Alabama Democratic Party leader fires back at Kay Ivey over Biden comments

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The executive director of the Alabama Democratic Party has fired back at Gov. Kay Ivey over her criticism of President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate and Ivey’s pledge to block efforts to impose it on Alabamians.

Executive Director Wade Perry accused Ivey of “playing political games” over a crisis that has caused more than 12,000 deaths in the state and of being a “Wallace wannabe,” a reference to Gov. George Wallace’s efforts to block school integration in the 1960s.

Perry’s comments were the latest exchange in a political battle that started after Biden announced sweeping new measures on Thursday, including a requirement that employers with more than 100 workers require vaccinations or weekly tests for the virus.

Republican leaders in many states have spoken out against the plan, and Biden pledged to confront governors who take a stand against his policies.

“If these governors won’t help us beat the pandemic, I will use my power as president to get them out of the way,” Biden said during a press conference Thursday.

Ivey has repeatedly urged Alabamians to take the vaccine since it became available but opposes mandates.

The governor, who is running for reelection, responded to the president via her campaign’s social media channels.

“You bet I’m standing in the way. And if he thinks he’s going to move me out of the way, he’s got another thing coming. I’m standing as strong as a bull for Alabama against this outrageous Washington overreach. Bring it on,” Ivey said.

Democratic Party Executive Director Perry, in a statement released Friday, accused Ivey of hypocrisy, noting the state’s reliance on federal programs and assistance.

“Now is not the time for feigned outrage or political rhetoric,” Perry said. “Getting mad and throwing a tantrum is not what leaders do. We’ve needed real leadership throughout this pandemic and Kay Ivey has failed us. 12,552 Alabamians have died from COVID-19. For these neighbors, there will be no more birthdays, weddings, graduations, and holidays celebrated - only an empty seat at the family table for a generation.

“Governor, quit playing your political games and work with Washington to find solutions to get folks to take the shot. Lives are on the line. It’s time to be a leader, not a Wallace wannabe.”

Ivey has called vaccines “the greatest weapon we have to fight COVID.” After the ongoing surge in the virus surfaced in July, the governor admitted frustration about the state’s high percentage of unvaccinated people. Alabama’s hospitals have reported throughout the surge that roughly 85% of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 are unvaccinated.

In her response to Biden on Friday, Ivey said, “I encourage Alabamians to take the vaccine – have been since the beginning, but we’re never going to mandate it. And we certainly aren’t going to allow Washington, D.C. and this president to tell Alabama what to do. Here in AL, we don’t put up with that nonsense.”

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