting rights with the millions of dollars in revenue that the tournament generates.” Neither Augusta National, which hosts the major, nor the PGA Tour, has publicly commented on the request.
The head of the Major League Baseball Players Association is also adding pressure, telling The Boston Globe that players want to discuss moving this summer’s All-Star game out of Atlanta. Meanwhile, President Biden is calling the law Jim Crow in the 21st Century and vowing that his Justice Department will take a look. Georgia’s governor is firing back.
GOV. BRIAN KEMP [R-GA]: Simply find out what’s in the bill versus just the blank statement of, “This is Jim Crow,” or you know, “This is voter suppression,” or, “This is racist,” because it is not.
ALEXANDER: As Governor Kemp signed the bill last week, Georgia State Representative Park Cannon was arrested for knocking on his door in the state capitol. Police charged her with obstructing officials and interrupting the assembly.
PROTESTERS [CHANTING]: We stand with Park! We stand with Park!
ALEXANDER: Cannon, now out of jail, is vowing to return to work today.
KOTB: Blayne, that was a pretty dramatic arrest there, by Representative Cannon. Has there been more reaction to that arrest?
ALEXANDER: Well, Hoda, there has certainly been a lot of reaction throughout the weekend, spilling into today. One of the people that’s reacting is Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock. He actually went to the jail when the state representative was arrested. Now incidentally, he and Washington lawmakers are preparing to mount a battle of their own over voting rights legislation. He says that what’s happening here in Georgia is only giving him more fuel to get it passed. Hoda?
KOTB: Alright, Blayne Alexander for us there in Atlanta. Blayne, thank you.
