VIA WPR

Wisconsin U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson told Republican activists at the state GOP convention that the media are his opponent in his bid for a third term.

While the charge from Johnson was not new, he delivered it in unequivocal terms Saturday in Middleton, beginning his remarks with a call for unity in America before blaming both Democrats and the press for fueling division.

“I have an opponent,” Johnson said. “Probably the worst opponent anyone could have. I have the media against me.”

Johnson told Republicans that “integrity is everything to a businessperson,” and that it’s “not fun” to have his integrity attacked in the press.

“Let’s pretend I was a Democrat senator,” Johnson said. “How would the press treat me if I was a Democrat senator?”

Johnson said the media had overlooked his accomplishments, including The Joseph Project, a faith-based initiative in Milwaukee that connects people with jobs.

Johnson also took issue with the way his signature amendment to the GOP tax cuts of 2017 had been portrayed, saying he supported the plan to help businesses across the country that would have otherwise been left out of the landmark tax deal.

Johnson’s amendment extended tax relief to small businesses and other so-called pass-through entities, where profits are paid by business owners on their personal returns. An investigation by Pro Publica found the provision had been a financial boon for some of Johnson’s largest campaign donors.