- “I must renew my repeated appeals regarding the painful situation of the entire Middle East, North Africa and other African countries, where Christians, together with other cultural or ethnic groups, and even members of the majority religion who have no desire to be caught up in hatred and folly, have been forced to witness the destruction of their places of worship, their cultural and religious heritage, their houses and property, and have faced the alternative either of fleeing or of paying for their adhesion to good and to peace by their own lives or by enslavement. These realities should serve as a grave summons to an examination of conscience on the part of those charged with the conduct of international affairs. Not only in cases of religious or cultural persecution, but in every situation of conflict, as in Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Libya, South Sudan and the Great Lakes region, real human beings take precedence over partisan interests, however legitimate the latter may be.”
Following his two decades in Washington, Russ Feingold’s job was to do just that – stabilize the Great Lakes region as Special Envoy. However, Feingold’s incessant desire to run for political office led him to abruptly depart from the post. As was described in Foreign Affairs back in June, positions like Feingold’s "simply cannot be left empty for months at a time without potential disastrous consequences":
- "In March, Feingold left his post to run for the Senate, and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has inexplicably delayed replacing him with a worthy, high-level successor…These positions simply cannot be left empty for months at a time without potentially disastrous consequences."
Foreign Affairs also explained following Feingold’s abrupt departure that "U.S. policy toward Congo has eroded."
Senator Russ Feingold’s focus, therefore, should have been finishing his job – not seeking an old one from which he was fired.
Yet, back in July, Feingold shared with WORT that he made the decision to run again last summer – eight months before leaving his State Department post.
Perhaps Feingold ought to be as intent on downplaying his time as Special Envoy as he is with downplaying his many years in Washington.
BACKGROUND:
On September 25, 2015, Pope Francis Spoke At The United Nations About Ending The Conflict In The Great Lakes Region Of Africa. POPE FRANCIS (translated from Spanish): “I must renew my repeated appeals regarding the painful situation of the entire Middle East, North Africa and other African countries, where Christians, together with other cultural or ethnic groups, and even members of the majority religion who have no desire to be caught up in hatred and folly, have been forced to witness the destruction of their places of worship, their cultural and religious heritage, their houses and property, and have faced the alternative either of fleeing or of paying for their adhesion to good and to peace by their own lives or by enslavement. These realities should serve as a grave summons to an examination of conscience on the part of those charged with the conduct of international affairs. Not only in cases of religious or cultural persecution, but in every situation of conflict, as in Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Libya, South Sudan and the Great Lakes region, real human beings take precedence over partisan interests, however legitimate the latter may be.” (Pope Francis Of The Holy See, Remarks At The United Nations, New York, NY, 9/25/15)
Feingold’s Job Was To Stabilize Region Great Lakes Region As Special Envoy
In June 2013, Secretary Of State John Kerry Appointed Feingold As The Special Envoy For The United States To The Great Lakes Region Of Africa. “Former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) was announced as a special representative for the United States to the Great Lakes region of Africa by Secretary of Stae [sic] John Kerry on Tuesday. Feingold brings an expertise in the region to the job. He served as chairman of the Senate foreign relations Africa subcommittee. In April, the Journal Sentinel first reported that Feingold was in talks with the U.S. State Department regarding the African post. Feingold confirmed his interest in the job to columnist Daniel Bice, saying he would ‘welcome the opportunity to work with Secretary Kerry.’ Feingold was in the Senate from 1993 to 2011. He lost his bid for a fourth term in 2010 to Republican Ron Johnson.” (Craig Gilbert, “Feingold Is Africa Envoy,” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/19/13)
Feingold Lauded His Accomplishments In His Final Speech As Special Envoy
On February 24, 2015, Feingold Highlighted His Achievements As Special Envoy And Said He Was Optimistic About The Future Of The Region. “In his final public remarks, the Special Envoy reviewed the progress achieved in the Great Lakes during his tenure, including the defeat of the M23 rebel group in the DRC, and spoke extensively about the many reasons why he departs his position optimistic about the road ahead for the region, including one of the most important: that the international community is more coordinated and engaged in the region today, in close partnership with the region, than any time in recent history.” (Brennan Gilmore, Jeanne Hruska, “Special Envoy Feingold Expresses Optimism About The Road Ahead For The Great Lakes Region,” U.S. State Department Official Blog, 2/24/15)
