3 Main Takeaways:
-
Senator Feingold was repeatedly asked why he broke his 1992 pledge to raise a majority of his contributions from Wisconsin families.
-
Senator Feingold downplayed his opposition to PACs despite having spent his career in the United States Senate trying to ban PACs.
- He was forced to defend his discredited PAC, Progressives United and called it a "a great organization.”
Feingold Defended His Broken 1992 Campaign Finance Pledge
Feingold Defended His Broken 1992 Campaign Finance Pledge To Take A Majority Campaign Contributions From Wisconsin
- VIDEO: Feingold Defended Taking More Campaign Contributions From Outside Wisconsin, Because “It Would Be Crazy, In Light Of Citizens United, To Go With Exactly What I Said In 1992.” (ABC’s Capitol City Sunday,” 2/21/16)
In 1992, Feingold Promised That A Majority Of His Campaign Contributions Would Come From Wisconsin Citizens
-
- VIDEO: In A Famous 1992 Campaign Ad, Russ Feingold Pledged, “I Will Rely On Wisconsin Citizens, Not Out-Of-Staters To Pay For This Campaign.” (Russ Feingold, “Home Movies” Campaign Ad, 1992)
- VIDEO: In 1992, Feingold Said, “But You Better Darn Well Make Sure That A Majority Of What You Receive Is From The People Whom You Would Represent.” (WMVS-TV Democratic Senatorial Candidates Primary Debate, Milwaukee, WI, 8/28/92, 18:25)
Feingold Downplayed His Opposition To Political Action Committees
VIDEO: Feingold Claimed, “Regular PACs Are Not Great Or Terribly Bad Either.” (CBS Green Bay’s “Newsmaker,” 2/21/16) Min 4:42-5:42
But In 1995, Feingold Sponsored A Bill To Ban Activities By Political Action Committees In Federal Elections
- In January 1995, Feingold Introduced A Bill That Would Ban Activities By Political Action Committees In Federal Elections. “SEC. 102. BAN ON ACTIVITIES OF POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS. (a) In General.–Title III of FECA (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.), is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section:
ban on federal election activities by political action committeesSec. 323. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, no person other than an individual or a political committee may make contributions, solicit or receive contributions, or make expenditures for the purpose of influencing an election for Federal office.” (S. 46, Introduced 1/4/95)
Feingold Defended Progressives United As “A Great Organization”
- VIDEO: Feingold Defended Progressives United As “A Great Organization” And “I’m Very Proud Of It.” (ABC’s Capitol City Sunday,” 2/21/16)
Feingold Flipped-Flopped On Claiming That Progressives United Would “Support Candidates Directly”
- Only Five Percent Of Contributions To Progressives United PAC Were Given To Federal Candidates And Political Parties. (Daniel Bice, “Russ Feingold’s PAC Funded Fees, Salaries For Former Staffers, Himself,” Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 6/15/15)
Previously, Feingold Claimed That Progressives United Was Going To Directly “Support Candidates” Who Fight To Overturn Citizens United
- VIDEO: Feingold Said Progressives United Was Going “To Support Candidates” Who Fight To Overturn Citizens United. FEINGOLD: “So, Progressives United is actually people all over the state of Wisconsin and all over the country coming together to fight for the rights of individuals in the political process and to not allow corporations to have those exact same rights. So, we’re going to fight this decision. We’re going to try to overturn the decision. We’re going to try to support candidates that fight the implications of it — from the oil companies to the financial benefits that have been given to Wall Street.” (MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show, 2/16/11)