We did it. And we survived.
Better Georgia went into the belly of the beast to live Tweet Donald Trump’s long, rambling, no-teleprompter speech at the Fox Theater.
Here’s how it all went down.
Ralph Reed, founder and chairman of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, started with some red meat to get the red state crowd fired up.
Ralph Reed at Atlanta Trump rally: America needs to fight radical Islam. #gapol
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
Ralph Reed at Atlanta Trump rally: "No American can remain neutral in this campaign." Agreed. #StopTrump #gapol
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
Radio talk show host Herman Cain wanted to assure Trump’s mostly white supporters that Trump is 100 percent not racist. Because that’s a real question right now.
Herman Cain: "Donald Trump is not a racist." #gapol
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
You are really winning the election when your surrogates have to claim that you are not a racist. @realDonaldTrump @THEHermanCain #gapol
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
Trump's general election opponents: Hillary. Obama. Romney. Ryan. McConnell. People who think he's racist. @realDonaldTrump #gapol
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
Trump's minority engagement dir. tells nearly all white audience at Atl rally that Trump will get more than 20% of African American vote.
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
One big problem for Trump, however, is that he couldn’t even fill the theater.
Lots of empty seats at Trump rally at Fox Theatre. Bernie Sanders rally here was at capacity. #gapol
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
20 minutes into the Atlanta Trump rally. Crickets in the Fox Theatre balcony. #gapol #gohomeTrump pic.twitter.com/DrTkgZhdtm
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
Not much energy here at Trump rally. Sad attempts at start "Trump" chants fizzling and failing. #gapol
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/bettergeorgia/status/743123910833639424
Fox Theatre capacity: 4,678. Trump rally attendance: Far less. Not much love for Trump in the City Too Busy to Hate. #gapol #LoveTrumpsHate
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
Many of the folks who were there were curious progressives, defiant Democrats and protesters.
Crowd cheers removal of protestors at @realDonaldTrump rally in Atlanta. #gapol pic.twitter.com/IatxI95sd5
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
Lots of young people being thrown out of Trump rally. Trump says "there's so much love here." #gapol
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
Trump protesters removed from rally. #gapol
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
To distract from the sporadic protesters and the near empty balcony, Trump just makes up a lie and goes with it. Sure, people are really begging to get into this room.
Trump talks about people trying to get into rally. Asks if anyone would give up their seat. There are plenty of empty seats. #gapol
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
In the video below, you can actually hear Trump saying “This place is packed. This is amazing,” as a protestor is being led out. You’ve seen the photo above of the near empty balcony during the speech. So you can make up your own mind about how Trump judges crowd size.
Trump protestor removed from Atlanta rally. #gapol pic.twitter.com/Y2mNnin0gO
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
But what could possibly cause these protests? Surely it’s not his views on women, minorities or the religion of Islam. There’s no way it’s his views on guns or his anti-gay Supreme Court picks.
Trump's message at Atlanta rally one of anger, fear and isolationist trade policies. #gapol
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
Donald Trump: "I have a great respect for women." #gapol
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
Donald Trump: Gays and lesbians agree with what I'm saying. #gapol
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
Trump towing the NRA line: If people had guns in Orlando, massacre wouldn't have been as bad. #gapol
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
Trump on Orlando shooter: "He was from here, but his parents weren't." #gapol
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
Trump: "We have to check the mosques or it's going to eat our country alive." #gapol
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
Trump lying about vetting process for Syrian refugees. Preying on people's fears. #gapol
— Better Georgia (@bettergeorgia) June 15, 2016
Nah, it couldn’t be anything Trump is saying. Just politics as usual.