Re-elect Russ Feingold — our profile in courage

[undeterred]

Cap Times editorial Wednesday, October 13, 2010 5:00 am

When Russ Feingold was presented with the Profile in Courage Award by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, Caroline Kennedy recalled how the junior senator from Wisconsin had risked his political future in order to stand on principle against the corrosive influence of money in politics and the crude compromises that Washington insiders make to serve their paymasters.

“United in the belief that America’s very democracy is threatened by the flood of money in our electoral system, two men, quite different in personal and political background, came together to propose real change and reform in the financing of this country’s elections. In so doing, they have dedicated themselves to an issue that at first blush appears to have little public reward. Still, they have fought for their position with a determination and vigor that has put their public lives or political ambitions at risk,” explained the daughter of the 35th president. “One man, Senator Russell Feingold, seeking his first re-election to the United States Senate, unilaterally adopted the financial restrictions he had proposed in the Senate -- while his opponent was free to raise and spend money at will. While ultimately successful, a once comfortable race for re-election came as close to the edge of defeat as possible ...”

That praise from an heir to one of the great names in Democratic politics was echoed by one of the great names in Republican politics, Sen. John McCain, Feingold’s co-recipient of the Profile in Courage Award. McCain described the Wisconsinite’s refusal to bow to political pressure as “an inspiring example of civic courage.”

The bipartisan praise for Feingold’s rare combination of boldness and bipartisanship -- a willingness to take on the most difficult battles that is made meaningful by a determination to cross lines of party and ideology in order to win those fights -- came at a point when America was deeply divided. A Republican Congress was attempting to impeach President Bill Clinton and most Democrats were fighting back with a no-holds-barred determination to destroy Republican leaders such as Newt Gingrich. It was an ugly moment in our civic life. Yet, even then, Feingold put the Constitution, the rule of law and personal principle ahead of partisanship -- casting the only Democratic vote to continue the Senate’s trial of Clinton until all evidence was presented.

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/editorial/article_89e01d6c-58a1-5b3c-b83d-e93fccc10d08.html

[midnight]

1. K&R....

[Scuba]

2. Named by Washingtonian Magazine as the #1 Enemy of Lobbyists.

[undeterred]

3. What the Republicans don't seem to realize

is that someone with Feingold's integrity and character comes into the Congress a few times every century. Millionaires with no integrity and character who can be bought by corporate lobbyists enter Congress every single election cycle. They're pretty much all the same.

[dragonlady]

5. That is absolutely eloquent!

:hi:

[felix_numinous]

4. We cannot lose Russ Feingold. nt

:kick:

[crazychester53]

6. Game On!

Virtual Tie...

http://wcco.com/wireapnewswi/Neck.and.neck.2.1969052.html

[PeaceNikki]

7. GREAT news!!

:bounce:

And welcome to DU :hi: