Atlanta, Ga. — In last night’s WTOC Savannah debate, investigative journalist and Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Jon Ossoff slammed his opponent, Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), for his constant downplaying of the COVID-19 pandemic while he was fending off multiple federal investigations for insider trading, and he also went after Perdue for voting to gut health protections for Georgians with pre-existing conditions like diabetes, asthma, or heart disease.
The moment set the internet ablaze. The clip has already garnered over SEVEN million views online — and counting — and Georgians are noticing.
Throughout the entire debate, Ossoff went after Perdue for his downplaying of the pandemic, while Perdue poorly deflected the conversation and took no personal responsibility for telling Georgians the risk to our health was “low,” the impact on the economy would be “little,” and for comparing the virus to the common flu, all while he heavily traded medical and vaccine stocks.
Click to watch the viral moment, and see below what people are saying:
10/29: Jon Ossoff’s Blistering Attack on David Perdue at Georgia Debate Watched Over 2 Million Times
Newsweek // James Walker
- Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff went viral on Wednesday night after criticizing Republican Senator David Perdue’s record on health care and the COVID-19 pandemic at a televised debate.
- The former investigative journalist told viewers that his rival had been “looking after” his own assets amid the pandemic while downplaying the threat posed by the virus. He also accused Perdue of trying to “end protections” for Americans with pre-existing conditions.
- Opening his salvo on the incumbent in Savannah, Georgia, last night, Ossoff said Perdue had attacked the health of Georgians with his response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and his record of health care votes.
- “You did say COVID-19 was no deadlier than the flu, you did say there would be no uptick in cases,” Ossoff said. “All the while, you were looking after your own assets, and your own portfolio. And you did vote four times to end protections for pre-existing conditions.”
- The Democratic challenger added that Perdue’s proposed bill to replace Obamacare, the Protect Act, contained loopholes for insurance companies to block policies for those with pre-existing conditions.
- “Can you look down the camera and tell the people of this state why you voted four times to allow insurance companies to deny us health coverage, because we may suffer from diabetes, or heart disease, or asthma, or have cancer in remission?” Ossoff added.
- A clip of the Georgia Democrat’s remarks has been watched more than 2.7 million times since it was posted on social media late last night. A tweet of the footage has been liked and shared over 20,000 times.
10/29: Jon Ossoff attacks Sen. Perdue on pandemic: ‘You’re attacking the health of the people that you represent’
The Washington Post // Tim Elfrink
- Ossoff unleashed on Perdue over the GOP’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, a topic the challenger spent most of the hour-long debate relentlessly hammering.
- “Perhaps Senator Perdue would have been able to respond properly to the covid-19 pandemic if you hadn’t been fending off multiple federal investigations for insider trading,” said Ossoff, referencing probes into Perdue’s stock trades. The senator’s campaign says he has been cleared of wrongdoing. “It’s that you’re attacking the health of the people that you represent.”
10/28: Pandemic! China! Ossoff-Perdue Senate debate twists, turns around sharp contrasts
AJC // Greg Bluestein
- On Perdue’s stock trades ahead of the pandemic: Ossoff: “It’s not just that you’re a crook, senator. It’s that you’re attacking the health of the people that you represent. You did say Covid-19 was no deadlier than the flu. You did say there would be no significant uptick in cases. All the while, you were looking after your own assets, and your own portfolio. And you did vote four times to end protections for pre-existing conditions. Four times.”
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