‘He Needs To Go’: After Primary Win, Jon Ossoff Slams Sen. Perdue
Jon Ossoff joined WABE’s “Morning Edition” host Lisa Rayam live Thursday.
David Goldman / Associated Press
Jon Ossoff has officially secured the Democratic Senate nomination. He will now challenge Republican Sen. David Perdue in November.
Ossoff joined WABE “Morning Edition” host Lisa Rayam live and responded not only to the primary results – but gave a retort to a heated statement from Perdue’s campaign.
“Now more than ever, Georgians need outsider David Perdue and his experienced leadership in the U.S. Senate,” said campaign manager, Ben Fry Wednesday night as results rolled in.
“While Jon Ossoff is a favorite of liberal elites and Hollywood celebrities, he will be nothing but a rubber stamp for Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer and their radical agenda.”
Ossoff said he wasn’t so much bothered by the statement, but by the total failure of what he called Trump-enablers like Perdue to provide any decent governance in this country.
“Here we are, having been and continuing to be, ravaged by a pandemic. A major economic crisis. A presidency that is a debacle, a disgrace, to anyone who’s watching it honestly,” Ossoff said on “Morning Edition.”
“And so-called public servants like David Perdue, who, rather than providing the people of Georgia with real representation, have been enriching themselves and debasing themselves, in service to this president. America deserves a lot better than this.”
Ossoff brought up allegations about Perdue’s stock trading portfolio during the coronavirus pandemic. The senator faced some scrutiny for trades made as the pandemic took hold, including one on the same day the Senate held a members-only briefing on the virus.
Perdue’s spokeswoman, Cherie Gillian, said in March that the senator’s financial disclosures show he did nothing wrong, and that he “goes above and beyond to comply with current law and meet all Senate ethics requirement.”
Ossoff went on to say that Perdue’s “close allegiance to the president …and his corruption, will be his downfall.”
“The people of Georgia recognize that when a Senator like David Perdue is trading stocks, to profit from a pandemic, instead of preparing the country, he needs to go, and that’s why we’ve already built up a lead in the polls,” Ossoff said.
Ossoff also praised his top competitors – former Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson, and the 2018 candidate for lieutenant governor, Sarah Riggs Amico.
“A spirited and competitive primary just helps us prepare for the general election,” he said.
“Morning Edition” has reached out to Sen. Perdue for an interview in response to the primary results. Check back in for updates.
Lily Oppenheimer contributed to this report.
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