I used to have nothing against the voters of Wisconsin, however yesterday’s election changed that perspective completely. Wisconsin had, in the U.S. Senate, campaign finance reform’s most fearless advocate. Last night, the voters chose to oust him for a tea party candidate. Normally I don’t admit emotional ties to anything, but I was truly almost in tears when it was announced that Russ Feingold was projected to lose the Wisconsin Senate Election.
(originally on MyFDL)
The worst loss on election night by far was the loss of 17-year Senate Veteran Russ Feingold of Wisconsin. Feingold was one of the only pragmatic Senators left in the dysfunctional body, and last night his tenure was put to an end. This just goes to show where we are as a country right now. The pathetically misguided tea-party has ridden a high ever since the bailouts etc. of the Obama Administration. This election season, they raked in several Congressional seats with their radical views and undying “love” for their country.
Russ Feingold wasn’t a Democrat who would run in fear of the President and his unpopularity to simply to get elected, but instead embraced parts of Obama’s policies that were passed. I disagree on some things that Russ Feingold stands for, but this fearless attitude is something nearly impossible to find today. Feingold was not a Democrat who was running for his life and trying to shed his party identity, instead he embraced the positives and campaigned on policies that would help America move forward, not focus on why not to vote for the other.
Feingold, most admirably, was not afraid to break from his party on issues he believed in. He was not a “rubber-stamp” for anyone. Russ Feingold valiantly stood as the lone Senator to oppose the USA Patriot Act, because he understands the Constitution and cares about protecting each individual’s rights, civil liberties, and values given to us. Those who campaign hard on the Constitution (particularly the tea party) are often times the ones who know the least about it. He opposed both wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and supports same-sex marriage. If there is was a real Maverick in the Senate, it was Senator Feingold.
Some are blaming Citizens United vs. FEC as the root cause to Feingold’s unseating. The Supreme Court decision opened the floodgates for campaign spending and metaphorically spit on the McCain-Feingold landmark legislation, something Senator Feingold worked for years to get passed. Someone who was not afraid to stand up to big special interests and fight for better campaign finance laws, Feingold worked for the good of the people and not himself.
Russ Feingold is a man who stuck to his values and principles, and would not let Washington corrupt him the way it has done to so many. It is truly a shame to see him leave the Senate. This sets an alarming precedent for where we have gone politically in this country. The good guy didn’t win this time, and its a tragedy.