President Trump is winning new support from conservatives and pro-life advocates in his pressure campaign on Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp to appoint Rep. Doug Collins to replace Sen. Johnny Isakson, who is retiring early due to health problems.
Over the past few days, concerns have been raised about Kemp’s favored candidate, Kelly Loeffler, because she sits on the boards of a hospital that provides abortions and a medical group that offers “LBGTQ+ affirming therapeutic practices” to teenage minors.
Kelly Loeffler should be disqualified as a GA Senate appointment. She’s on the board of Grady Memorial Hospital, largest abortion provider in the state. Grady is an abortionist training hub. Its doctors are leading advocates AGAINST @BrianKempGA pro-life laws.
— MarjorieDannenfelser (@marjoriesba) November 27, 2019
Kemp, according to reports, favors Loeffler, co-owner of the Atlanta Dream women’s professional basketball team and wife of Jeffrey Sprecher, chairman of Intercontinental Exchange, which owns the New York Stock Exchange, in part, because it would affirm his support for women and diversity. In picking Loeffler, who turns 49 today, he would also be choosing a wealthy Republican who could self-fund her races and keep the seat in GOP hands for years.
Kelly Loeffler seems certain to be a top-tier contender for the position held by U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, who is retiring at year’s end. More than 500 people have submitted resumes to @GovKemp ahead of a Monday deadline. #gapol #gasen https://t.co/ENHDCD6be4
— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) November 18, 2019
Trump over the weekend, however, pressured Kemp to consider Collins, one of the president’s key anti-impeachment allies who is the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, which is set to open impeachment hearings next week.
A Wall Street Journal report suggested Kemp’s plan to pick Loeffler, who is also the CEO of bitcoin futures exchange Bakkt, is on a fast track.
Allies describe her as conservative, but critics note her support for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign and suggest she is a moderate.
The involvement now of conservative activists, some of whom supported Kemp for governor and pro-life community, could complicate the governor’s support for Loeffler. Their concerns follow on the heels of warnings made by Georgia conservatives about Loeffler and local reports that her team supports Planned Parenthood.
Several are distributing news clips about her connection to Grady Memorial Hospital and Skyland Trail, a mental health facility, and the WNBA’s support for Planned Parenthood.
A spokesman for Loeffler told Secrets that she isn’t commenting.
Appointing Ms. Loeffler to the U.S. Senate wouldn’t just be promoting a liberal to replace a conservative, it would make a mockery of those who cast votes for Senator Isakson, Governor Kemp and President Trump.
— Jenny Beth Martin (@jennybethm) November 27, 2019
Today, Tom McClusky, president of March for Life Action, told Secrets, “Kelly Loeffler sits on the board of one of Georgia’s top abortion performing hospitals. She has donated thousands of dollars to liberal and pro-abortion Democrats. It would be hugely disappointing if Governor Kemp appoints her to a critical seat in the U.S. Senate. After the Senate gains made by conservative and pro-life candidates in the 2018 election, this would be a huge setback.”
Jenny Beth Martin, co-founder of Tea Party Patriots, tweeted Wednesday, “Appointing Ms. Loeffler to the U.S. Senate wouldn’t just be promoting a liberal to replace a conservative, it would make a mockery of those who cast votes for Senator Isakson, Governor Kemp and President Trump.”
1/3? @briankempGA Governor Kemp needs to know Kelly Loeffler would be the wrong choice for conservatives in Georgia and supporters of President Trump on several fronts. She sits on the board of a hospital in Atlanta that employs five abortionists and
— Penny Nance (@PYNance) November 27, 2019
And Penny Nance, president of Concerned Women for America, and Tanya Ditty, a CWA vice president, and former CWA Georgia State director, said in a statement to Secrets, “Governor Kemp needs to know Kelly Loeffler would be the wrong choice for conservatives in Georgia and supporters of President Trump on several fronts.”
They added, “There are better choices for Governor Kemp when it comes to the next U.S. Senator from Georgia. Governor Kemp has a list of fantastic pro-life candidates. We hope he doesn’t pick the one the pro-life community will have to oppose.”
The critics said that Loeffler has contributed to Democrats, though Federal Election Commission reports show that happened years ago. She has been major GOP donor to stalwarts, including Sens. Paul Ryan of Kentucky, Martha McSally of Arizona, John Cornyn of Texas, and the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Some 500 have applied to replace Isakson, and the seat will come open for election next year. Collins has indicated that he plans to run for the seat no matter what happens to his potential selection to replace Isakson.
