Oops! Democrats highlight Senator Feingold’s campaign finance hypocrisy

National Journal reports this morning that Democrat outside groups have spent $1.8 million already in Wisconsin. Of course, "Mr. Clean" has yet to denounce this outside spending…

"In Wis­con­sin, Demo­crat­ic al­lies have already spent about $1.8 mil­lion against Re­pub­lic­an Sen. Ron John­son, com­pared to about $1.2 mil­lion spent by Re­pub­lic­ans against his chal­lenger, former Sen. Russ Fein­gold, ac­cord­ing to Re­pub­lic­an sources track­ing me­dia buys in the state…When John­son de­feated Fein­gold in 2010, the Demo­crat waved off help from out­side groups, in­clud­ing the Demo­crat­ic Sen­at­ori­al Cam­paign Com­mit­tee, as part of his plat­form to keep money out of polit­ics." (National Journal, 10/1/2015)

During his pervious campaigns for the United States Senate, Senator Feingold was quick to denounce outside group spending. I guess having your own scam political action committee makes you appreciate all the loop holes in the campaign finance law you wrote.

Feingold Flashback:

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 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)

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 2010, Feingold Wrote The DSCC Asking Them To Not Air Ads On His Behalf Saying “Wisconsinites Do Not Appreciate Outside Groups Coming In To Our State Running Negative Ads.” “But on the role of outside interest groups in campaigns, there are differences. Feingold has decried their role in the advertising wars that figure so prominently in statewide elections. Early last month, just as he has in previous campaigns, he took the step of writing the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and asked leadership not to run ads on his behalf in Wisconsin. ‘Wisconsinites do not appreciate outside groups coming in to our state running negative ads,’ Feingold wrote. ‘This strategy, being well used by our opponents, is out of touch with our Wisconsin traditions. That is why I am insisting that all outside groups refrain from running television ads in my behalf.’” (Don Walker and Craig Gilbert, “Senate Candidates Spar On Role Of Campaign Outsiders,” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/18/10)

In 1998, Feingold Ordered The DSCC To “Get The Hell Out Of My State” With Their Ads. “A week ago, Feingold clashed with Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.) and Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.), chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, who wanted to pump $425,000 worth of Democratic ‘issue’ ads into the state to boost Feingold’s shaky prospects. Feingold ordered the national Democrats to ‘get the hell out of my state with those things.’” (Eric Pianin, “A Candidate’s Costly Pledge On Donations,” The Washington Post, 10/31/98)