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A Wisconsin newspaper has drawn cheers from liberals and jeers from Republicans after calling incumbent Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson "the worst" since Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Editorial Board branded Johnson, who has held his seat since 2010, and "election deceiver, science fabulist," and "billionaire benefactor" before calling for Wisconsin citizens to vote him out of office in favor of Democrat Mandela Barnes.
But it was the comparison to McCarthy, who led the ruinous and fascistic McCarthy Hearings during the 1950s hysteria over communism he helped inflame, that has most stuck in the minds of people online.
\u201cThe Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a brutal editorial urging voters to send Republican Ron Johnson packing:\n\n"Johnson is the worst Wisconsin political representative since the infamous Sen. Joseph McCarthy." https://t.co/GXzNTiM29K\u201d— Kyle Griffin (@Kyle Griffin) 1665662403
The Journal Sentinel pulled no punches in calling Johnson out as one of the worst influences on the US Senate.
Before itemizing a list of his most egregious stances, the Editorial Board wrote:
"For years, Ron Johnson has demonstrated that he should be retired to his family's seaside Florida home—and not representing Wisconsin in the U.S. Senate. Voters should send him packing this November."
The paper went on to list how Johnson jumped on every MAGA Republican-led bandwagon he could over the years, from denying the 2020 election to propagating absurd conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and vaccines.
Johnson has also vigorously defended the rioters who participated in the January 6 coup attempt on the Capitol, absurdly calling them "people ... [who] would never do anything to break the law."
And the list goes on and on.
He was an instrumental part of former Republican President Donald Trump's schemes to overturn the election, is a vociferous climate change denier, and has shilled for the billionaire class at every opportunity.
And as the Journal Sentinel pointed out Johnson has run a campaign against Barnes—a Black man and the state's Lieutenant Governor—focused mostly on racist dog-whistles.
As the Editorial Board put it:
"You'll notice Johnson is not touting a long record of accomplishments in his ads for re-election. Instead, he and his supporters have attacked his opponent — a Black man — as 'different' and 'dangerous.'"
The Editorial Board summed it up by comparing him to McCarthy, a man who destroyed the lives of countless people he wrongfully accused of having political ideas he didn't like or being POC or Jewish.
They wrote:
"Ron Johnson is the worst Wisconsin political representative since the infamous Sen. Joseph McCarthy."
"Johnson in the past promised to serve no more than two terms. Voters should hold him to that pledge in November."
On Twitter, many applauded the Journal Sentinel's straight talk.
\u201cMilwaukee Journal Sentinel reminded Sen. Ron Johnson of his pledge to serve only 2 terms and urged voters to send him packing in 2022 election in a damning editorial.\n\nThe editorial board believes Johnson is the worst Wisconsin representative since Sen. Joseph McCarthy.\u201d— Jim Cassidy (@Jim Cassidy) 1665583910
\u201cRon Johnson booed heavily at his debate last night.\n\nWe need #PunchHimOut of office 11/8. Worst Wisconsin politico since the McCarthy debacle according to the Milwaukee Journal.\u201d— #KeepItTogetherAmerica (@#KeepItTogetherAmerica) 1665768012
\u201c@AdamParkhomenko @greasewoodbloom The worst elected official out of Wisconsin since Joe McCarthy. Yep. That\u2019s Ron Johnson.\u201d— Adam Parkhomenko (@Adam Parkhomenko) 1665707830
\u201c@Morning_Joe It's embarrassing as a Wisconsinite to be represented by a Senator of Ron Johnson's ilk. He rivals Joseph McCarthy in the ability to lie and peddle conspiracy theories, including that Jan. 6 insurrectionists were not armed. The Jan. 6 Committee has proven that they were armed.\u201d— Morning Joe (@Morning Joe) 1665744829
\u201c#MandelaBarnes because Wisconsin deserves better than a conniving criminal for a senator. Fabulist' Ron Johnson is the 'worst Wisconsin political representative since Joe McCarthy': local newspaper https://t.co/fOSDveGIpw\u201d— Marnie Owen \ud83c\udf39 (@Marnie Owen \ud83c\udf39) 1665584275
\u201cHow is this race even close? Vote @TheOtherMandela \n\n"In fact, Ron Johnson is the worst Wisconsin political representative since the infamous Sen. Joseph McCarthy. Johnson in the past promised to serve no more than two terms. Voters should hold him to that pledge in November."\u201d— Laura G (@Laura G) 1665601119
\u201cRon Johnson's home state newspaper lists eight reasons why Ron Johnson is the worst. This was even before his scummy performance in last night's debate.\n\nVote against lousy Republicans.\nhttps://t.co/yHc3wdVclJ\u201d— Rick G. Rosner (@Rick G. Rosner) 1665763902
\u201cThe Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel skewers Ron Johnson, calling him the worst Wisconsin politician since Joe McCarthy\u2014and give eight reasons for defeating him, without even mentioning "abortion" once. SUPPORT MANDELA BARNES! @TheOtherMandela https://t.co/oL6XR5O3F7\u201d— Paul Hogarth (@Paul Hogarth) 1665596286
\u201c"In fact, Ron Johnson is the worst Wisconsin political representative since the infamous Sen. Joseph McCarthy." This editorial plainly states the reasons he must go.\u201d— Tom (@Tom) 1665585715
After trailing Barnes throughout most of the election season, Johnson now leads him by nearly three points.
Here's hoping the Journal Sentinel's editorial makes a difference.