President Joe Biden has offered his two cents after learning that Major League Baseball may move its upcoming All-Star Game out of Georgia due to the state's newly implemented restrictive voting policies. When speaking to ESPN, Biden said that he would "strongly support" Major League Baseball if they ultimately decided to move the All-Star Game.
"I think today's professional athletes are acting incredibly responsibly," he said.
"I would strongly support them doing that. People look to them. They're leaders."
These words did not sit well with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, who has expressed his support for more restrictive policies throughout the state. During a recent interview with Fox News, Kemp called the President's comments "ridiculous."
“When the president of the United States says something, you know a lot of people pay attention. But what Joe Biden needs to do is look at the side-by-side of Georgia and Delaware,” Kemp said.
"He’s focused on trying to get Major League Baseball to pull the game out of Georgia, which is ridiculous.”
The back and forth between Kemp and Biden stems from disputes over Georgia's controversial voting law, SB 202. SB 202 will limit the use of dropbox voting, require absentee voters to show ID and ban the distribution of food and water in long voting lines. Most notably, the law gives more control over elections to Republican lawmakers. Under SB 202, local lawmakers can move to suspend elections if they determine it needs to be reviewed. SB 202 has garnered disapproval from large companies like Delta, Coca-Cola, Home Depot and the aforementioned, MLB.
“Corporations have to stand up. There is no middle ground,” former American Express CEO Ken Chenault said.
The removal of the 2021 MLB All-Star Game would have the most immediate financial blow to the area. While residents pay an additional $2 million taxes, MLB All-Star Games can bring in upwards of $60 million. Set to take place in July, the game could move, but MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has repeatedly stated that no final decisions have been made.
“I am talking to various constituencies within the game and I’m just not going beyond that in terms of what I would consider or not consider,” Manfred said.
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