Leadership in the Face of Chaos: Why Georgia Deserves Better

Georgia Senators Said Enough is Enough

RFK’s actions have not gone unnoticed by Georgians. Both senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock have addressed the dangerous actions taken by RFK and the HHS in the last 7 months. 

At the Senate Committee hearing held on September 4th, Senator Warnock put RFK in the hotseat. In August, a gunman shot a staggering 180 shots into the Atlanta CDC building, killing one officer, and narrowly missing to hurting many others. When questioned for his motive, the gunman explained his desire to “make the public aware of his discontent with the vaccine.” Senator Warnock questioned RFK’s criticism of CDC director Dr. Susan Monarez  when she claimed (in regards to the shooting) that misinformation can be dangerous. Rather than condemn the horrible action taken by the gunman or mourn the loss of Officer David Rose, RFK attempted to deflect from the question, and reinforced his extremist view that the CDC is a morally bankrupt agency. In addition, Warnock pointed out the other offensive things RFK has said including calling the CDC one of the most corrupt agencies in the world, calling CDC staff horrible people, and his claims that CDC workers were killing children. He pointed out RFK’s lack of credentials and experience and called him what he is–a threat to the American people. With the public health of Georgia citizens in mind and taking into account that hundreds of CDC jobs have been lost, Warnock called for his resignation.

Similarly, in a press conference Senator Jon Ossoff called out RFK Jr. Ossoff described Kennedy’s rhetoric as radical and incoherent, highlighting the dangerous claims he has made about vaccines and health protocols. Ossoff acknowledges his duty to protect and serve CDC staff is not solely because they are his constituents, but because the CDC is the most important disease research and fighting agency globally. By demolishing the CDC, says Ossoff, agency morale has gone down significantly, a large percentage of the workforce has been pushed out, and worse of all, the state of American public health is in suspension. An agency once defined by its tenacity and precision is now crumbling in the hands of an unqualified, extremist, and unfit leader. 

“The destruction of the CDC in Georgia, the dismantling of American public health is putting children and families across the country at risk every single day. This is chaos, it is out of control.” He too calls for RFK to resign. 

 The Kennedy Legacy’s Most Unqualified Heir

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is often recognized more for his family name than for his professional qualifications. As the son of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, his legacy is steeped in politics, but his own career has taken a different trajectory. Kennedy trained as an environmental lawyer, gaining attention in the 1980s and 1990s for his work with the Natural Resources Defense Council and his leadership in groups like Riverkeeper. While these roles established him as a figure in environmental activism, they did not provide him with experience in governance, public administration, or policymaking at the national level. Unlike many candidates who rise to the presidency through legislative or executive positions, Kennedy has never held elected office, run a government agency, or managed large-scale public policy initiatives.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent actions highlight just how risky his candidacy would be if taken seriously as a contender for the presidency. In the past few years, Kennedy has built much of his public platform around spreading misinformation, particularly regarding vaccines and public health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he amplified conspiracy theories suggesting that vaccines were unsafe, going so far as to accuse public health leaders and pharmaceutical companies of orchestrating mass deception. His organization, Children’s Health Defense, has been a central hub for anti-vaccine propaganda, promoting false claims that undermine trust in science and medicine. Public health experts have pointed out that his rhetoric directly contributed to vaccine hesitancy during the pandemic, making it harder to achieve herd immunity and putting vulnerable populations at greater risk.

Beyond health misinformation, Kennedy has increasingly aligned himself with fringe political circles. He has promoted unfounded theories about government cover-ups, claimed that chemicals in water are affecting children’s sexuality, and flirted with narratives that cast doubt on America’s democratic institutions. These positions are not just eccentric—they carry real dangers if elevated to the presidency. A leader who disregards scientific consensus, embraces conspiracy theories, and thrives on sowing distrust in public institutions would be ill-equipped to handle national crises, whether they involve public health, climate change, or foreign policy. The risk isn’t just that Kennedy lacks experience in governance; it’s that his track record suggests he would actively undermine evidence-based policymaking, destabilizing the very systems a president is supposed to safeguard.

What Real Leadership Looks Like in Georgia

On September 4th, ICE raided the Hyundai Elg plant near Savannah, detaining roughly 475 workers from South Korea, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, and Venezuela. Many had valid work permits. They were still subjected to militarized tactics helicopters, drones, confiscated phones, forced signing of documents. This left many families and communities left in fear.

Community organizations acted immediately. Called for accountability. Supported families. Demanded justice.

Rep. Anne Westbrook joined them. She stood up. Spoke up. Insisted on due process and called for the fair treatment of the immigrant community. Raids at dawn while the Governor sleeps.

Rep. Westbrook’s leadership reminds us: what happens in Savannah doesn’t stay in Savannah. It reverberates. And at the federal level, Senators Warnock and Ossoff are taking that urgency and accountability straight to Washington—fighting for Georgians’ rights, safety, and health. Leadership matters at every level. And right now, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Too many Georgians are represented by Republicans who remain silent when ICE raids tear families apart, or when public health collapses under their watch. We know that Georgians know what real leadership looks like.

Silence is not leadership. Complicity is not leadership.

So this begs the question: if every Georgian deserves federal leaders like Warnock and Ossoff, why shouldn’t every Georgian also have state leaders like Westbrook?

That’s why The 2030 Project exists. We are building a State House majority that delivers for Georgians—fair maps, fair representation, and more leaders like Westbrook, Warnock, and Ossoff who will put people before politics.

Georgia deserves better. Every family. Every worker. Every community. From Savannah to Atlanta to the mountains of North Georgia—every Georgian deserves leadership that is bold, accountable, and unafraid to fight for the people they serve.

We can make that future real. But only if we build it together.