The Jolt: Zelenskyy speech draws praise from most Georgia lawmakers
Reaction to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s surprise visit to Washington drew the same mixed reaction from Georgia lawmakers that is playing out in the debate on future aid to his war-torn country.
At least half of Georgia’s congressional delegation attended the rare joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday evening. The plan came together quickly and mostly in secret as Zelenskyy made his first trip outside of his country’s borders since Russia invaded in February.
Most Georgia lawmakers have been supportive in the past for aid to Ukraine. Those we spoke to Wednesday said it was important to hear from Zelenskyy about the how tens of billions of dollars in military and humanitarian aid from the United States was being put to use.
“It was a powerful address by a man fully committed to the leadership of his people toward liberation,” U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff said as he walked back to the Senate chamber after the speech. “I believe the whole Congress benefited to have heard from him, and I believe that his moving words will have an enduring impact on U.S. policy.”
That support for Zelenskyy is bipartisan, and members of both parties say they support oversight to ensure the money is being spent wisely. U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, a Republican from Pooler, was just as enthusiastic for Zelenskyy as Ossoff, an Atlanta Democrat.
“Zelenskyy is a hero, not only to the Ukrainian people but also to democracy in the world,” Carter said before the speech. “And that’s why I want to be there tonight. I want to be there to support him and to publicly, in my way, thank him and the Ukrainian people for what they’re doing.”
But at least one Georgia lawmaker made it clear he attended out of respect, but not as a sign of approval.
U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde was among a handful of conservative Republicans reluctant to applaud or give Zelenskyy standing ovations.
After journalists watching the proceedings noticed the difference in body language and posted on social media about it, Clyde and the others were less stoic.
Clyde reposted a Tweet from Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie from before the speech that criticized aid to Ukraine, which could double under the federal spending package that Congress is expected to approve by the end of the week.
And as Clyde faced negative comments for appearing cold toward Zelenskyy, he defended his actions on Twitter: “I will never apologize for putting AMERICA first.”
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene did not attend the speech. But she was also among those who tweeted criticisms of Zelenskyy’s visit.
Not every member of Congress was in the audience, but it’s impossible to know whether that was because of the short notice, opting to watch online, a deliberate boycott or some other reason.
The other Georgia lawmakers we spotted in the audience were Sen. Raphael Warnock and U.S. Reps. Sanford Bishop, Austin Scott, Carolyn Bourdeaux, Lucy McBath and Hank Johnson.
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VOTING RECORD. U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson sold his home in West Point in April and got a new one 63 miles away near the town of The Rock.
But voting records show that the Republican lawmaker still used his old Troup County address as recently as the December runoff. It’s illegal in Georgia for voters to cast a ballot in a county where they don’t have a residence.
Ferguson’s office didn’t directly respond to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s questions about why election records show he was still registered to vote at his old address months after apparently getting a new one in Pike County. Ferguson has raised concerns in the past about election fraud, especially after the 2020 general election.
The secretary of state’s office hasn’t opened an investigation into whether Ferguson voted illegally because it hasn’t received a complaint, spokesman Mike Hassinger said.
The State Election Board issued a public reprimand and a cease-and-desist order in September to a voter who lived in Baldwin County but voted in Hancock County.
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BROKEN TIES. Bill White, the leader of the failed Buckhead cityhood movement, once invoked his appointment to the state Board of Corrections to demonstrate his ties to Gov. Brian Kemp and state power brokers.
Things have changed now.
The governor replaced White on Wednesday with Thomas Culpepper, a retired Cartersville police chief who spent more than 35 years in law enforcement.
He also tapped GOP commentator Janelle King and Paulding Sheriff Gary Gulledge to the 19-member panel, which develops policies for the state prison system.
They were among more than 70 appointments that Kemp unveiled as he prepares to begin his second term.
White’s push to split Atlanta into two municipalities was scuttled earlier this year by Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and the late House Speaker David Ralston amid growing concerns from Republicans and staunch opposition from Democrats and city officials.
Kemp never publicly panned the proposal, but he favored giving Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens time to enact a promised public safety overhaul.
And White didn’t help his case by promoting conspiracy theories, amplifying racist social media posts and allying himself with former U.S. Sen. David Perdue, who was clobbered by Kemp in the GOP primary.
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APPOINTMENT WATCH. Among the other notable appointments and reappointments to state agencies:
- Nick Masino, chief executive of the Gwinnett County Chamber, was tapped serve on the Board of Economic Development.
- David Belle Isle, a Republican who ran for secretary of state in 2018 and 2022, was appointed to the Department of Community Affairs Board.
- Former state Sen. Fran Millar, a Dunwoody Republican, was reappointed to the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia.
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SMYRE STALLED. Speaking of appointments, it’s unlikely that former state Rep. Calvin Smyre will be confirmed by the U.S. Senate this congressional term.
Senators are likely to wrap up work on federal spending today, and we don’t expect to see them again until the first day of the new session which is Jan. 3, 2023.
Barring an unlikely Christmas miracle, Smyre and a host of other President Joe Biden appointees will see their nominations expire with the end of this congressional session. Biden will have to decide if he wants to reappoint them after Jan. 3 and start the process all over.
Smyre, who was nominated to serve as ambassador to the Bahamas, never got a hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where his nomination was assigned.
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TODAY IN WASHINGTON:
- The U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol is expected to release its full report today.
- The Senate is still determining how it will move forward on a package of federal spending bills and confirming Biden administration appointees.
- President Joe Biden has no public events scheduled.
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LOOKING AHEAD:
- Jan. 3: First day of the new session of Congress. U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock and all 14 members of Georgia’s U.S. House delegation will be sworn in for new terms in office.
- Jan. 9: Planned first day of the Georgia General Assembly’s legislative session.
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PROGRAMMING NOTE. The Morning Jolt will be off on Friday and all next week.
We wish you a cheerful holiday season and Happy New Year.
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AS ALWAYS, Jolt readers are some of our favorite tipsters. Send your best scoop, gossip and insider info to patricia.murphy@ajc.com, tia.mitchell@ajc.com and greg.bluestein@ajc.com.
About the Authors
Tia Mitchell is the AJC’s Washington Bureau Chief and a co-host of the "Politically Georgia" podcast. She writes about Georgia’s congressional delegation, campaigns, elections and the impact that decisions made in D.C. have on residents of the Peach State.
Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution's chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.
