On Wednesday, March 31, the hosts of Fox & Friends on Fox News drew criticism by mocking people who were concerned about Georgia's new law, which many believe is aimed at further suppressing votes in the state.
The new bill makes it illegal for anyone to distribute water or food to people waiting in line to vote.
Considering the voting lines in Georgia can stretch past six hours, the lack of food and drink is a major barrier of entry for people to vote.
Fox & Friends mocks concerns about GA banning non-poll workers from giving voters water: "If you go to Yankee Stadi… https://t.co/toCvZ9BZI2— Bobby Lewis (@Bobby Lewis) 1617275492.0
But the Fox & Friends hosts felt people concerned about the law were overreacting, with Ainsley Earhardt saying:
"The water argument is what cracks me up. If you go to Yankee Stadium, and you stand in line to get a ticket, do they serve you water? Do you care?"
@revrrlewis Because they never had to wait in line for hours to vote.— Larry ODonnell (@Larry ODonnell) 1617295009.0
Steve Doocey, laughing, continued Earhardt's riff, saying:
"I have been voting for over 40 years and I have never thought to myself, 'OK, I'm gonna go vote today. Will they have snacks?'"
@revrrlewis I've also never gone to vote thinking that if someone offered me some water because it was so long & ho… https://t.co/qEFjpabaCm— WayhaughtWatcher (@WayhaughtWatcher) 1617295598.0
@revrrlewis Well if there were more polling places then I bet there wouldn’t be such long lines that people had to… https://t.co/jQB1iOPzmc— Angel (@Angel) 1617295527.0
Many online pointed out the Fox & Friends hosts were unaware of their own privilege.
They've likely never had to wait hours to vote in the hot sun.
@revrrlewis They wouldn't yuk it up if the people waiting for hours to vote were white— Tux nyc (@Tux nyc) 1617295061.0
@revrrlewis Nothing like a bunch of white folks comparing their life of privilege to the oppressed minority this legislation targets. 😡— ECMkat (@ECMkat) 1617297600.0
@revrrlewis Can you imagine denying an elderly person the simple life sustaining bottle of water. I’m sorry I can’t… https://t.co/8od9JNwFeW— Sean (@Sean) 1617297092.0
Others drew attention to the real issue that made water distribution necessary.
There is an extreme lack of voting sites in high-population areas in Georgia—which also happen to be areas with largely Black populations—which cause longer than necessary lines.
@revrrlewis Out of touch. And they don’t care.— Chihuahuas Forever (@Chihuahuas Forever) 1617296854.0
@revrrlewis If you had to stand in line for Yankees tickets for 10 hours, you’d probably welcome a sip of water at some point...— metalheadCP (@metalheadCP) 1617296838.0
@revrrlewis The question they should be asking is "Why do people need to stand in line for hours to vote?" Voting… https://t.co/w4l8L9cul8— Jim Malazita (@Jim Malazita) 1617297619.0
Twitter harshly criticized the hosts for their out-of-touch laughter.
@revrrlewis Wonder if any of them have stood in the hot sun for 10 hours in line to vote?— HoneyBadger 💉 (@HoneyBadger 💉) 1617295962.0
@revrrlewis The epitome of white privilege— Erica Thomas (@Erica Thomas) 1617295765.0
Waiting in line at Yankee Stadium is not the same as waiting hours to exercise your constitutional right to vote.
THIS is who we are @GOP? Making fun of people who are standing in line to participate in democracy, sometimes all d… https://t.co/gSyyXSsmxk— The Warrior (@The Warrior) 1617337622.0
Disgusting people. You should be ashamed of the way you act and talk. @foxnew @SteveDoocy @kilmeade @ainsleyearhardt https://t.co/JCHMX4O2aG— Bitchsister3 (@Bitchsister3) 1617304218.0
Fox & Friends may not understand it, but every American has a right to vote and every barrier between citizens and the voting booth stops a certain number of Americans from claiming that right.