The latest Marquette Poll shows that Ron Johnson’s approval rating is at a meager 28%. Johnson rode into office on a wave of anti-incumbent, anti-progress Tea Party voters in 2010. He defeated three-term Senator and progressive icon Russ Feingold in a stunning upset. Although Johnson was leading in the polls, many progressives and media figures found it hard to believe that Russ Feingold could be defeated by an unknown millionaire who denied climate change, enjoyed exploiting campaign finance reform, and wanted to repeal the only step forward in our healthcare system that this country has taken since Lyndon Johnson was president.
Since taking office, Ron Johnson has refused to exit campaign mode and actually legislate like a true statesman. Johnson has been one of the most reliable party line votes in the Senate. He refuses to give an inch on anything that could possibly help President Obama pass his agenda, and answers any questions with, “We need to repeal Obamacare.” Johnson was on the radio for an interview this week, and when asked about his vote against ENDA, his answer was, “I am here to repeal Obamacare.”
Since taking office, Ron Johnson has voted against the Violence Against Women Act, Gun Control Legislation, Immigration reform, Re-opening the Government, and most recently against the Employee Non-Discrimination Act.
Not surprisingly, this partisan attitude and constant campaigning has cost Johnson a lot of political capital with the people of Wisconsin.
Johnson’s latest idea is to propose the “If You Like Your Insurance, You Can Keep It Act.” The name alone gives way to the prospect that Johnson is not taking his job seriously. However, once we get past this detail, we see just how ridiculous Johnson operates. This law would force insurance companies to continue offering plans that do not meet the minimum requirements of the Affordable Care Act, and even keep offering plans that are not profitable for the company. Yet Johnson has been preaching against the ACA since day one of his candidacy because, “it is a government takeover of the healthcare industry and puts in way to many regulations on private corporations.”
Johnson is up for reelection in 2016. Considering that 2016 is a presidential year, it should only take a modest candidate to defeat someone who clearly has only one vision for his position: obstruction. Although Johnson should be easily defeated, don’t forget that was also said about Ronald Reagan–and look how that turned out.
Hear our complete thoughts on this subject and more at:
http://civildiscourse.podomatic.com/entry/2013-11-16T10_07_42-08_00