What’s the only thing worse than knowing who is funding Senator Russ Feingold’s campaign? (Californians)
Not knowing who is funding the dark money groups that are having to bail Senator Russ Feingold’s campaign out. (?)
As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports, Senator Feingold – "who has repeatedly criticized so-called ‘dark-money’ forces," has yet again changed his tune on campaign finance.
FLASHBACK:
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In 2010, Feingold Said He Would “Absolutely” Rather Lose Than See Outside Groups Airing Ads On His Behalf. “One of his signature achievements was McCain-Feingold, which has been largely dismantled by the U.S. Supreme Court, but he is sticking to a pledge not to take outside money. He wrote the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee again this year asking that it not intervene on his behalf and told POLITICO that he would ‘absolutely’ rather lose than see outside groups airing ads on his behalf.” (Ben Smith, “Russ Feingold’s Last Stand,” Politico, 10/31/10)
- Feingold Said Democrats Who Embraced Super PACs Were “Dancing With The Devil.” “‘I also think it guts the president’s message and the Democratic Party’s message,’ Feingold added. ‘We are doing very well right now. The president is doing brilliantly. This is no time to blunt that message by starting to play this game. I think people will see it as phony that Democrats start playing by Republican rules. People will see us as weak and not being a true alternative and just being the same as the other guy. And as I have said before, to me this is dancing with the devil.’” (Sam Stein, “Russ Feingold: Obama Super PAC Reversal Will Lead To ‘A Legalized Abramoff System,’” The Huffington Post, 2/7/12)
If Democrats who embrace Super PACs and dark-money groups are, according to Mr. Clean, "dancing with the devil," then they are dancing to the tunes that Senator Russ Feingold has changed for his desperate attempt to return to Washington after 18 years.
Russ Feingold jabbed by foe for rally with ‘dark-money’ group
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
By Daniel Bice
May 25, 2016
Former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold has repeatedly criticized so-called "dark-money" forces but held a rally over the weekend with the League of Conservation Voters, which is not disclosing the source of many of its ads, according to his opponent, Sen. Ron Johnson.
A Johnson aide accused Feingold of "hypocrisy" for the event with the environmental group, which has been dubbed a "dark-money heavyweight." Johnson, a Republican, defeated Feingold in 2010, and the two will square off again in November.
"Senator Feingold continues to say one thing and do another," said Johnson spokesman Brian Reisinger. "After repeatedly railing against ‘dark money’ he’s gladly showing his face with a group whose dark money arm is fueling his bid to claw his way back to Washington."
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The league operates a political action committee, which must say who is underwriting its activities, and a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, which does not. The nonprofit must file an annual tax return with the IRS, but that document does require the group to list its donor list.