MLB commissioner who dumped Atlanta for All-Star Game due to GA voting law gets massively mocked now that Braves are in World Series



Major League Baseball's woke idea in early April apparently was to punish Georgia for what it viewed as its unfair, recently passed voting law by yanking the All-Star Game from Atlanta.

At the time, MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred Jr. said the move was "the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport," that pro baseball "fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions at the ballot box," and that "fair access to voting continues to have our game's unwavering support."

Georgia's election reforms include requiring absentee ballots be verified with a photo ID and expanding early voting for primary and general elections — changes generally supported by Republicans and opposed by Democrats.

'Cancel culture and woke political activists'

After Manfred dumped Atlanta as the All-Star Game's host city, Georgia's Republican Gov. Brian Kemp said "Georgians — and all Americans — should fully understand what the MLB's knee-jerk decision means: cancel culture and woke political activists are coming for every aspect of your life, sports included."

He added, "This attack on our state is the direct result of repeated lies from Joe Biden and Stacey Abrams about a bill that expands access to the ballot box and ensures the integrity of our elections. I will not back down. Georgians will not be bullied. We will continue to stand up for secure, accessible, fair elections."

The Braves also issued a statement upon hearing the news saying they were "deeply disappointed" in the decision to move the All-Star Game out of Atlanta and that "unfortunately, businesses, employees, and fans in Georgia are the victims of this decision."

Indeed, according to Fox News, the move actually would hurt minorities by moving revenue from 51% black Atlanta to 76% white Denver, the All-Star Game's eventual landing spot.

Georgia gets some sweet revenge

Well, Manfred may have been able to deny Georgia a big national spotlight — along with coveted cash — by pulling the All-Star Game from Atlanta this year, but there's nothing he can do about the Braves punching their ticket to the World Series after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the National League Championship over the weekend.

The Braves will host at least games 3 and 4 on Friday and Saturday in Atlanta against the Houston Astros — and possibly game 5 on Sunday.

What was the reaction?

In the eyes of many folks, the Braves' appearance in the Series is some big-time comeuppance for Manfred and all those who supported dumping Atlanta for the All-Star Game.

At the top of the list was Kemp, who took aim again at Abrams — who has been a prominent voice against the state's voting law — as well as the MLB: "While Stacey Abrams and the MLB stole the All-Star Game from hardworking Georgians, the Braves earned their trip to the World Series this season and are bringing it home to Georgia. Chop On, and Go @Braves!"

While Stacey Abrams and the MLB stole the All-Star Game from hardworking Georgians, the Braves earned their trip to… https://t.co/wjil9uNRJ1

— Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) 1635047169.0

Another prominent Georgia Republican, Marci McCarthy — chair of the DeKalb GOP — reveled in the turn of events:

Congratulations @Braves ! ⚾️ Who needs the @MLB All Star Game when you get to play in the World Series! #GoBraves

— Marci McCarthy (@MarciMcCarthyUS) 1635047919.0

Other Twitter users expressed similar emotions:

  • "So now the woke-social justice warrior moron, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, has to watch the team, the city, and the state he screwed — on the biggest stage — the only one bigger than the All-Star game," talk radio station WJNO-AM said.
  • "Big Middle Finger to @MLB & Rob Manfred from the city of ATL," one user said. "Would love to see Manchild 'forced' to present them the Series trophy after Game 5 in front of stadium full of fans from which he ripped Henry Aaron All-Star tribute ..."
  • "Rob Manfred has to come to Atlanta for the World Series!!" another user said. "Eat. S**t. MLB."
  • "Now we need the Braves to win the series in 4 or 5 so Rob Manfred has to be here to face the fans to present the trophy after taking the All-Star Game," another user noted.
  • "I wonder how Rob Manfred feels about the city of Atlanta and Braves being in World Series after canceling All-Star game," another user mused. "Another horrible hypocrite that should not show his face at World Series."
  • I hope the @Braves go on & win the World Series at Truist Park! We'll see how warm of a reception Rob Manfred gets when he has to present the [Trophy] in Atlanta after moving the All-Star game in a 'woke' political move that has nothing to do with baseball."

And on the day the Braves got the bad news about the All-Star Game moving — April 2 — one user posted a humorous tweet referring to a famous scene from the beloved baseball movie, "Major League," which marks the turning point for the frustrated franchise in the film:

@Braves well, then I guess there is one thing left to do this year..... #ChopOn https://t.co/2PBJXFye58 https://t.co/MOILcuzTSC

— Brad Rose (@Brose1855) 1617404579.0

And the guy who posted the original tweet revisited it Sunday: "Only fitting ending is for Rob Manfred to hand the trophy to the @Braves organization."

Mitch McConnell congratulates 'President-elect' Joe Biden, says 'the Electoral College has spoken'



Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday congratulated President-elect Joe Biden on winning the presidential election, saying that "the Electoral College has spoken."

According to reports, McConnell has also privately urged Senate Republicans not to contest the results of the election in Congress, despite President Donald Trump's ongoing challenges to the outcome.

