Abrams, Georgia Dems solidifying State of the Union plans
WASHINGTON — As former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams prepares for her upcoming role as Democrats' State of the Union first responder, at least two Georgia Democrats are planning to make statements of their own: skipping President Donald Trump's address altogether.
Civil rights hero John Lewis, D-Atlanta, Georgia's longest-serving congressman, said Wednesday he plans to continue his boycott of Trump's speeches. And U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Lithonia, who recently drew criticism for comparing Trump to Adolf Hitler, said he's also likely to skip out on Feb. 5.
"I have a problem with defiling the speaker's chair in the House of Representatives," said Johnson, one of the most liberal members of the Georgia delegation. "I don't want to see it lowered, as is what happens when Donald Trump comes to our floor and starts talking about groups of people, particularly Latinos, and disparaging them as a people."