Candidate’s Corner

Feingold and Foolsgold

Senator Russ Feingold must be thinking his constituents are fools. Does he really expect us to believe he is for cutting spending as he claims? Remember, Feingold voted for the Stimulus Bill for $800 plus billion dollars that Obama claimed would keep unemployment in this country below 8 percent, yet promptly went to 10 percent. Also known as the Porkulus Bill, it was filled with all kinds of liberal programs that they normally could not get passed. Russ also voted for Obamacare. But not only that, he supported the public option which if you are scoring along with us, would have led to the complete takeover of healthcare by the government costing billions and billions of dollars.

Feingold has been a United States Senator from Wisconsin for three terms now totaling 18 years. A while back, I went to his socalled “Listening Sessions” when you could count the others attending on one hand. During the recent healthcare debate, rooms were jammed with concerned citizens voicing their opposition. The auditorium at WCTC was overflowing when Feingold thumbed his nose at us. He didn’t listen at all. Now I know this was in conservative Waukesha County. But after I attended one of his sessions at Washington High School in Milwaukee and saw half the crowd opposing Obamacare, I know Feingold ignored the will of the people. Polls show that 63 percent of the American people vigorously want Obamacare repealed. Feingold is on the wrong side of the issue.

Now, when it comes to the war against Radical Islamic Extremists, Russ posted on his website after the Christmas Day underwear bomber incident, that he is for doing all he can to protect us. But Russ wants us to forget that he called for the censure of President Bush when he did all he could to prevent another 9-11 attack or worse. Our guy Russ got three supporters out of 99 senators, showing he cared more about political posturing than protecting us. But this is recent. Let’s take a look at something that happened in July 2007 that should be troubling to us all. The senate voted on the Cornyn amendment to the Defense Programs Bill. This amendment is a “Sense of the Senate” that Iraq not become a failed state and haven for terrorists. The amendment passed with tremendous bi-partisan support 94-3. Feingold was one of the three to vote against this worthy endeavor. Let’s go back to September 2006. The New York Times was leaking classified information in an effort to embarrass President George W. Bush. Feingold wrote, “Like all Americans, I believe that we must take leaks of classified information very seriously. Individuals who have security clearances, and have made a commitment to the U.S. government to keep its secrets, should be prosecuted if they violate the law by leaking the classified info they are required to guard. But I am concerned about the prosecution of journalists under the Espionage Act of 1917 for publishing classified information. The Attorney General believes that such prosecutions are a possibility under current law, a position I find troubling.” Prosecuting those that are telling our strategies and secrets to those that want to destroy us is “troubling” to Russ.

As recent as May 30, 2010 The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel printed a story on a Russ Feingold Amendment on the Afghanistan War. The amendment was for requiring President Obama to create a timetable for withdrawal. It was shot down by his colleagues in the senate, 80-18. Remember according to President Obama, this is the war of necessity. Feingold is out of touch with other senate Democrats, Wisconsinites, and the people of America. One more thing. Remember Radio Free Europe? When Eastern Europe was behind the Iron Curtain, we broadcast freedom messages to the people there. FREEDOM!!! Russ Feingold is behind shutting down Radio Marti’, the voice of freedom in Castro’s Cuba. Cuban born Rep. Ileana Ros- Lehtinen (R-Fla.) says “As the Cuban regime tightens its hold on the Cuban people, Congress should be focused on expanding the flow of uncensored information about the dictatorship’s brutality and gross human rights abuses.”

Carlos Perez, a Miami broadcaster says “Every two or three years, a group of leftleaning liberal Democrats in the senate expresses negative ideas about Radio Marti’. It is a light in the middle of darkness for the Cuban people.” Feingold wants to discontinue funding for those that desire freedom. Disgusting! Notice how he doesn’t play this up in Wisconsin?

It’s time the people of this state realize that what Feingold says in Wisconsin and does in Washington D.C. are two different things. He has a public relations firm in Milwaukee that does a great job of portraying him as something he is not. Feingold and his PR firm will paint him as a sweetheart of a guy while they hammer his opponent, Ron Johnson. Feingold is slinging mud. We need a senator that actually listens to his constituents and doesn’t just give them lip service, or worse like Senator Kohl, isn’t around at all. He and his PR firm will beat it into us that Russ is a maverick. Yet when Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) need Russ’s vote on the big issues they have it, every time.

Feingold voted for the failed Stimulus Bill, the unpopular Obamacare, the job killing Cap and Trade (Tax) Bill as well as all the massive spending that will bankrupt this country. He’s more concerned about the rights of terrorists than protecting we the people. Get your résumé ready Russ, we are no longer fools for you.

Keith Best is a member of the Executive Board of the Waukesha County Republican Party.( For verification go to www.waukeshagop.org, cell # 414-732-0295)