Distraction

Apparently Feingold is trying to distract everyone away from his support for disastrous fiscal policies.

GOP Senate hopeful Ron Johnson issued a retraction Tuesday of comments he made earlier this summer on licensing firearms after his words became the target of a radio ad by incumbent Democrat Russ Feingold.

Johnson made those comments in a June interview with the Rock River Patriots, a conservative group in Jefferson County.

Asked what sort of gun restrictions he might support, Johnson said: “You know, like we license cars and stuff, I don’t have a real, I don’t have a real problem in minimal licensing and stuff. I mean I don’t.”

Feingold replayed those comments in a new radio ad he launched Tuesday questioning Johnson’s commitment to gun rights and touting his own record on the issue.

The ad’s narrator adds: “So let me get this straight, Ron Johnson believes our right to protect ourselves requires a license from the government? He supports licensing guns like cars? Well, Ron, that ain’t freedom.”

As a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment, Johnson’s comment greatly concerns me.  It’s certainly something that I’ll be watching.  Is it enough to make me vote for Feingold over Johnson?  No.  Feingold’s record on supporting the 2nd Amendment is mixed.  The best you can say is that he’s slightly less anti-gun than your average Democrat, but that’s not saying much. 

Furthermore, it is very interesting that Feingold is taking this as an angle of attack.  This election is shaping up to about the economy, debt, fiscal policy, bailouts, etc.  The gun issue is always important, but it’s certainly not a major factor in this election.  Why would Feingold focus on this perceived advantage when the election is all about the economy?  Easy.  Feingold’s record on the economy stinks.