If the Republican Party and the conservative movement in general is known for anything, it’s their broad and profound sense of humor. Let me preface the rest of this diary by saying I may not know what the word “profound” means. Anywhos, “Conservative Businessman” Brian Kemp is running for governor of Georgia against Stacey Abrams and a slew of other Republicans champing at the bit. Abrams has already gotten the endorsements of Planned Parenthood and Daily Kos, so the Republican Party has to dig deep into their archaic bin of support—Second Amendment fanatics.
To this end, Kemp released a new campaign video that shows him cleaning a shotgun, with a slew of rifles laid out on the coffee table in front of him, as well as handguns and assault rifles displayed behind him. Sitting next to him is the uncomfortable young actor called “Jake.” The premise of this hilarious campaign ad is that Jake is a gentleman caller for one of Brian Kemp’s three daughters.
Kemp: I’m Brian Kemp. This is Jake—young man interested in one of my daughters.
Jake: Yes, sir.
Kemp: Jake asked why I was running for governor, I said one?
Jake: Cap government spending.
Kemp: Two?
Jake: Take a chainsaw to regulations.
Kemp: Three?
Jake: Make Georgia number one for small businesses.
Kemp: And two things if you gonna date one of my daughters?
Jake: Respect.
Kemp: And?
Jake: A healthy respect for the Second Amendment...sir.
[Kemp snaps the double barrel shotgun shut, pointing it at Jake]
Kemp: We’re gonna get along just fine.
You see what’s so funny here is that Brian Kemp is an alpha male, and this teenager totally wants to sexually assault one of Brian Kemp’s daughters—you know, the way Roy Moore allegedly did. But Jake here knows that Brian Kemp has lots of guns and believes that the threat of murder will make sure that Jake doesn’t do anything untoward. It’s hilarious and it works on like two levels! This is on-brand for Kemp who has shown that as an elected official he’s been a dubious player in voter suppression and other abuses of power. The kind of abuses of power that Second Amendment advocates claim is the reason they support the Second Amendment.
Under The Georgian Sun writes that whether or not the ad has been well-received by Georgians is still up in the air.
While it is unclear how voters will receive the ad, 11Alive reports that several viewers have asked the station to stop airing the ad. Comments on the Kemp campaign’s YouTube channel vary from those who found the ad humorous to those who were disturbed by the imagery.
The second amendment has become a contentious issue among the candidates in the republican field for governor after Clay Tippins accused Hunter Hill of being a “Benedict Arnold” when it comes to the second amendment.
Here are some of those 11 Alive viewer comments:
“Brian Kemp Governor commercial is very disturbing.”
"Stop airing the Brian Kemp for Governor ad. It is disgusting that he is holding a shotgun."
“Throughout the ad, he is pointing the gun at the young man. Made me and my family very uncomfortable.”
“I am a conservative who believes in the 2nd amendment but this commercial makes me want to vote for the other side.”
“Please stop airing this disturbing commercial.”
“Just saw Brian Kemp's newest campaign ad three times in a row. STOP SHOWING IT!
“We are gun owners and we are outraged.”
“Holy cow, are we in the Wild West and propagating a gun culture?”
Hold on to your socks because the 30-second commercial is below and you won’t want to miss the high-level social satire.