Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred’s April announcement the league is moving its All-Star game out of Atlanta because of Georgia’s new voting law immediately unleashed a torrent of condemnation and praise over social media airwaves.
Remarkable that misinformation about the GA elections bill led MLB to move the All Star Game out of Atlanta.
— Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) April 2, 2021
From automatic runners on second base in extras to this on the Manfred resume.
“Over the last week, we have engaged in thoughtful conversations with Clubs, former and current players, the Players Association, and The Players Alliance, among others, to listen to their views. I have decided that the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport is by relocating this year’s All-Star Game and MLB Draft,” Manfred said in a statement released Friday afternoon.
None of the misinformation crybaby brigade are going to say one word about the MLB moving the All-Star game due to things that are literally not true. The NBA pulled out of Charlotte over a transgender bathroom bill that actually existed. The stuff about the GA bill isn't true.
— Noam Blum (@neontaster) April 2, 2021
“Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box,” the statement continued. “In 2020, MLB became the first professional sports league to join the non-partisan Civic Alliance to help build a future in which everyone participates in shaping the United States. We proudly used our platform to encourage baseball fans and communities throughout our country to perform their civic duty and actively participate in the voting process. Fair access to voting continues to have our game’s unwavering support.”
MLB has bowed to woke socialism and is moving the All-Star Game from Atlanta in response to a law that greatly expands voting opportunities from 2018, and quite possibly to a state that has more restrictions on voting opportunities.
— Nathan Wurtzel (@NathanWurtzel) April 2, 2021
“We will continue with our plans to celebrate the memory of Hank Aaron during this season’s All-Star festivities,” Manfred said. “In addition, MLB’s planned investments to support local communities in Atlanta as part of our All-Star Legacy Projects will move forward. We are finalizing a new host city and details about these events will be announced shortly.”
Hey @MLB — feel free to give us a call.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) April 2, 2021
In California we actually work to expand voter access -- not prevent it.https://t.co/FTeI4AjPaC
President Joe Biden said earlier this week he would “strongly support” moving the game out of Georgia because of the state’s new voting law, according to an interview Biden gave to ESPN.
Joe Biden lied about Georgia election laws, got 4 pinnochios from WaPo, the MLB bought into it and moved their all-star game and now you know who gets hurt because of it?
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) April 2, 2021
Atlanta, where 60% of the city is people of color. Good work, everyone.
On Wednesday, Cobb Chairwoman Lisa Cupid met virtually with Tony Clark, the executive director of the MLB players’ union. After Gov. Brian Kemp last week signed a sweeping, 98-page elections law, Clark said players were ready to discuss moving the game out of Georgia.
Wow. MLB moving All-Star Game and draft from Georgia over the state’s new 98-page law.
— stephen fowler (@stphnfwlr) April 2, 2021
This is going to get really ugly really quickly down here with all of the pressure and misinfo from all sides about what the bill does.#gapol pic.twitter.com/Zu6GAPXfba
The new law has been criticized by voting rights advocates, who claim it unfairly targets traditionally disenfranchised voters.
mlb had better be verrrry sure that whichever state hosts the all-star game has more liberal voting laws than georgia
— Allahpundit (@allahpundit) April 2, 2021
Similar pieces of voting legislation are being considered in other states with Republican-controlled state Capitols following a national election that gave Democrats control of the White House and U.S. Senate.
This year's all-star game is being moved out of Atlanta. Give credit where credit is due. I had my doubts MLB and the MLBPA would take a firm stance against the recent voter suppression laws and I was wrong. Nice to see both sides take a stand and try to wield the power they have
— Gregor Chisholm (@GregorChisholm) April 2, 2021
Georgia’s new voting law adds new voter identification requirements, limits ballot drop boxes, moves up absentee ballot request deadlines and prohibits volunteers from handing out water or food to people waiting in line to vote.
Okay Kemp. You just cost your State a lot of revenue. Expect more to be lost.
— Malcolm P. Johnson (@admiralmpj) April 2, 2021
And expect Kemp to double and triple down: https://t.co/ONad6VY1BZ
Biden told ESPN on the eve of MLB’s opening day that people look to professional baseball players as examples.
I want to applaud and extend a thank you to @MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred for moving the All Star Game out of Georgia following the Governor’s signing of the new restrictive voting law. Way to be a leader and take a strong stance!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 2, 2021
“They’re leaders,” Biden said. “Look at what happened with the NBA, as well. Look what’s happened across the board. The very people who were victimized the most are the people who are the leaders in these various sports, and it’s just not right. This is Jim Crow on steroids.”
As MLB contemplates which city they’ll select for the relocated All Star Game, they should be very careful: Many cities under consideration may be located in (red & blue) states with more “restrictions to the ballot box” than Georgia, which just expanded early voting.
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) April 2, 2021
Other sports have moved high-profile events because of social issues. In the early 1990s, the NFL shifted the Super Bowl out of Arizona after the state failed to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day an official holiday.
I await the endless whining and manufactured outrage about "cancel culture" and the ensuing endless victimhood by the GOP and right-wing this week about MLB moving the All-Star Game from Georgia but absolutely 0 outrage about the massive attempt to "cancel" voting rights.
— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) April 2, 2021
The NBA moved the 2017 All-Star game out of Charlotte, North Carolina, when the league took issue with a state law that cut anti-discrimination protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
MLB moving the All-Star game from Atlanta in protest of Georgia’s new RACIST voting law.
— Pam Resists (@ResisterForever) April 2, 2021
Keep it up, Republicans, and watch the whole world turn against you. Indeed, you’re your own worst enemy.
The NCAA for years didn’t hold championships in states where the Confederate battle flag was officially recognized.
The @MLB moving the All-Star Game from Atlanta is the latest evidence that athletes, teams and leagues are increasingly comfortable not just speaking out, but taking action that has real economic consequence.
— Jason Kelly (@jasonkellynews) April 2, 2021
This year’s All-Star game will include honoring Hank Aaron, the Braves’ Hall of Famer and former career home run champion who died on Jan. 22 at age 86.
As a Braves fan, I’m heartbroken because the only way I’d care to go to an All-Star Game is if it was in Atlanta.
— adam 🤠 (@AdamdotH) April 2, 2021
But a general human being, I wholly agree with the MLB. Reprehensible actions don’t deserve rewards.
MLB canceled last year’s All-Star game, which had been scheduled for Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, due to the late and shortened season caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic. The 2022 game will be played at Dodger Stadium.
#MLB I did not watch any baseball games last year for many reasons but you caving to the woke community and moving the all star game out of Atlanta just sealed the deal for this year no watching or attending any games for my family
— William Pratt (@bpratt102) April 2, 2021
MLB has awarded the 2026 All-Star game to Philadelphia as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
MLB has now pulled the All Star game from Atlanta. Going to be interesting to see if any other sports leagues follow suit in states like Texas which just tools Georgia to hold its beer. Also will be interesting to see if this move causes any in the GOP to reassess their plans.
— Bob Meyer (@Oscarbob) April 2, 2021
The 1972 All-Star game was played at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, and the 2000 All-Star game was at Atlanta’s Turner Field.
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