Thread by @jessieopie

.@SenRonJohnson is the guest at the @MKEPressClub's newsmaker luncheon.

"My purpose here isn't trying to make headlines; my purpose is to convey to the American public information and truths that I believe are important."

.@SenRonJohnson on whether he'll run again for #WISEN in 2022: "I don't feel any pressure to make (a decision) anytime soon."

.@SenRonJohnson on his promise in 2016 that he wouldn't run for a third term: "When I made that pledge, I meant that pledge." But he says he didn't realize at the time that Democrats would take majorities in Congress.

Q: Should Republicans accept that Joe Biden legitimately won the 2020 election?

@SenRonJohnson: "I think we have. What is there left to accept? I did not vote to disallow any of Joe Biden's electors."

.@SenRonJohnson: "I don't think we should scornfully dismiss the legitimate concerns of tens of millions of Americans…I thought that was an important debate to have on Jan 6, which is why I was not happy w/ the breach of the Capitol that cut short that very important discussion"

.@SenRonJohnson: "I think the portrayal of Jan. 6 has been highly biased … I think it was driven by the very slick video that was produced by the impeachment managers … There has been a lot of false information, but it hasn't come out of my mouth."

.@SenRonJohnson: "One of the reasons I opposed the Jan. 6 commission … is I don't trust (Nancy Pelosi) to select commissioners to investigate her own involvement in this thing, or her own culpability or any congressional leaders."

Q: Does Trump bear any responsibility for Jan. 6?
@SenRonJohnson: "I actually blame the perpetrators of the crime, I blame the agitators, the provocateurs, or whoever … led the assault and the breach on the Capitol."

.@SenRonJohnson on Jan. 6: "I think the American public generally has a view of what President Trump's role was, and they can judge for themselves … I have my own judgment, obviously I didn't think … his actions were impeachable."

.@SenRonJohnson on infrastructure proposals: "I'm highly concerned about the inflationary impact of all this deficit spending."

Q: Do you see it as your job as a U.S. senator from WI to direct federal $ back to the state?
@SenRonJohnson: "If it's gone thru the normal appropriation process … I'll certainly stick up for WI interests and make sure we're not left behind." But opposes specific earmarks.

.@SenRonJohnson: "I do not believe America is a systemically racist nation. I wish the current leaders of some of these movements would really go back and reread MLK Jr’s speeches and his approach to achieving greater racial equality." (1/2 of quote)

.@SenRonJohnson: "I realize we still have racism present in this nation but we have come a long, long way, we have, and we should do everything we can to heal this nation." Says Biden is dividing nation w/ his Tulsa address. (2/2 of quote)

.@SenRonJohnson says he does not support the Equality Act: "I think it’d have horrible unintended consequences."

.@SenRonJohnson: "The folks I talked to (at Trump rallies) are God-fearing, country-loving, law enforcement supporting individuals."

.@SenRonJohnson says media influence on 2020 election "far surpassed anything China or Russia or any foreign power could ever hope to achieve. The media can pat itself on the back; they elected their guy."

Asked about Paul Ryan's recent comments on Trump, @SenRonJohnson: "I like Paul but I think he, as many others, are just misdiagnosing the situation here … from my standpoint, President Trump's election was to a certain extent a continuation of the Tea Party movement."