Brian Kemp’s video was intended to be funny, his supporters said.
A gubernatorial candidate in Georgia has defended a campaign video in which he points a shotgun at a teenager, telling his detractors to “get over it.”
Brian Kemp, Georgia’s current secretary of state, faced a backlash after the campaign video aired, with Democrats criticizing the video as insensitive, while Republicans insisted use of the shotgun was intended to be funny, The Washington Post reported .
The video shows Kemp sitting pointing a shotgun at a teenage boy “interested in one of my daughters,” the gubernatorial hopeful says in the ad.
After the teenager reels off a list of reasons why Kemp should be governor, the candidate adds: “And two things if you’re going to date one of my daughters?”. “Respect,” the teenager replies, and “a healthy appreciation for the Second Amendment, sir.”
Pointing the gun at the young man, Kemp adds “We’re going to get along just fine,” in a commercial that was slammed as inappropriate by some viewers.
Sharing the ad on his social media page, Kemp wrote: “I’m a conservative businessman with a 4-Point Plan to put hardworking Georgians first. I’m also the proud father of three teenage girls. Here’s the thing: If you want to date one of my daughters, you better have respect for women and a healthy appreciation for the 2nd Amendment.”
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But following a backlash, Kemp’s team defended its ad, saying in a statement to WSB-TV Atlanta: “Brian is a conservative. Get over it. He loves his daughters, (and) values our second amendment.”
And Kemp himself doubled down on his campaign ad’s message, also tweeting that people should “get over it” and highlighting his views as a conservative.
“Most are offended by my arsenal of firearms,” Kemp said in an email to his supporters that was seen by the Gwinnett Daily Pos t .
“Others think I’m being too protective of my daughters. Some are questioning the legitimacy of my southern drawl and a liberal lawyer/blogger is even considering a criminal investigation,” he added.