However, Since Feingold Left His Post To Run For Office, U.S. Policy To The Great Lakes Region Has “Eroded”:
Feingold’s Decision To Leave Envoy Position And Run For Office “Left A Discernible Void…” “Feingold’s departure on March 3 has left a discernible void in a position where he demonstrated both extraordinary leadership, and frankly, diplomatic muscle. It is also a position that many hoped would have been filled well before now.” (David Abramowitz and Eric Williams, Op-Ed, “A ‘Waning Of US Leadership’ In Africa’s Great Lakes Region,” The Hill, 5/14/15)
Foreign Policy Said Positions Like Feingold’s “Simply Cannot Be Left Empty For Months At A Time Without Potentially Disastrous Consequences.” “In March, Feingold left his post to run for the Senate, and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has inexplicably delayed replacing him with a worthy, high-level successor…These positions simply cannot be left empty for months at a time without potentially disastrous consequences.” (Stephen R. Weissman, John Prendergast, Anthony W. Gambino, and Sasha Lezhnev, “Absent In Central Africa,” Foreign Affairs, 6/8/15)
- Foreign Policy Said After Feingold’s Abrupt Departure That “U.S. Policy Toward Congo Has Eroded.” “And so U.S. policy toward Congo has eroded. For one thing, the Obama administration has failed to follow up on the special envoys’ recommendation for the UN to “facilitate an inclusive and transparent dialogue between all stakeholders” on the overstocked calendar and related issues, such as updating the voter roll to include the millions who have come of age since 2011. (Stephen R. Weissman, John Prendergast, Anthony W. Gambino, and Sasha Lezhnev, “Absent In Central Africa,” Foreign Affairs, 6/8/15)
Feingold Was Focused On Running For Senate While Still Working As Special Envoy
Feingold Decided To Run For Senate Last Summer Despite Still Working For The State Department:
Feingold Told His Wife In Summer 2014 That He Wanted To Run For Senate Again. “Even though Feingold told his wife over a fish sandwich lunch last summer in Tomahawk, Wis., that he wanted to run again, he cautioned that the personal decision was only ‘1 percent of the equation’ — the rest being whether voters and party officials wanted him to run.” (Manu Raju, “Inside Russ Feingold’s Comeback Attempt,” Politico, 8/4/15)
In July 2015, Feingold Said “About Last Year This Time” Was When He Decided The Time To Run Again “Had Come.” FEINGOLD: “I decided that I would never run again unless I really wanted to, if I really felt like it, and about last year this time, I realized that time had come. I was starting to feel very excited about serving the people of Wisconsin, but none of that is the important thing, the important thing is whether people wanted me to do it, it doesn’t matter if I want to do it, if people don’t want me to do it, I shouldn’t come back. So I started finding out what the attitude was about that and I found that people were really in need of things to be turned around in Wisconsin.” (Russ Feingold, “Feingold Blazes New Path For 2016 (Interview),” WORT (8:46), 7/23/15)
Feingold Was At The State Department Until February 2015
In February 2015, Feingold Resigned As Special Envoy To The African Great Lakes Region. “Russ Feingold is leaving his position as a special envoy in Africa amid speculation he will try to reclaim his former U.S. Senate seat in 2016.” (Russ Feingold To Leave Special Envoy Post As Speculation Grows He’ll Challenge Ron Johnson, The Associated Press, 2/21/15)
Feingold Dropped Hints About A U.S. Senate Run In His Farewell Speech From The State Department
In His Farewell Speech From The State Department, Feingold Thanked His, “Once, Current, And I Hope, Future Chief Of Staff.” “Former Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., hinted at a possible comeback bid in his final speech as an U.S. envoy to Africa for the State Department. As Feingold, who lost to GOP Sen. Ron Johnson in 2010, concluded his remarks at the U.S. Institute of Peace, he thanked, ‘My once, current, and I hope, future Chief of Staff Mary Irvine.’” (Alexis Levinson, “Russ Feingold Hints At Senate Bid In Final State Department Speech,” Roll Call, 2/24/15)
Even Before Taking The Special Envoy Job, Feingold Hinted About Running In 2016
Feingold Implied That He Would Be A 2016 Senate Candidate At The 2013 Wisconsin Democratic Party Convention:
In June 2013, Feingold Hinted About Running In 2016 Just Weeks Before Officially Becoming Special Envoy. “Russ Feingold — easily the favorite of state progressives — could be. But he won’t be. ‘I don’t come to you tonight as a candidate, at least not in 2013 or 2014, or 2015,’ the former senator told the Democratic faithful at the party’s annual convention this weekend in Oconomowoc. What he is suggesting, of course, is that he is still considering a run for Senate in 2016 against the man who unseated him in 2010, Republican Ron Johnson.” (Jack Craver, “Russ Feingold’s Not Running In 2014 Or 2015, But…,” The Capital Times, 6/10/13)
VIDEO: Feingold Said He Was Not A Candidate For Office “At Least Not In 2013 Or 2014 Or 2015.” FEINGOLD: “Thanks for the opportunity to speak to you again. I don’t come to you tonight as an officeholder. I don’t come to you tonight as a candidate, at least not in 2013 or 2014 or 2015.” (Russ Feingold, Remarks At The 2013 Wisconsin Democratic Convention, 6/7/13)