Wisconson Sen. Ron Johnson and his Koch backers have decided that the way to beat Russ Feingold, the Democrat running to regain this seat, is on veterans issues. They've already dug Johnson a pretty big hole by giving Feingold the opportunity to keep reminding veterans that Johnson and his Senate staff were completely out of touch when it came to a key veterans' healthcare issue. But it's even worse than that, since it opens Johnson up to all sorts of questions about his support for veterans.
Questions like: Where was he on Veterans Day last fall? It turns out he was in Philadelphia that day and the next, playing with service dogs and "for campaign-related events." About that campaign-related event: In its quarterly report to the FEC, Ron Johnson for Senate, Inc. revealed that it reimbursed the Union League of Philadelphia $1,479 for event space on November 12, 2015.
What do we know about the Union League of Philadelphia?
Today, the Union League is a private, members only, Five Star Platinum Club with over 3,500 members. Membership is in the vanguard of Philadelphia life, counting among our members many top leaders in business, academia, law, medicine, politics, religion, and the arts. Our members gather to socialize, dine, attend events, exercise and relax in one of the city's most beautiful and historic settings. As members of the Union League of Philadelphia, they are entitled to many exclusive privileges that further details how the League is the #1 City Club in the nation.
That sounds a bit swanky, huh? You don't even need the "traditional décor […] accented in rich leather, patinated wood and polished marble," or the "distinguished collection of art and artifacts" to figure this place—and its membership—is what you might call upper crust. And not just upper crust. "Our admission process is intended to make sure that we admit only individuals of honor and integrity, individuals who believe in the principles on which our nation was founded—individual liberty, free markets and limited government—and individuals who support the free-enterprise system." That's Joan Carter, the Union League's first female president, speaking in 2011. Ironically, as late as 2012, the Club still had tables reserved for men only in its dining room.
That's where Ron Johnson was hanging out last Veterans Day, raising money from other rich Republicans. And not at any of the Veterans Day events happening back home in Wisconsin.
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