Ron Johnson’s doomed reelection campaign appears to be in a total freefall, with the Wisconsin senator seemingly admitting to that fake electors scheme just days after walking back his support for same-sex marriage after seeing his poll numbers tank.
A new Marquette Law survey released last week found Johnson trailing his Democratic opponent, Mandela Barnes, by seven points, which is well outside the margin of error.
Coincidentally, just days after the poll was released, Johnson told local media that he’s not sure anymore if Congress should codify same-sex marriage, mere weeks after saying he saw “no reason to oppose” the Respect for Marriage Act.
Instead, the embattled senator said he’d like to focus on protecting religious freedom.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Related: Mitch McConnell whines about GOP “candidate quality”… So why is he supporting so many of them?
“That is the concern right there,” he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “We’re working on an amendment, as well, before I’d ever support that.”
Last month, Johnson called the Respect for Marriage Act unnecessary, saying he believed SCOTUS would never overturn same-sex marriage. Though he added there was “no reason to oppose” the legislation.
“Unlike Roe v. Wade, I do not see any scenario in which the Supreme Court would overturn Obergefell,” he said. “The Respect for Marriage Act is another example of Democrats creating a state of fear over an issue in order to further divide Americans for their political benefit.”
He continued, “Even though I feel the Respect for Marriage Act is unnecessary, should it come before the Senate, I see no reason to oppose it.”
Apparently, however, he feels differently today.
Johnson now says he has concerns over what impact the Respect for Marriage Act might have on religious freedom protections and that he would like to see sweeping changes to the bill’s text.
“I said at the time I had no reason to oppose it,” he told Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I think there are a lot of people with reasons and very legitimate issues in terms of religious freedom.”
“I think that needs to be considered and addressed.”
Related: Jared Kushner is doing serious damage control after speculation that he’s the “Mar-a-Lago” mole
So, why the sudden change of heart?
Well, it could be those terrible poll numbers.
It could also have something to do with the ever-growing scrutiny he’s been under for his alleged involvement in Donald Trump‘s failed coup and that slate of fake electors his office was supposed to hand Vice President Mike Pence in order to help overturn the 2020 election.
Over the weekend, Johnson confirmed he’s been talking to the January 6 committee and also seemed to admit to breaking the law, though he insisted it was only for “a couple of seconds.”
Ron Johnson won't testify to the Jan. 6 Committee because he only plotted to overthrow the election for "a couple seconds."
"I had virtually no involvement!" he said. "Literally, my involvement lasted seconds. OK?" pic.twitter.com/vsTZSCqkYj
— David Edwards (@DavidEdwards) August 21, 2022
“I think I fielded three texts, and sent two, and talked to my chief of staff that somebody wants you to deliver something,” Johnson told his local ABC station. “I knew nothing about it.”
“I had virtually no involvement. My involvement lasted seconds.”
Hmmm. It sure seems like Johnson is using the divisive same-sex marriage/religious freedom issue to distract people from those “couple of seconds.”
Here’s what folx on Twitter are saying…
Isn’t Ron Johnson just confessing to his involvement in the fake electors scam here? https://t.co/BigfdVPaVC
— Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) August 22, 2022
Ron Johnson thinks he shouldn't have to testify to the January 6th Committee because his attempts to submit fraudulent slates of electors for Trump and steal the 2020 election “only spanned the course of a couple seconds.” Committing brief treason is still committing treason, Ron
— Andrew Wortman ?????? (@AmoneyResists) August 21, 2022
The more you hear from Ron Johnson the more you understand the “candidate quality” Minority Leader Mitch is worried about.
— illusory tenant ?? (@illusory_tenant) August 22, 2022
Ron Johnson is losing bad in the polls and I am so here for it.
— Sam Jones (@SamJownes) August 17, 2022
BREAKING: Republicans get more terrible news as a new poll reveals that GOP Senator Ron Johnson is trailing his Democratic opponent Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes 44% to 51% — meaning Democrats might finally take real control of the Senate. RT IF YOU HOPE THAT RON JOHNSON LOSES BIG!
— Occupy Democrats (@OccupyDemocrats) August 17, 2022
Ron Johnson dabbled with treason but he swears he didn’t inhale.
— Tim Hannan (@TimHannan) August 22, 2022
Insurrectionist, Ron Johnson, admitted in a live TV interview on WISN, that he was a participant in the attempt to overthrow the Gov't. The DOJ needs to issue a warrant for his arrest.
— Daren (@Daren58943953) August 22, 2022
Ron Johnson’s full of shit.
That’s the damn tweet. https://t.co/UOBfDlGjbH
— Dennis Herring (@dcherring) August 22, 2022
got a thousand ron johnson excuses down here pic.twitter.com/zsb8H2j4O7
— ✊🏿Rest In Power✊🏿 #StevenRayScott🦋#SayHisName (@NicePeopleBlow) August 21, 2022
Mister P
These right wingnuts wouldn’t understand religious freedom if it jumped up and bit them in the ass.
Mack
Well they don’t appear to be a very smart bunch.
Kangol2
Don’t forget that this right-wing dotard Johnson also went over to Russia in 2018 to meet up with Putin’s deputies and returned to the US spewing Russian propaganda, and he’s recently proposed making both Medicare and Social Security annual appropriations, which would essentially gut them. As the old phrase goes, he’s batsh!t crazy and should be nowhere near a federal office!
scotty
send this guy on vacation with denise rodman. that’d be another good laugh.
James
AFTER READING A FEW PARAGRAPHS I STOPPED…….. THE GUY IS SO STUPID.
CNY1983
should i sent his “get out of office free” douche-ball to DC or WI? hes gonna need it for prison when he becomes the double penetration king of Club Fed. they dont like accidents in prison.
Ronbo
Don’t forget that this isn’t the first time conservatives (including conserva-Dems) have proposed gutting Social Security by giving it to Wall Street and watch it die in the next regularlily scheduled recession.
Last time that started – Monica Lowinsky’s little stained blue dress stepped up to distract Newt and Bill from moving forward. Conserva-Dems are just Republicans who can’t get elected as Republicans.