What are the details?

During a speech from the Senate floor, McConnell spent several minutes heaping praise on Trump and listing the president's many accomplishments during his term before saying, "Many millions of us had hoped that the presidential election would yield a different result, but our system of government has processes to determine who will be sworn in on Jan. 20."

He added, "The Electoral College has spoken. So today, I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden."

Sen. Mitch McConnell: "I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden." www.youtube.com

The New York Times reported:

A short time later, on a private call with Senate Republicans, Mr. McConnell and his top deputies pleaded with their colleagues not to join members of the House in objecting to the election results on Jan. 6, when Congress meets to ratify the Electoral College's decision, according to three people familiar with the remarks.

Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks (R) has vowed to challenge the Electoral College votes in the House. The GOP congressman made his decision nearly two weeks ago, explaining, "In my judgment, if only lawful votes by eligible American citizens were cast, Donald Trump won the Electoral College by a significant margin, and Congress's certification should reflect that."

According to Politico, "If a Republican senator joins the effort, however, it will force both chambers to take a vote on the election. But they have yet to get official buy-in from any GOP senators."

Meanwhile, President Trump continues to insist the election was rigged against him and that Biden won due to widespread voter fraud. He tweeted Tuesday, "Tremendous evidence pouring in on voter fraud. There has never been anything like this in our Country!"

Tremendous evidence pouring in on voter fraud. There has never been anything like this in our Country!
— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1608046901.0

The president also retweeted a post from pro-Trump attorney Lin Wood, who stated that Georgia's Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger "will soon be going to jail" over their handling of the election in their state.

Wood tweeted photos doctored to show Kemp and Raffensperger wearing masks with the Chinese flag, writing "President Trump @realDonaldTrump is a genuinely good man. He does not really like to fire people. I bet he dislikes putting people in jail, especially 'Republicans.' He gave @BrianKempGA & @GaSecofState every chance to get it right. They refused. They will soon be going to jail."

President Trump @realDonaldTrump is a genuinely good man. He does not really like to fire people. I bet he dislikes… https://t.co/hwyajpvXcM
— Lin Wood (@Lin Wood)1608009590.0

Georgia secretary of state accuses fellow Republican Lindsey Graham of suggesting he toss legal ballots



Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on Monday accused fellow Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) of suggesting he throw out some legally cast ballots in order to favor President Donald Trump as Raffensperger oversees an ongoing statewide vote recount amid the contested presidential election between Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

What are the details?

Raffensperger made the claim during an interview with The Washington Post, telling the outlet that he spoke with Graham — a Trump ally and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee — on Friday.

The Post reported:

In their conversation, Graham questioned Raffensperger about the state's signature-matching law and whether political bias could have prompted poll workers to accept ballots with nonmatching signatures, according to Raffensperger. Graham also asked whether Raffensperger had the power to toss all mail ballots in counties found to have higher rates of nonmatching signatures, Raffensperger said.

Raffspenger said he was stunned that Graham appeared to suggest that he find a way to toss legally cast ballots. Absent court intervention, Raffensperger doesn't have the power to do what Graham suggested, as counties administer elections in Georgia.

"It sure looked like he was wanting to go down that road," he said.

Graham denied Raffensperger's claims, telling The Wall Street Journal in response, "That's ridiculous ... what I'm trying to find out was how do you verify signatures for mail in ballots in these states ... I thought it was a good conversation, I'm surprised to hear him characterize it that way."

Raffensperger has faced heavy criticism from other fellow Republicans over how the general election has gone in his state, and told the Post he and his wife have both received death threats over the ordeal.

Georgia's secretary of state announced last week that a hand recount would be conducted after it appeared that Biden was the projected winner in the state by a slim lead of roughly 14,000 votes. "This will help build confidence," Raffensperger said at the time, according to NPR.

Mainstream media outlets roundly called the presidential race for Biden nationally, declaring him the projected winner with 306 electoral votes to Trump's projected 232. But Trump has refused to concede, while his campaign continues to contest the results in several states through litigation.

President Trump tweeted Friday, "Georgia Secretary of State, a so-called Republican (RINO), won't let the people checking the ballots see the signatures for fraud. Why? Without this the whole process is very unfair and close to meaningless. Everyone knows that we won the state. Where is [GOP Governor] @BrianKempGA?"

What did Rep. Doug Collins say?

On Monday morning, Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), who lost his bid to unseat another fellow Republican, Sen. Kelly Loeffler on Nov. 3, took to Twitter to slam Raffensperger, writing, "In a year of political division in Georgia, few things have unified Republicans and Democrats — one of them is Brad Raffensperger's incompetence as Secretary of State."

Collins, another strong Trump ally, was tapped by the president to advocate on his behalf as the Trump campaign alleges widespread voter fraud in the state.

But Raffensperger called Collins a "charlatan" during his interview with The Post, further telling the outlet, "I'm an engineer. We look at numbers. We look at hard data. I can't help it that a failed candidate like Collins is running around lying to everyone. He's a liar."