A report this morning in National Journal revealed that Feingold has broken his number one garage door promise from his 1992 campaign – 57% of his campaign fundraising has come from donors outside the state of Wisconsin.
- FEINGOLD 1992 GARAGE DOOR AD: “I’m just the opposite. I visited Washington, DC, but I live right here in Middleton, Wisconsin. And if you elect me, I’ll continue to live right here. That’s one of the three pledges I made when I decided to run for the United States Senate. They’re all here in writing on my garage doors. The other two are that I will rely on Wisconsin citizens, not out-of-staters to pay for this campaign, and I’ll accept no pay raise during my six year term in office.”
Feingold even promised at a 1992 primary debate, “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.”
It’s clearer than ever before that more two decades in Washington have changed Russ Feingold.
BACKGROUND:
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 AD: “I’m just the opposite. I visited Washington, DC, but I live right here in Middleton, Wisconsin. And if you elect me, I’ll continue to live right here. That’s one of the three pledges I made when I decided to run for the United States Senate. They’re all here in writing on my garage doors. The other two are that I will rely on Wisconsin citizens, not out-of-staters to pay for this campaign, and I’ll accept no pay raise during my six year term in office.” (Feingold “Home Movies” Ad, 1992)
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.” FEINGOLD: “I think campaign finance reform begins at home. Yes, you do have to try to pass the national legislation, and I would favor a national bill requiring the majority of your campaign contributions come from your own state. But all three of us had an opportunity in this campaign to choose to run our campaign as we wish, and I decided to put some limitations of my own, which I think are more important than the ones Mr. Checota has suggested. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with certain political action committee contributions. 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.” MODERATOR: “But that’s rather self-serving, is it not? You’re saying that because you’re a Dane County state legislator, you don’t have the contacts that Mr. Moody has?” (Russ Feingold, Democratic Senate Primary Debate, 8/28/92)
Feingold Said “It Would Be Much Easier To Raise Large Contributions Outside Of The State Because People Have More Money.” FEINGOLD: “It would be much easier to raise large contributions outside of the state because people have more money.” MODERATOR: “By an unknown state legislator, it would be easy to do?” FEINGOLD: “I think it would be much easier. That’s, in fact, a situation that a lot of people have tried to do. And I saw the result of that would be something that I thought would be inappropriate for this campaign.” (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.” FEINGOLD: “And it’s not self-serving because I’m promising it for the future. I’m saying 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)
After His Election In 1992, Feingold Said “I Have Committed To Raising A Majority Of My Contributions From Wisconsin Citizens. … That’s Something I’ve Done To Make Sure I Don’t Get Consumed By It.” “But Feingold said he was determined to keep fund-raising in perspective. ‘I have committed to raising a majority of my contributions from Wisconsin citizens,’ Feingold said during an interview on Tuesday. ‘That’s something I’ve done to make sure I don’t get consumed by it.’” (Dunstan McNichol, “Day-One Fundraiser ‘Part Of What Goes On Here,’ Feingold Says,” States News Service, 11/10/92)