As CNN reports, North Korea announced that it successfully conducted a hydrogen bomb test.
FEINGOLD FLASHBACK:
Just before Wisconsinites fired him, Senator Feingold opposed designating North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Yesterday’s disturbing announcement follows reports that North Korea tested a submarine-launched ballistic missile last month.
FEINGOLD FLASHBACK:
During his nearly two decades in Washington, Senator Feingold consistently voted – at least 10 times, to weaken missile defense.
Senator Feingold – always one to change his tune, has been silent during these failures of Barack Obama’s foreign policy.
Unlike his criticism of President Bush’s "hands off approach to North Korea" after its nuclear weapons test in 2006, Feingold’s endearment for President Obama and his foreign policy continues to fuel his silence.
FEINGOLD FLASHBACK:
“I think [Obama’s] foreign policy record overall has been very good.”
As national security rapidly becomes a top issue, Senator Feingold’s dangerous record on the North Korean threat – along with his votes against terrorist surveillance and establishing DHS, offers the ultimate contrast to the strong leadership of Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson.
BACKGROUND:
Feingold Voted Against Expressing The Sense Of The Senate That North Korea Should Be Designated As A State Sponsor Of Terrorism
In July 2009, Feingold Voted Against An Amendment That Would Express The Sense Of The Senate That The State Department Should Designate North Korea A State Sponsor Of Terrorism. “Brownback, R-Kan., amendment no. 1587 that would express a sense of the Senate that the State Department should designate North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism.” (S. Amdt. 1597 To S. 1390, Roll Call Vote #239: Amendment Rejected 43-54, 7/22/09, Feingold Voted Nay; CQ Summary, Accessed 1/6/15)
Feingold Has Voted At Least 10 Times To Weaken Missile Defense
In June 2004, Feingold Voted To Shift Funding Away From Missile Defense. “Levin, D-Mich., amendment no. 3338 that would shift $515.5 million in the bill from the Missile Defense Agency’s ground-based midcourse interceptors to nuclear nonproliferation programs and other homeland security and anti-terrorism activities.” (S.Amdt. 3338 To S. 2400, Roll Call Vote #133: Amendment Rejected 44-56, 6/22/04, Feingold Voted Yea; CQ Summary, Accessed 1/6/15)
In June 2004, Feingold Voted Against Establishing A Criteria For Testing The Ballistic Missile Defense System. “Warner, R-Va., amendment no. 3453 to the Reed, D-R.I., amendment no. 3354. The Warner amendment would require that no later than Feb. 1, 2005, the Defense secretary, in consultation with the director of the Operational Test and Evaluation office, establish criteria for operationally realistic testing of field prototypes developed under the ballistic missile defense program. The Defense secretary would be responsible for ensuring no later than Oct. 1, 2005, that a test of the ballistic missile defense system is consistent with the criteria established. The Reed amendment would require the Defense Department to conduct, on an independent basis, operationally realistic testing of the prototypes developed under the ballistic missile defense program. The director of the Operational Test and Evaluation office would be responsible for approving and evaluating the tests.” (S.Amdt. 3453 To S.Amdt. 3354 To S. 2400, Roll Call Vote #125: Amendment Adopted 55-44, 6/17/04, Feingold Voted Nay; CQ Summary, Accessed 1/6/15)
In June 2004, Feingold Voted To Restrict The Conditions On Missile Defense Deployment. “Boxer, D-Calif., amendment no. 3368 that would provide that the ground-based midcourse defense element of the national ballistic missile defense system cannot be deployed for initial defensive operations until the Defense secretary certifies that the capabilities of the system to perform its defense mission have been confirmed by operationally realistic testing of the system.” (S.Amdt. 3368 To S. 2400, Roll Call Vote #124: Amendment Rejected 42-57, 6/17/04, Feingold Voted Yea; CQ Summary, Accessed 1/6/15)
In October 2002, Feingold Was The Only Senator That Voted Against A Defense Appropriations Bill, Which Funded Ballistic Missile Defense By $7.4 Billion. “Adoption of the conference report on the bill that would provide $355.1 billion for the Defense Department for fiscal 2003, an increase of $21 billion over fiscal 2002 regular and supplemental funds. The agreement includes $71.5 billion for procurement programs and $7.4 billion for ballistic missile defense. It includes $4 billion for the Air Force’s F-22 fighter jets program and would fund a 4.1 percent pay increase for military personnel.” (H.R. 5010, Roll Call Vote #239: Conference Report Agreed To 93-1, 10/16/02, Feingold Voted Nay; CQ Summary, Accessed 12/14/15)
In October 2000, Feingold Was One Of Only Three Senators That Voted Against A Defense Authorization Bill, Which Funded Missile Defense By $4.8 Billion. “Adoption of the conference report on the bill that would authorize $309.9 billion for the Defense Department, including $4.8 billion for ballistic missile defense programs. It also would entitle military retirees to lifetime health care benefits and would restore prescription coverage to most Medicare-eligible retirees.” (H.R. 4205, Roll Call Vote #275: Conference Report Agreed To 90-3, 10/12/00, Feingold Voted Nay; CQ Summary, Accessed 10/19/15)
In June 1996, Feingold Voted To Cut Missile Defense Funding By $300 Million. “Dorgan, D-N.D., amendment to cut the authorization for missile defense by $300 million, reducing the level to the $508 million requested by the president.” (S.Amdt. 4048 to S. 1745, Roll Call Vote #160: Amendment Rejected 44-53, 6/19/96, Feingold Voted Yea; CQ Summary, Accessed 1/6/15)
In June 1996, Feingold Voted Against Cloture On A Bill That Would Require Deployment Of A Missile Defense System By 2003. “Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the motion to proceed to the bill to require deployment by 2003 of a national missile defense system that could protect all 50 states from a relatively small number of missiles, using either ground-based, sea-based, space-based, or a combination interceptor system. The bill allows the president one year after enactment to successfully negotiate with Russia for changes to the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty after which the bill calls for U.S. consideration of withdrawal from the ABM Treaty if the negotiations fail.” (S. 1635, Roll Call Vote #157: Cloture Motion Rejected 53-46, 6/4/96, Feingold Voted Nay; CQ Summary, Accessed 1/6/15)
In August 1995, Feingold Voted To Cut Missile Defense Funding By $300 Million. “Dorgan, D-N.D., amendment to cut $300 million from the $671.5 million provided by the bill to design an anti-missile defense program to protect U.S. territory.” (S.Amdt. 2377 To S. 1087, Roll Call Vote #384: Amendment Rejected 45-54, 8/10/95, Feingold Voted Yea)
In August 1995, Feingold Voted Against Killing An Amendment That Would Cut Missile Defense Funding By $300 Million. “Thurmond, R-S.C., motion to table (kill) the Dorgan, D-N.D., amendment to cut $300 million from the $671.5 million provided by the bill to fund an anti-missile defense program designed to protect U.S. territory.” (S.Amdt. 2087 to S. 1026, Roll Call Vote #354: Motion To Table Agreed To 51-48, 8/3/95, Feingold Voted Nay; CQ Summary, Accessed 1/6/15)
In September 1993, Feingold Voted To Cut Ballistic Missile Defense Funding By $400 Million. “Sasser, D-Tenn., amendment to cut the Ballistic Missile Defense program from $3.4 billion to $3 billion.” (S.Amdt. 785 to S. 1298, Roll Call Vote #251: Amendment Adopted 50-48, 9/9/93, Feingold Voted Yea; CQ Summary, Accessed 1/6/15)