Georgia gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson has recently come under fire after an audio recording surfaced in which he claimed that women who had suffered abuse should be required to prove it before gaining access to abortion services. The controversy did not sit well with Georgia voters, many of whom criticized the candidate on social media.
The news was first reported by The Huffington Post, which obtained the audio recording. While allegedly speaking with a community member at a barbecue event, Jackson discussed his views on abortion, stating that “two wrongs don’t make a right” and arguing that women seeking abortions due to abuse should be required to “prove” that it occurred.
Georgia currently allows abortions only up to six weeks into a pregnancy. After that point, exceptions exist for cases involving abuse or incest, allowing abortions up to 20 weeks under those circumstances.
Georgia Voters Criticize Rick Jackson
The audio did not sit well with many Georgia voters on Reddit’s r/Georgia, who argued that it painted Jackson in a negative light, particularly because some believed the Republican candidate was trying to restrict women’s reproductive rights. One person criticized him, saying: “I get very evil vibes off Jackson. He seems scary.”
Another user asked: “Why are old boomer white men so evil!?” Someone else responded: “He has an issue with women. (…) And here you are, a geriatric billionaire who wants more power.” A third person added: “At this point, why anyone would vote for a self-professed billionaire is beyond me. This one worked in healthcare. He’s uniquely vile.”
Many voters appeared unhappy with Jackson’s candidacy following the leak. One person wrote: “Time to get with the current times, Rick. Abortion is Medicine, and whether you like it or not, it is a right for women to choose. It’s time for old men like you to go to the retirement home and let the adults handle business.” Others lamented that “Georgia used to be ‘Southern Democrats.’ And then it became a Red state. It’s time for all Georgians to vote for the non-MAGAts at ALL levels.”
With the midterms approaching in November, it is still too early to say whether Rick Jackson will become Georgia’s next governor. However, if he does, the controversy suggests that some women’s rights advocates and voters may remain critical of his position on abortion.
