by Elyse Apel
As Georgia Democrats rally around Vice President Kamala Harris to replace President Joe Biden on the Democratic presidential ticket, Republicans say democracy is threatened.
“They got him. Not today democracy, not today,” posted U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, a Republican, immediately following Biden’s announcement.
Collins has had many other strong statements about Biden’s long-anticipated, but still historic, withdrawal.
He asked why Biden chose to release a statement on social media announcing his decision, instead of addressing the nation. This is a question that many Republicans have been asking since Sunday, even pushing for Biden to step down.
Collins voiced the frustration many feel.
“This looks like a bloodless coup. Does the president know he’s not running for election? Does he know he’s still running the country,” he said on social media. “Has anyone even seen him today?”
Monday morning, he added, “It’s Monday, 10 a.m. Joe just clocked back in, and boy is he p—–.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, also a Republican, echoed these sentiments in her statement on Biden’s withdrawal.
“There’s a soft civil war happening in the deep state and the elites in power,” she said. “The Democrats, the IC, and their activists in the media have been lying to us saying there’s nothing wrong with Biden for years. Next, they start a coup against him demanding he drop out of the race when they couldn’t hide it anymore.”
Greene added a call for Biden to step down.
“We all know Biden can’t be president if he can’t run for president, but he’s avoiding coronating Kamala by not resigning from office . . . It’s a long time until November.”
Democrats in Georgia were quick to applaud Biden’s legacy and throw their support behind Harris as the new candidate.
Rep. Nikema Williams, who is also the chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Georgia, issued a statement from Democrats in Georgia endorsing Harris.
She also added her personal thoughts in another statement, saying, “We are grateful to President Joe Biden for everything he has done and will continue to do for our country. Remember, defeating Donald Trump was always the goal. Sending Kamala Harris to the Oval Office is how we get there.”
U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Democrat, also expressed support for Harris while many other Democrats in the state have remained silent.
“Pres. Biden’s record and decades of service to the country are extraordinary and historic. Thank you,” he posted on social media. “Vice President Harris is now absolutely the right candidate to defeat Donald Trump and unite our country. Kamala Harris is prepared, ready to win, & has my full support.”
Republicans pointed out how they have been concerned with Biden’s health for years, all while his party, administration, and the media called it a “conspiracy.”
Rep. Buddy Carter said the Democrats, who say they are the party defending democracy, are subverting the election.
“Democrat party bosses lied to 14 million voters that President Biden was fit to serve another term,” he said in a statement. “Now that Biden has stepped aside, those same party bosses are conspiring to anoint a new candidate. This is the least democratic nomination process in American history. Washington Democrats will be held accountable for steamrolling and misleading the American people come November.”
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones also said this will hurt the Democrats in the November election.
“Republicans have never been more united and the Democrats are a mess,” he stated. “See you in November!”
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After completing an internship in 2023, Elyse is returning to The Center Square’s apprenticeship program, serving as the elections reporter across North Carolina and Georgia. A graduate of Hillsdale College, Elyse’s writing has been published around the country in a wide variety of publications from the “Washington Examiner” to “The American Spectator” and “The Daily Wire.”
