Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) is being labeled the “most irresponsible” representative of Wisconsin since “the infamous Sen. Joe McCarthy.”
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinal’s editorial board noted a recent press conference Johnson held where he “highlighted five people who said they had serious side effects from the life-saving COVID-19 vaccines.”
“Their stories were sad, to be sure, and we don’t doubt their veracity. But they represent only a tiny fraction of the people who have been vaccinated,” the board added.
Johnson has received criticism for promoting unproven treatments for COVID-19 and making unproven claims about the coronavirus vaccines. He has also said he does not plan to get vaccinated.
“Instead of encouraging more people to get vaccinated so we can be rid of this plague once and for all, Johnson has chosen to use his taxpayer-financed megaphone to draw attention to a vanishingly small number of people who believe they suffered a serious side effect,” the editorial board said. “And he has continued to cast doubts about science, research, masks and other public health measures while promoting ‘cures’ with no evidence behind them.”
It continued, “He is the most irresponsible representative of Wisconsin citizens since the infamous Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy in the 1950s.”
After noting Johnson’s history of making false or misleading statements on subjects from climate change to the pandemic the paper claimed, “Wisconsin’s senior senator morphed into a leading Trump apologist.”
“When it counted most, as Trump lied about the election, Johnson put his own political interests ahead of our democracy,” it added.
“Whether or not Johnson believes the nonsense he spews, there is little doubt he seeks to benefit politically from this cynical theater.”
Finally, the editorial board argued, “As a Tea Party Republican and climate change denier in 2010, he attracted support from the fossil fuel industry. Later, by minimizing the pandemic and touting questionable treatments for COVID, he vouched for a former president’s lies and boosted his own credibility with the Trump base in his home state.”
“Johnson continues to put his own interests ahead of yours. He continues to put himself first and democracy second,” it added.
