Georgia voters received an incredibly racist and antisemitic robocall over the weekend from a white supremacist group poorly imitating Oprah Winfrey and going after Democratic candidate for governor Stacey Abrams.
Winfrey spent the latter part of last week campaigning for Abrams, who if elected would become the nation's first black female governor.
The disturbing call opens with a voice pretending to be "the magical negro Oprah Winfrey" endorsing her "fellow negress" Abrams for governor before attacking "the Jews."
“This is the magical negro, Oprah Winfrey, asking you to make my fellow negress, Stacey Abrams, the governor of Georgia,” the message says. “Years ago the Jews who own the American media saw something in me – the ability to trick dumb white women into thinking I was like them. And to do, read and think what I told them to."
“I see that same potential in Stacey Abrams,” call continues. “Where others see a poor man’s Aunt Jemima, I see someone white women can be tricked into voting for – especially the fat ones.”
The message went on to promise a new car to people who vote for Abrams, mimicking Winfrey's talk show giveaways.
"And so I promise that every single person who votes for Stacey Abrams, you're going to get a new car!" the call says. "So you get a car! And you get a car! And you get a car! And you get a car! Everybody gets a car!"
The call concludes with a death wish for white racists.
“And as far as the whites that are in the way, don’t worry about them," it says. "Like I said in that famous interview in 2013, white racists just have to die."
Listen to the call below:
https://www.facebook.com/100012148204907/videos/619266061821662/
The call was produced and distributed by Road to Power, a hate group based in Idaho that has targeted other black candidates, including Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, the Democrat hoping to become Florida's first black governor.
Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, the Republican candidate for governor, fiercely condemned the robocall, calling it "absolutely disgusting."
“I stand against any person or organization that peddles this type of unbridled hate and unapologetic bigotry,” Kemp said in a statement on Friday. “These vile efforts to degrade and disparage others are contrary to the highest ideals of our state and country. We unequivocally condemn this group and their horrible actions.”
Abigail Collazo, director of strategic communications for the Abrams campaign, said in a statement Saturday morning that the "vile, poisonous thinking" which inspired the ad can be traced to the rhetoric coming from President Donald Trump.
“Over the last few weeks we’ve seen increasing desperation from many dark corners trying to steal the election, cheat, lie, and prey on people’s fears rather than having the respect to listen to voters and speak to their hopes,” Collazo said. “These automated calls are being sent into homes just days before President Trump arrives, reminding voters exactly who is promoting a political climate that celebrates this kind of vile, poisonous thinking.”
Twitter users also slammed the call.
Some, however, were not surprised that such a call was created and distributed.
Condemnation of the message was nearly universal.
Actor and activist Patricia Arquette called it a "nightmare."
Others think the robocall is a sign that extreme factions within the Republican Party are getting very desperate.
One day to go until the midterms. Please vote. Hate must not win.
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