ATLANTA, Georgia – In an apparent display of coastal elitism, a new TikTok video tries to lampoon conservative Georgia residents as gullible enough to vote for either Raphael Warnock or Jon Ossoff — if someone dupes them into it.
The two Democrats want to represent the Peach State in the U.S. Senate.
Dave Jorgenson of The Washington Post tweeted the TikTok video this week.
The caption over the video says “Me in Los Angeles talking to voters in Georgia” and features an unidentified man, apparently posing as a woman, and speaking in an exaggerated Southern accent while he tries to solicit support for Warnock and Ossoff. The video does not make clear if this is a real or a mock phone call. The man, holding a phone to his ear, asks for a woman named Petunia in Decatur and engages “Petunia” in small talk about the weather.
I’m on runoff TikTok pic.twitter.com/tlhes7p3jz
— Washington Post Universe Guy (@davejorgenson) November 17, 2020
“I am so sorry to bother you on the Lord’s Day, but I just want to make sure y’all were all set up for our runoff election for Senate on January 5,” the unidentified man said.
The man pretended to listen while “Petunia” spoke. He next answered “Petunia’s” question.
“We have Pastor Warnock and Mr. Ossoff.”
Later, after the pretend call ends, the man looks at the camera, peers closer to it, drops the fake Southern accent and says “Whatever it f***ing takes.”
This video did not please Georgia Republican Party Chair David Shafer.
“This is what the west coast supporters of Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock think of Georgians. They make no effort to conceal their contempt. They flaunt it,” Shafer tweeted.
Some people who commented on Jorgenson’s post seemed to agree with Shafer.
“If there are two things Southerners love it’s outsiders getting involved in our affairs and condescension. Keep trying stuff like this, it’s worked so well in senate races thus far,” Twitter user @HampOldShue told Jorgenson.
Twitter user @MeryLee, though, told Jorgenson that “we may speak with a twang and a smile on our face but we recognize phony condescension.”
“I am sure she got off the phone, had herself a good sweet chuckle while the ego is patting himself on the back cuz he thinks he put 1 over on her,” @MeryLee tweeted.
Jorgenson, according to The Washington Post’s website, is based out of Washington, D.C. and is a video producer, editor and writer for “The Department of Satire” and various scripted series for the newspaper.
The left-leaning ActBlue currently solicits money for Warnock and Ossoff.
U.S. Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) and U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), both Republicans, are on the January 5, 2021 ballot against Ossoff and Warnock, respectively.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “TikTok Video” by Washington Post TikTok Guy Comma Georgia.
