The case for Russ Feingold - - Bill Kaplan, guest post
I've known and supported Russ Feingold for decades, and have shown on this blog why he is the superior choice to climate change denier and special-interest money champion Ron Johnson, but I'm happy to give my old friend Bill Kaplan the last word:
Vote for Russ Feingold
By Bill Kaplan
The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.
On Friday, Fox News anchor Bret Baier apologized for falsely slandering Hillary Clinton. Earlier, Baier had spouted that an unnamed source had claimed that Clinton would be "indicted" for her use of a private email server. The lies blew up in his face and Baier said it was all a "mistake". Still waiting for Wisconsin GOP Senator Ron Johnson to fess up.
Last week Johnson threw the same mud at Clinton, recklessly popping off that Clinton had "purposefully" broken the law regarding her private email server. Incredibly, he said that Clinton was guilty of impeachable offenses. It raised fundamental questions about Johnson's judgment, temperament and knowledge of how our political system works (policy differences should not be criminalized or lead to impeachment).
My head was not the only one spinning. Washington Post conservative blogger Jennifer Rubin properly rebuked Johnson: "Most Republicans wrote off the Wisconsin Senate seat months ago, but incumbent Sen. Ron Johnson (R) has provided voters with a very good reason not to vote for him - or other Senate Republicans. Johnson suggested that Hillary Clinton could be impeached for her email server ...." Rubin opined that Johnson's hotheaded rhetoric could "backfire" by proving "Republicans are obstructionists, bent on witch hunts instead of doing the people's business."
Perhaps Rubin, previously an unabashed admirer of Johnson, struck a nerve. On Friday, Politico reported that Johnson was trying to distance himself from his "Trump-esque" mud. He said: "It's not my fault people are talking about impeachment. It's her (Clinton's) fault." All reminiscent of Joe McCarthy - throw a lot of mud and hope some sticks. Fortunately, Wisconsin has an outstanding choice in the Senate race, Democratic challenger Russ Feingold.
Feingold wants to do the "people's business". Unlike Johnson he is not an ideological partisan millionaire. Feingold is different, the quintessential maverick and economic populist, deeply rooted in Wisconsin history and tradition. His progressive principles are not a campaign gimmick, quickly forgotten after the election. Feingold wants to represent regular folks (who deserve economic security) and not corporate special interests. He is committed to restoring civility in Congress through compromise, negotiation, problem solving and working with Republicans.
As Vice President Joe Biden said: "I don't think we should look at Republicans as our enemies. They are our opposition. They're not our enemies. And, for the sake of the country, we have to work together." Feingold has always taken this to heart. That is why Arizona GOP Senator John McCain said: "Russ Feingold every day and in every way had the courage of his convictions. I think he is one of the most admirable people I have ever met in my entire life." Vote for Russ Feingold.
-- Kaplan wrote a guest column from Washington, D.C. for the Wisconsin State Journal from 1995-2009.
Vote for Russ Feingold
By Bill Kaplan
The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.
On Friday, Fox News anchor Bret Baier apologized for falsely slandering Hillary Clinton. Earlier, Baier had spouted that an unnamed source had claimed that Clinton would be "indicted" for her use of a private email server. The lies blew up in his face and Baier said it was all a "mistake". Still waiting for Wisconsin GOP Senator Ron Johnson to fess up.
Last week Johnson threw the same mud at Clinton, recklessly popping off that Clinton had "purposefully" broken the law regarding her private email server. Incredibly, he said that Clinton was guilty of impeachable offenses. It raised fundamental questions about Johnson's judgment, temperament and knowledge of how our political system works (policy differences should not be criminalized or lead to impeachment).
My head was not the only one spinning. Washington Post conservative blogger Jennifer Rubin properly rebuked Johnson: "Most Republicans wrote off the Wisconsin Senate seat months ago, but incumbent Sen. Ron Johnson (R) has provided voters with a very good reason not to vote for him - or other Senate Republicans. Johnson suggested that Hillary Clinton could be impeached for her email server ...." Rubin opined that Johnson's hotheaded rhetoric could "backfire" by proving "Republicans are obstructionists, bent on witch hunts instead of doing the people's business."
Perhaps Rubin, previously an unabashed admirer of Johnson, struck a nerve. On Friday, Politico reported that Johnson was trying to distance himself from his "Trump-esque" mud. He said: "It's not my fault people are talking about impeachment. It's her (Clinton's) fault." All reminiscent of Joe McCarthy - throw a lot of mud and hope some sticks. Fortunately, Wisconsin has an outstanding choice in the Senate race, Democratic challenger Russ Feingold.
Feingold wants to do the "people's business". Unlike Johnson he is not an ideological partisan millionaire. Feingold is different, the quintessential maverick and economic populist, deeply rooted in Wisconsin history and tradition. His progressive principles are not a campaign gimmick, quickly forgotten after the election. Feingold wants to represent regular folks (who deserve economic security) and not corporate special interests. He is committed to restoring civility in Congress through compromise, negotiation, problem solving and working with Republicans.
As Vice President Joe Biden said: "I don't think we should look at Republicans as our enemies. They are our opposition. They're not our enemies. And, for the sake of the country, we have to work together." Feingold has always taken this to heart. That is why Arizona GOP Senator John McCain said: "Russ Feingold every day and in every way had the courage of his convictions. I think he is one of the most admirable people I have ever met in my entire life." Vote for Russ Feingold.
-- Kaplan wrote a guest column from Washington, D.C. for the Wisconsin State Journal from 1995-2009.
1 comment:
I have ALWAYS voted Democratic and i early voted this time a straight Democrat ticket. But i have to make this point and I know it is going to tick off partly loyalist. But I have felt that if Dave Obey and Russ Feingold had been more proactive before they pack it in and moved on. We could have avoid Walker, Johnson and Duffy to name a few. I know, I know Feingold was not re-elected but his influence could have made a difference if he had stayed in state politics. Obey could have help push forward a better candidate to run against Walker. And they both could have found a better candidates to run against Duffy. Just had to say it. The state would not be in this horrible condition if those two had stayed in the fight. one final point if we want to beat the former plaid wearing lumberjack we need to put up a testosterone laden opponent.
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