Feingold Warns Of Partisanship

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This is the second time in two months that Sen. Russ Feingold has warned of McCain's chances to win Wisconsin. Last time, Feingold felt Obama may be in the right place at the right time to carry a historical victory over McCain. This time though, through a Capital Times analysis, Feingold sounds more of a warning against partisanship.

Capital Times Excerpt:
If you want to appeal to Wisconsin voters, don't talk about what's wrong about McCain. Talk about who is going to help really solve the fundamental problems. When it comes to health care, and a balanced energy solution and jobs, Obama's case is so obviously more compelling than McCain's. Rest your case on that. Make that the issue."

If not making a campaign a personal attack on your opponent is what the good Senator means, then I totally agree.

But I don’t know if it's a smart thing to do, to not remind voters during the campaign of where the opponent stands and how they voted in Congress. Oftentimes, particularly with incumbents, their votes ARE the issues.

Take Rep. Paul Ryan for instance, here’s a guy, a nice guy by some standards, who has blamed Congress for most of our problems. But which Congress is the problem? The one he voted “Yea” with during his first eight years in Congress, or the one he votes “Nay” against for the last two? Am I being partisan for even posing those questions? Or was Ryan being partisan when he cast his votes? Regardless, it really does seem that Democrats are held to a higher standard when it comes to countering the lies and below-the-belt punches because after all, we're the tolerant ones.

But the problem for some seems to be their inability to know when and where partisanship belongs, as I believe the only place for partisanship is in a campaign. It definitely does not belong in Congress or the White House. It very well could be that some have difficulties drawing this distinction or knowing when to quit.

Still, Feingold's advice is definitely worth heeding. I only hope he's right.