Jon Ossoff debates empty podium

[klook]

Since David Perdue was too chicken to show up for the debate, Ossoff is taking questions from journalists and Perdue is represented by an empty podium. The moderator made this clear at the outset.


https://www.gpb.org/events/news/2020/12/06/us-senate-runoff-debate-perdue-incumbent

[soothsayer]

1. Whyyyyy didn't they put a Perdue chicken there

[klook]

2. Heh. Looking forward to Mike Luckovich's cartoon tomorrow. (nt)

[OnDoutside]

4. 100% agree. A opportunity missed. Reminds me of this...

[Hoyt]

12. While a chicken would still work, the racist GOPer candidate has nothing to do with chicken company.

[soothsayer]

13. I know but it's his name. Just a chicken then

Live even

[Cha]

3. Excellent.. I'm grateful Ossoff is

Doing This!

[pandr32]

10. Indeed! It is a good idea.

Aloha, Cha!
I can't help but notice your included picture of Rainbow Falls.

[mucifer]

5. This is great! Thanks!

[babylonsister]

6. Is this televised locally? I hope so; that's a cowardly visual. nt

[klook]

8. Yes - public TV and Facebook.

Georgia Public Television and The Atlanta Press Club Facebook page.

Ossoff is doing great. I wish Perdue was there to get kicked in a sensitive area like happened the last time he debated Ossoff in person.

One of Ossoff's best moments so far came in a discussion of immigration, when he said his company, which investigates war crimes, would consider kidnapping the children of immigrants in a foreign country a war crime.

[babylonsister]

22. Terrific! Thanks!! nt

[mucifer]

7. I love the plastic barrier for the empty podium

nice touch!



I'm sure no republicans are watching this. But, still I hope it helps Ossoff.

[klook]

9. Wow, Ossoff already wrapping up.

Without both candidates present, the questions didn't take long. Now Ossoff is making his closing statement.

Link to tweet

For those who can't see the Twitter link, this is a Tweet by Scott Dworkin (@funder) saying, "Tonight Ossoff will be debating next to an empty podium because Perdue’s chicken. Another spineless GOPer." Below is a picture he re-tweeted, originally posted by Paul Leigh (Pleightx), showing David Perdue in a chicken suit standing in a crosswalk, with the text "Why did the chicken cross the road? To get out of debating Ossoff."

[joshcryer]

11. It looks like they ran it for half the time.

Which I think is dumb but I guess it makes sense for fairness. If the guy doesn't show though he arguably gave his time to Ossoff, though.

[DeminPennswoods]

15. Ossoff got 30 minutes of uninterrupted

air time to explain his positions and call out Perdue.

[klook]

14. Ha! I predicted the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's headline.

Jon Ossoff debates empty podium
- By Patricia Murphy, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 12/6/2020

Democrat Jon Ossoff had the stage to himself Sunday night, with the exception of an empty podium, as Sen. David Perdue stayed away from the Atlanta Press Club debate. After introducing Ossoff, moderator Russ Spencer introduced Perdue, with the camera focused on the blank space above the lectern.

When the question-and-answer portion of the debate came, Ossoff was allowed to ask the podium the question he would have asked Perdue, and then answer the question himself.

“This is a strange situation,” Ossoff acknowledged, before asking the podium about Perdue’s finances and what Ossoff called Perdue’s refusal to push for additional unemployment relief for Georgians during the pandemic.

Even flying solo, Ossoff made some news, saying he would be supportive of additional lockdown measures to combat the spread of COVID-19.

More at link: https://www.ajc.com/politics/jon-ossoff-debates-empty-podium/GWJQ5Y62DBFVTKZPNK7NDSRJRM/

[CoryTrevor]

16. In a rational world,

Ossoff wins this election by 90 points.

[paleotn]

17. Is the empty podium worse....

than getting his ass handed to him again? I guess Perdue picked the former. Still, republ-o-nuts will vote for him. Those people can be outnumbered and overwhelmed by Dem turnout, but they can't be reached or swayed. They're lost.

[TNNurse]

18. Wow, Perdue is such a coward.

Or is that he knows Ossoff knows facts and details.????

[klook]

19. Yes, Ossoff uses the time-worn Librul Soshalist tactic of knowing stuff and having policy positions.

Ossoff also has mastered the dark arts of being both ethical and conscientious.

Lots of us here are working hard to GOTV for both Ossoff and Warnock. It will take everything we've got to overcome the Republican hate-and-lies machine.

[OMGWTF]

20. Great post and thanks for your service. I just donated $50 to the cause.

[klook]

25. Great, thanks!! (nt)

[zentrum]

21. Thank you klook!

[Hermit-The-Prog]

23. It would have been an empty podium even if Perdue showed up.

[cp]

24. Heh, heh

[lastlib]

29. And think of the mess if Perdoodoo HAD shown up!

[LisaL]

26. I watched. It was great.

NT

[Hekate]

27. Way cool!

[keithbvadu2]

28. Wrong emphasis. At his own 'rally', Perdue spoke only barely more than not showing up for this deb

Wrong emphasis.

They should point out that Perdue is just a useful tool for supporting Trump as shown at Trump's 'rally' where P & L got a whole two minutes to speak, combined.

At his own 'rally', Perdue spoke only barely more than not showing up for this debate.

[dragonlady]

30. I watched the whole thing

and wished I lived in Georgia so I could vote for him.

[Blue Owl]

31. Somewhere Clint Eastwood grunted

[klook]

32. LOL

"I'm running for this seat because...."



BTW, I copied this photo from a 2012 Andy Borowitz New Yorker column titled "Romney Trails Empty Chair."


I wonder how David Perdue is polling vs. the empty podium?

[Blue Owl]

35. Wow I remember that NY column -- a classic!

[AmericanCanuck]

33. This was the time for a cardboard cutout

[Dawson Leery]

34. kick

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

36. Excellent. Just what I was saying they should have done with Biden

when Pissolini backed out of their scheduled debate.

[ecstatic]

37. Ossoff ANNIHILATED Perdue 🐥

Holy crap!