Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Russ Feingold: Of Hats and Tea Bags

The New York Times' Jeff "Enchanted" Zeleny did a Q & A with Russ Feingold.

Check it out, Wisconsinites. Feingold mocks you.

Q. What explains the difficult political climate for Democrats, considering that President Obama has implemented many policies he campaigned on?

A. “There are two primary reasons. One is the economy. Human nature is such that people are going to say, ‘I’m frustrated.’ That creates an environment that whoever is in office, whoever is doing anything, is potentially vulnerable to people being unhappy. There’s a second factor that’s more cynical. A conscious decision was made by certain groups to destroy this presidency the minute it started. People say it was the health care bill – no, it wasn’t. I go to every county every year and hold a town meeting. Within days of the president being sworn in, I had people showing up at my town meeting with hats on, with tea bags coming out, saying this is going to be socialism.”

Very revealing.

He's exaggerating. The Tea Party movement didn't begin "within days of the president being sworn in."

That inaccuracy aside, Feingold belittles his constituents.

Rather than granting legitimacy to their opinions, Feingold plays the "vast Right-wing conspiracy" card, claiming that a "conscious decision was made by certain groups to destroy this presidency the minute it started."

"Certain groups"?

That's an insult to his constituents, especially those individuals making the effort to attend his "listening" sessions so their voices can be heard.

Feingold doesn't understand. He doesn't understand the nature of his constituents' discontent. He doesn't listen.

Ron Johnson does understand the concerns of the Wisconsin citizens showing up at Feingold's "listening" sessions. He gets it.

It's time for Feingold to go.

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