Ron Johnson- America's Dumbest Senator
And, hopefully, soon to be an ex-Senator
Whenever Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) opens his mouth, my first thought is that here’s a man who shouldn’t be allowed to tie his shoelaces- much less represent the Badger State in the US Senate.
There are times when he makes Reps. Louie Gohmert, Marjorie Trailer Greene, Matt Gaetz, and Lauren Boebert look like Ph. D. candidates. It can be challenging to adequately describe his almost complete lack of intellectual acumen…until you hear him speak and wonder how Wisconsinites elected such a jackass. Then you realize that Wisconsin has exactly the quality of leadership they deserve.
Say hello to Sen. Ron Johnson, America’s Dumbest Senator.
Republican Sen. Ron Johnson is getting a national reputation as the most electorally helpful Senate candidate — for Democrats.
Democrats’ strategy in Johnson’s swing state of Wisconsin is simple: They are on voters’ side; Johnson is not. State Democratic officials tell me their challenge is to make sure voters know all about Johnson’s views.
Johnson — infamous for his conspiracy theories, his racist take on Jan. 6, his involvement in the 2020 coup and his eagerness to spread Russian propaganda — has given Democrats plenty of ammunition in Wisconsin’s critical Senate race. But perhaps his most useful contribution to the Democratic campaign has been to make the Democrats’ economic populist message for them.
Johnson, like many Republicans this election cycle, is making the Democrats’ case for them. Unfortunately, it turns out that his opponent’s best weapon is Ron Johnson himself. Mandela Barnes is waging an excellent campaign, but having his opponent’s assistance has been a welcome boost.
It’s almost as if Johnson is unwittingly trying to lose, perhaps because he lacks the self-awareness to recognize that he’s torpedoing his electoral prospects.
Johnson — infamous for his conspiracy theories, his racist take on Jan. 6, his involvement in the 2020 coup and his eagerness to spread Russian propaganda — has given Democrats plenty of ammunition in Wisconsin’s critical Senate race. But perhaps his most useful contribution to the Democratic campaign has been to make the Democrats’ economic populist message for them.
In February, he declared that Wisconsin had enough jobs and therefore shouldn’t make a pitch to manufacture new postal vehicles, which would create 1,000 jobs. He also handed Democrats the ultimate political gift: He attacked Social Security. He has declared repeatedly his intent to shift Social Security from an entitlement to a discretionary program, putting at risk the benefits of more than 5.8 million Wisconsinites, including more than 1 million seniors.
Johnson’s become such a target that even President Joe Biden is taking shots at him, saying, “He wants to put Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block every year.” And, of course, the President’s spot-on.
The senior Senator from Wisconsin has already said that Congress should subject Social Security and Medicare to annual budget talks, which has resulted in considerable political blowback (SURPRISE!). Johnson’s also argued that Social Security “was set up improperly” and should be invested in the stock market.
Oh, and he’s suggested that seniors return to the job market. Yeah, try telling Grandpa that he needs to get a job. Good luck with that, eh?
Democratic officials are dumbfounded that Johnson would grab onto the “third rail” in politics. But then again, Johnson voted against a $35 cap on insulin; against granting the Department of Health and Human Services the power to negotiate with drug companies; and against a $2,000 limit for seniors’ out of pocket drug costs. He also opposed extending Affordable Care Act subsidies that save more than 200,000 Wisconsinites roughly $800 per month.
Johnson has criticized Biden’s student loan relief plan even though, as the local NPR outlet reported, “The most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education show 721,400 Wisconsin residents had an average of $30,581 [debt and] held more than $23.5 billion in federal student loan debt.”
These positions project a distinctly anti-populist, anti-worker message. Democrats are happy to make the case that Johnson opposed all these popular items but pushed for the Trump tax cut that benefited wealthy contributors. Johnson may think he’s appealing to the MAGA base, but he fails to understand that even the MAGA cult leader vowed never to cut entitlements and tried to remake the GOP’s pro-business image.
It’s almost as if Johnson is actively working to alienate Wisconsin’s senior citizens, a large chunk of whom have consistently voted for him.
And not only has he consistently opposed programs that would benefit his aging middle-class supporters, but he’s also strongly supported those that would put money in the pockets of his wealthy contributors.
Does Johnson no longer understand who his voters are? Or does he no longer care?
Johnson has also adopted views on key social issues that are much better suited to a deep red state than to a traditionally moderate, swing state. He reversed his stance on the gay marriage bill and has made a series of dismissive, insulting statements in favor of forced birth, suggesting women can just move from Wisconsin if they don’t like the state’s 19th century ban that was triggered when the Supreme Court issued its Dobbs decision. Apparently, it’s no big deal to lose reproductive rights.
Johnson seems entirely out of touch with the very same Wisconsin voters who sent him to Washington in the first place. His “Eh, let them eat cake” attitude about abortion rights completely dismisses the distaff half of the Beaver State’s population. And, as in most states, women are pissed off and are organizing against Republicans, including Johnson.
How does he expect to be re-elected if he can’t be bothered to show even the bare minimum of concern for the things that are important to Wisconsin voters? It’s as if he believes he was to the manor born and no longer needs to put any effort into his campaign. Meanwhile, the polls in Wisconsin show him to be in serious trouble. He could, and may well, lose in November.
Ron Johnson has the intellectual agility of a box of hair under the best of circumstances. Now, though, he seems completely out of touch. Making things even worse is that Johnson appears to neither notice nor care about the things that are important to his constituents. They sent him to the Senate to represent them; what's he doing if not representing their interests?
No one knows, but Democrats are enjoying every minute of his self-immolation.
Democrats are betting that in a strongly pro-choice state, Johnson’s position will turn off voters, especially women (who have been disproportionately registering to vote since Dobbs), younger voters and suburbanites. They are likely right.
Democrats could not ask for a “better” opponent than the MAGA conspiratorialist and forced-birth zealot whose economic views sound like a parody of Republicans’ plutocratic outlook. Democrats will have to fend off an expected deluge of negative ads, turn out their base and keep losses down in Wisconsin’s rural and suburban areas. But mostly, they need Johnson to keep talking about his views.
Wisconsin is not Kentucky, Texas, Arkansas, or Mississippi. Indeed, the Badger State is a true swing state, though its Republican power structure has been working diligently to cheat its way into creating a permanent GOP majority.
Wisconsin is liable to swing Democrat as Republican, so for Johnson to assume he has his race sewn up is silly. On the other hand, if that’s his approach, he may be in for a helluva surprise come Election Night.
Mandela Barnes, his Democratic opponent, is proving himself a competent and focused campaigner, which is more than can be said for Ron Johnson.
Johnson will have a considerable advantage regarding money available in the run-up to Election Day. That means Wisconsinites should count on being inundated in anti-Barnes negative ads, but if that’s all that Johnson’s going to offer, he’ll almost certainly be wasting his money.
Unfortunately, Ron Johnson isn’t savvy enough to overcome his lack of intelligence or his decision to do the Democrats’ dirty work for them. Throw in his penchant for conspiracy theories, virulent racism, and spreading Russian propaganda, and Johnson might be in more trouble than he realizes. He may spend a long, cold, and unplanned winter in Wisconsin.
If Johnson loses, we can count on the average IQ of the Senate rising considerably. Unfortunately, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) will still be around, so lack of ignorance won’t be an issue.
Yes, there will still be plenty of stupid in the Senate.
