Russ Feingold endorses Occupy Wall Street: “This will make the Tea Party look like ... a tea party.”

[ProSense]

Russ Feingold endorses Occupy Wall Street: “This will make the Tea Party look like ... a tea party.”

By Greg Sargent

“I’m really encouraged by what I’m seeing. People around the country are finally organizing to stand up to the huge influence of corporations on government and our lives. This kind of citizen reaction to corporate power and corporate greed is long overdue.”

That’s Russ Feingold, who spoke with me yesterday in order to voice his strong support for Occupy Wall Street, making him one of the most prominent liberal Democrats in the country to endorse the protests. Feingold’s strong backing will be seen as significant by the movment’s supporters, because thus far few elected Dems have publicly voiced support for it.

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“This is a populist movement based on genuine suffering and fear,” he said. “Anyone who really lives out in working America knows that people are feeling very scared. This movement would probably not have this fuel if not for that reality.”

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“The White House should realize that this would be beneficial to the president and his reelection chances if he recognizes how correct the protesters are to be upset,” Feingold said. “It would be a mistake to try to coopt this. I’m hoping a mass movement will encourage the White House to listen to and respond to these concerns. It would be politically smart and the right thing to do.”

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[mod mom]

1. Love Russ!

[Cigar11]

2. Great ....

Maybe someone in Washington will understand.

[midnight]

3. Feingold is right of course.... the politically smart thing for the White House to do is

address the protestors concerns... And that would be that the 99 percent is tired of living in debt so the 1 percent can have everything.... Health care, mansions, great food, vacations, cars, boats, jobs, private planes. Main street needs jobs... Healthcare, and this country needs the rule of law back....