What does it take to get a straight answer from Stacey Abrams? For the second time in two weeks, Jake Tapper has pressed Abrams on an issue, and for the second time, Abrams, the losing Dem candidate in the Georgia governor's race, weaseled away.
Two Sundays ago, we noted Tapper, on his CNN State of the Union show, closely questioning Abrams over a bill she had sponsored in the Georgia legislature that would have forced people to surrender a broad class of weapons. Abrams tried to dance away from her own idea, claiming she was only trying to start a "conversation" about gun confiscation.
The cha-cha continued on today's show. Three times, Tapper pressed Abrams on whether she would recognize as "legitimate" the election of her Republican gubernatorial opponent, Brian Kemp. And three times, Abrams waltzed away. Refusing to pronounce the l-for-legitimate word, Abrams would only concede that Kemp "received an adequate number of votes" and hence would be the "legal" governor.
SHERROD BROWN [in clip]: If Stacey Abrams doesn't win in Georgia, they stole it. It's clear. It's clear. And I say that publicly.
JAKE TAPPER: Sherrod Brown says the election was stolen. Do you agree that it was stolen and do you think that Brian Kemp is not the legitimate governor-elect of Georgia?
STACEY ABRAMS: The law, as it stands, says that he received an adequate number of votes to become the governor of Georgia.
. . .
TAPPER: Is he the legitimate governor-elect of Georgia?
ABRAMS: He is the person who won an adequate number of votes to become the governor.
TAPPER: But that's not -- with all due respect, and I respect where you're coming from and I respect the issues that you're raising, you're not answering the question. Do you think -- you're not using the word legitimate. Is he the legitimate governor of Georgia?
ABRAMS:He is the legal governor of Georgia.
This might not be the last time we witness Tapper trying to get a straight answer out of Abrams. At the end of the interview, Abrams said she was planning to run for office again in the future, though for now, she just wanted a "nap." Night, Stacey.
