Just before he was fired in 2010 after taxing and spending 18 years in Washington, Senator Russ Feingold explained to the people of Wisconsin in a TV ad that he puts his promises "on my website, not my garage door."
Senator Feingold even devoted a special web page – RussFeingold.org/PromisesKept, to boast about his commitment to "rely[ing] on Wisconsin citizens for most of my contributions":
As it turns out, the only thing more outdated than Russ Feingold’s website during the 2010 cycle – or the term "Fein ‘Gear’" at any point ever, is Russ Feingold’s word during the 2016 cycle.
Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of when Senator Feingold officially announced that he abandoned his pledge.
As a result, The Washington Free Beacon reports that nearly 70% of Mr. Clean’s contributions are coming from out of state. Instead of Wisconsin citizens, the godfather of campaign finance reform now relies on New Yorkers and his fellow Californians to fill his campaign coffers.
FEINGOLD FLASHBACK:
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In A Famous 1992 Campaign Ad, Russ Feingold Pledged “I Will Rely On Wisconsin Citizens, Not Out-Of-Staters To Pay For This Campaign.” (Feingold “Home Movies” Ad, 1992)
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In 1992, Feingold Said “I Don’t Think There’s Anything Wrong With Occasional Out-Of-State Campaign Contributions. But You Better Darn Well Make Sure That A Majority Of What You Receive Is From The People Whom You Would Represent.” (Russ Feingold, Democratic Senate Primary Debate, 8/28/92)
- Feingold Said “That’s A Pledge I’m Going To Keep. I’m Not Going To Get In There And Go, ‘OK, Where Are The PACs And Where Are The Out-Of-State Contributions?’ I’m Making A Pledge For The Future.” (Russ Feingold, Democratic Senate Primary Debate, 8/28/92)
Just like his garage door, Senator Feingold scrubbed any trace of the #1 promise he repeatedly used to make to Wisconsinites from his current website:
The contribute button, meanwhile – just like Senator Feingold’s ego, has only gotten bigger.
Russ Feingold’s Contributions Are Coming From Outside Wisconsin
The Washington Free Beacon
By Joe Schoffstall
August 11, 2016
Nearly 70 percent of the former senator’s contributions are coming from out of state
Russ Feingold, the former Democratic senator from Wisconsin trying to recapture the seat won by Sen. Ron Johnson in 2010, has pulled in an overwhelming majority of his contributions from outside of Wisconsin.
Feingold’s out-of-state haul may be surprising to those who remember his previous stints in Congress.
When Feingold first ran for Congress in 1992, he made his “Garage Door Pledge,” which involved relying on Wisconsin citizens for most of his campaign contributions. “I’m promising it for the future. … I’m saying that’s a pledge I am going to keep,” he said at the time.
However, during the 2016 elections 69.5 percent of his itemized contributions have come from outside Wisconsin while just 30.5 percent have come from those who live in in state, according to data compiled by Political MoneyLine.
Individuals who live in New York have been the most generous source of outside funds to Russ for Wisconsin, his campaign committee, giving $897,158. Californians have contributed the second highest amount—$809,637—while people who live in Illinois have added $398,652 to his campaign.
The former three-term senator has taken a total of $1,746,087 in itemized contributions from people in Wisconsin this election. $3,974,260 has come from people living in other states.
Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, by comparison, has hauled $1 million more in itemized contributions from those who live in Wisconsin than Feingold. Nearly half of Johnson’s contributions have come from constituents within the state. In total, Johnson has received $2,711,670 from Wisconsinites while $3,045,617 has come from other states.
Feingold publicly announced last year that he would no longer adhere to the pledge. “It makes no sense now,” he told the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, blaming the current state of campaigns that take in large amounts of money.
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Feingold has also taken large sums of money from lobbyists despite pushing for stricter ethics legislation during his time in the Senate. A part of his ethics push included a requirement to disclose bundled lobbyist contributions.
Feingold said in 2007 that the number one priority of those in Congress should be to convince their constituents that they have their best interests in mind and not those of special interests.
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Feingold has accepted more than $500,000 in bundled lobbyist contributions this election cycle. He quietly accepted more than $200,000 in the months leading up to his defeat in 2010. He has also held fundraisers this election cycle at venues that he once said are where lobbyists buy influence.
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