The state Republican Party is alleging Russ Feingold is soft on terrorists – specifically Osama bin Laden. In an interview with WKOW 27 News in Madison, Feingold was asked about what ought to be the fate of the 9-11 mastermind. “I would prefer to see him get the ultimate punishment in a battlefield setting,” Feingold said. Asked whether a captured bin Laden “deserves to be executed for his crimes, Feingold responded “he deserves to be executed for his crimes, but I am a person who does not believe we should use execution as a means of our justice system.”
That’s not a new stand by Feingold, and it’s one which would appear to puts him on the same page as U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and the Justice Department. But RPW chair Reince Priebus calls that position outrageous. Priebus held a conference call on Tuesday to draw attention to the comment. “I’m assuming that’s a true position he has, that Osama bin Laden shouldn’t be executed, and I’m pointing out that I think that that’s bizarre, and I think most people don’t agree with that,” said Priebus. Priebus claimed the majority of Wisconsin residents would favor Bin Laden be tried and executed as a war criminal. Feingold is in close Senate campaign against Oshkosh businessman Ron Johnson.