Feingold Nails Johnson On BP Stock Ownership

Russ Feingold's campaign takes note of GOP opponent Ron Johnson's BP stock holding and shameless pro-BP/drilling statements made after the company's Gulf well blowout.

On this issue, Johnson deserves every brickbat available, so I thought I'd post the Feingold news release in full.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 9, 2010

Feingold Campaign Statement on Ron Johnson's Big Oil Interests

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MILWAUKEE – The Feingold Campaign released the following statement following news reports this afternoon that detail U.S. Senate candidate Ron Johnson’s investments and financial interests in British Petroleum. Johnson, who has spent much of his time on the campaign trail defending Big Oil, owns up to $315,000 in BP stock.

"After the worst environmental disaster in American history, Ron Johnson has repeatedly defended BP, saying 'this is not the time to be beating up those guys,' and now after trying to keep it a secret, it has been revealed that he has a significant and direct personal financial interest in British Petroleum, proving without any doubt that he would put Big Oil profits, and his own financial interests, ahead of Wisconsin."

-John Kraus, Senior Strategist, Feingold Campaign

Multimillionaire Ron Johnson has Financial Interests in Big Oil and Stands Up for Big Oil

In the wake of the worst oil spill in U.S. history, the AP reported: “When asked whether the Gulf spill should prompt more caution before undertaking new oil-drilling projects, Johnson said no.” [“Johnson, Westlake Want Oil Drilling In Alaska,” Associated Press, 6/5/2010]

Johnson came to the defense of Big Oil, telling national right-wing talk radio host Ed Morrissey, “This is not the time to be beating up on those guys, quite honestly.” [The Ed Morrissey Show: Ron Johnson, 6/2/2010]

Johnson said that “[T]he first thing that came to my mind,” when he heard about the BP oil spill, was to double down on his support for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), because a spill there would be easier to deal with, saying: “Wouldn’t it be far better if we were drilling in ANWR?” [The Ed Morrissey Show: Ron Johnson, 6/2/2010]

When Johnson was asked "Would you support drilling like in the Great Lakes, for example, if there was oil found there?" Johnson said,“I think we have to get the oil where it is.” [WisPolitics, Interview, 6/14/10]

Johnson opposes the BP victims’ compensation fund. As reported by the Capital Times: "Asked whether they shared the view of Big Oil-funded members of Congress like Texas Republican Joe Barton, who suggested that holding BP to account for the cost of cleaning up the Gulf Coast is a "shakedown," Johnson and Westlake dove into the goo." [Capital Times, 6/22/2010]

"Johnson climbed in bed with BP. The wealthy candidate derided the Obama administration's efforts to get money to pay for claims that are all but certain to exceed $20 billion "very troubling." [Capital Times, 6/22/2010]

Contact: Trevor Miller
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