Senator Russ Feingold – who started running for office in 1982, may not consider himself "somebody that’s just sort of an automaton that runs for office all the time."
Yet, this is the same career politician who also promised Wisconsinites that if they liked their current plans, they would be free to keep it – PolitiFact‘s Lie of the Year for 2013.
Luckily, PolitiFact continues to expose its Lie of the Year award winner – Senator Russ Feingold, for his career in politics:
In summary: In the 36 years since he finished law school, he was in office for 28 and engaged in political or diplomatic work for another 5. That’s about 92 percent of his career spent in politics.
If the percentage of Senator Feingold’s career spent in politics were a grade in his Stanford Law School course – 92%, it would qualify for honors.
Unlike Senator Feingold and his addiction to being a career politician, Wisconsin families have been able to depend on businessman Ron Johnson’s manufacturing background and private sector experience.
ICYMI, check out PolitiFact’s deep dive into Senator Russ Feingold’s status as a career politician:
Sen. Ron Johnson claims Russ Feingold is a career politician
PolitiFact
By James B. Nelson
February 4, 2016
A rematch awaits voters this fall in the race for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Ron Johnson.
As with such contests, we’ll hear some of the same issues that were raised when the two squared off in 2010. That’s when Johnson, a first-time candidate, ousted U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, a Democrat, who had served three terms in the Senate.
In a Dec. 17, 2015 appearance on "Upfront with Mike Gousha" on WISN-TV, Johnson raised what is certain to be a central theme of his campaign.
"I’ll be running against a career politician," he said — twice — in the interview.
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Let’s take a look at the Feingold file.
Feingold, 62, served 10 years in the Wisconsin state Senate, until 1992 when he was elected to the U.S. Senate. That means he was an elected official for about 64 percent of his adult life.
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In summary: In the 36 years since he finished law school, he was in office for 28 and engaged in political or diplomatic work for another 5. That’s about 92 percent of his career spent in politics.
An additional note: Feingold is currently receiving both his state and federal pensions.
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Feingold addressed the "career politician" charge in a 2010 appearance at the Milwaukee Press Club. He said he had chosen public service as a career and was proud of it.
"I make no apologies for it," he said.
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Our rating
Setting the stage for his 2016 election rematch, Johnson said he would face a "career politician" in Feingold.
Other than a short stretches, it’s clear the lion’s share of Feingold’s career has been in politics or government. He’s got the pensions to show for it, and makes no apologies for it.
We rate the statement Mostly True.