Watch as Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ron Johnson, speaking to the editorial board of the Green Bay Press Gazette, stammers and struggles to articulate a clear plan for creating jobs if he’s elected to the United States Senate:
Shortly after Ron Johnson’s deer in the headlights moment with the Press Gazette’s editorial board, the paper endorsed incumbent Senator Russ Feingold’s reelection bid, citing Johnson’s inability to articulate a jobs plan (emphasis mine):
Feingold’s opponent, Oshkosh businessman and political newcomer Ron Johnson, also has voiced his support for spending controls and fiscal responsibility in Washington. His plan for righting the U.S. economy, however, comes across as one-note: establish a hard spending cap, reduce government interference and allow businesses to flourish.
These are principles with which we agree; however, Johnson seemed unable to further articulate his plan for job creation — especially for the middle class — during a recent meeting with the Green Bay Press-Gazette editorial board. Basic principles of restraint are one thing; a detailed proposal to spur job creation and get our economy moving is another.
It’s worth noting this is the first time the Press Gazette has ever given its endorsement to Sen. Feingold, so clearly the folks there were far from impressed with Ron Johnson.
So here’s what I’m wondering….if Ron Johnson’s such a great job creator, why can’t he clearly articulate a job creation plan that doesn’t revolve solely around reducing government spending? It’s no wonder Ron Johnson’s campaign handlers have kept him largely hermetically sealed during this election, because Ron Johnson has proven time and time again that he’s simply incapable of thinking for himself when it comes to issues of policy.
eau snap! has an excellent take on this as well.
Ron Johnson is yet another example of a member of an elite Republican Party with very little strategic perspective on pumping up the economy other than lowering taxes. They feed into the tea party “limited government” view (unless of course it is in your bedroom), but have no vision for the future of the country. Their tax reduction philosophy provides little benefit other than lining the pockets of its wealthy adherents while doing little to increase employment or decrease the deficit as history has shown during the Bush years. I’ll be watching the Wisconsin State Journal closely after their ludicrous endorsement of both Walker and Van Hollen to see what they do in the Feingold vs. Johnson race.
Please explain how raising taxes — anyone’s — will help stimulate the economy? Or do you not really care about that?
By the way, that limited government view IS the vision for the future of the country. Always has been and that’s what has made America great.
Is there any doubt they will endorse Johnson? really? I understood the walker one but JB van hollen??? The kratz debacle should of been the end of Jb’s career.
And Russ Feingold’s clue on creating jobs is what? Borrow & spend more taxpayer money?
forgot, doesn’t it bother you just a little that the guy you’re backing can’t articulate (beyond the very vague “cutting spending”) how he’d create jobs?
For being an “experienced job creator,” Johnson sure is devoid of any ideas – good, bad, or otherwise – on how he’d actually create jobs.
Then again, Johnson also said homeless veterans were just a “detail” that he didn’t deem worthy of discussing during the campaign, so it’s clear job creation isn’t the only issue Johnson doesn’t want to talk about.
Well I don’t believe it is the government’s job to create jobs. The government can allow the private sector to create jobs by cutting spending, not running debt, lowering taxes, and staying out of the way. It looks like that’s what Johnson was saying. So the next question “What about the middle class?” — well if you are business-friendly jobs will be created which will take care of the middle class. Would you have been happier if Johnson said he would put everyone in the middle class to work via the government?
Again, if this is so inarticulate for you, please show me Russ Feingold’s plan to get the economy moving to create jobs.