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GOPer Ron Johnson: I'll Eventually Sell My BP Stock -- When The Market's Better
US Senate candidate Ron Johnson (R-WI)
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Ron Johnson, a businessman seeking the Republican nomination in Wisconsin against Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold, might not fully grasp the concept of dumping one's stock holdings for political reasons.
Johnson, who has come under scrutiny after his financial disclosures showed that he owns stock in BP valued at between $116,003 and $315,000, has been sending mixed signals over whether he will sell the stock. Now he's indicating that he probably will sell -- as soon as it makes sense from a financial perspective.
"I think that'll eventually happen, but I'm going to do it based on market conditions," Johnson said at a forum on Monday, hosted by WisPolitics. "I'm going to have to finance this campaign. At some point in time to get my message out, that'll probably happen."
The TPM Poll Average gives Feingold a narrow edge of 42.0%-40.4%.
Late Update: Note that Johnson not only seems to be saying he will wait for the market to get better so that he can sell at a better price -- but he will then use his BP capital gains to finance his Senate campaign. This guy really doesn't get the whole stock-dumping idea.
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Matt Jones
July 28, 2010 2:21 PM
In other words, once he gets elected and passes some regulations to boost the stock price. Nice.
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ManOutOfTime
July 28, 2010 2:34 PM
We will be welcoming Senator Feingold back to the Senate. I have always thought that was a given, but this is the proverbial gasoline poured on the fire. More like this, please, o ye serious and wise GOP candidates! Please, just keep speaking your truth!
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Walter Mitty
July 28, 2010 2:34 PM
Initially, he was hit on for defending them so fervently while secretly holding a lot of stock and he defended against this charge by saying it's too small an amount to even worry about and he wouldn't possibly sell his influence for that piddly amount and now he's saying he needs to make his money back first.
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July 28, 2010 2:43 PM
Ethically challenged to say the least.
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georgecs
July 28, 2010 2:43 PM
And earlier in the day at a rally in Sheboygan, Johnson proudly declared, "I love French Cheese!"
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kctex
July 28, 2010 2:46 PM in reply to georgecs
Sheboygan is a real town?
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zonk
July 28, 2010 2:50 PM in reply to kctex
Dude...
Sheboygan is the brat capital of the world -- I'm a FIB and even I'll acknowledge that!
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GeneralRipper
July 28, 2010 3:08 PM in reply to kctex
"I love Wisconsin. I practically grew up in Menominee."
- Dan Quayle wannabe
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glblank
July 28, 2010 3:46 PM in reply to GeneralRipper
A Yooper, yah dere once.
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glblank
July 28, 2010 3:37 PM in reply to kctex
On the map it is, in reality it is a suburb of Oostberg.
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July 29, 2010 10:34 PM in reply to glblank
Yeah, the CITY of Sheboygan's population is approx 60,000+, while the VILLAGE of OOSTBURG, has a population of approx 3000 and growing.
My God, you are stupid!!!!
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David Houghton
August 2, 2010 12:26 PM in reply to Nick
Keep the posts coming! In these dark times it's comforting to be confirmed in one's belief in the stupidity and moral decrepitude of right wingers. It doesn't help politically, but at least it's good for laughs. Are you a parody troll?
If you aren't, the comment you were jumping on was a joke.
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ano33
July 28, 2010 2:51 PM
I can't wait to google Senator Feingold's disclosures to make sure he doesn't own any stock in any corporation that could possibly be affected by his legislating. You guys are talking about this as if all of the other politicians don't also have these kinds of conflicts...
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The Caped Composer
July 28, 2010 2:59 PM in reply to ano33
Whoever you are, you are obviously quite unfamiliar with Senator Feingold. It is true that most politicians have all sorts of corporate-related conflicts of interest, but Russ Feingold has built his entire career on being the ONE politician who ISN'T in the pocket of the corporations. I suggest that you google the history of his campaigns, and his voting record. He is one of the few truly ethical politicians in America today.
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zonk
July 28, 2010 3:22 PM in reply to ano33
Have at it.
As the other respondent noted, we already know what you'll find -- but I'd much prefer you folks waste your time on TEH GOOGLE -- gives you less time to cause other mischief like trying ignite race wars or spread manure about death panels.
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glblank
July 28, 2010 3:39 PM in reply to ano33
You find Feingold's and we will allow it otherwise piss off.
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JosephP
July 28, 2010 4:03 PM in reply to ano33
Feingold is Mr. Clean---that's why he's my favorite Senator. He has nothing to fear from your impending Google investigation into his disclosures.
And despite your claim, you obviously {em}can{/em} wait to Google Feingold's disclosures, since it seems you left your comment before doing so.
But please get back to us anyway if and when you do find something...
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DonnyYoung
July 28, 2010 3:17 PM
Q: Brad, what would you say if I asked you to put these in the trunk of the Cruising Vessel?
A: I'd say who the hell is Ron Johnson?
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glblank
July 28, 2010 3:45 PM in reply to DonnyYoung
Some jackass trying to spend his way into Congress but will end up as an asterisk in Wisconsin politics. I'm itching for Saturday's Feingold canvass. Johnson is fishing for a catchy tagline but ends up eating shoe leather when he tries. Sharon Angle in a pantsuit.
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pmukh
July 28, 2010 5:01 PM
Johnson's in a pickle here. If he sells the stock, we can accuse him, rather credibly, of campaigning with funds from BP stock. Or if he holds on to it, he still has that albatross around his neck.
Smart thing to do on his part would have been to dump it in the early days of the disaster...doubly so, because that would have been before the stock price took a dive. His corporate loyalty will cost him dearly, one way or another.
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libdevil
July 28, 2010 6:45 PM in reply to pmukh
His only real out now would be to donate it to charity. A real charity I mean, not some right-wing blowhard group that would turn it back into 'issue' ads on his behalf.
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haaz
July 28, 2010 5:33 PM
As I wrote yesterday on this very topic, "Like any sensible businessman, Mr. Johnson is waiting for the benevolent invisible hand of the market to tilt the price of BP stock up to where it’s worth selling. It’s Business 101 not to sell yourself short. Gauging where BP stock is now at, this is as good a time as any to do it and make money doing so. And that’s what Mr. Johnson is all about."
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July 29, 2010 10:27 PM
You libtards are hilarious!! First of all, BP provides jobs to employees who provide for their families. Second, how many of you dummies have someone in your family, perhaps Mom or Dad, Grandparent, Relative, etc. who owns stock in BP???? have you checked???? I'm sure if you inherit BP stock, you'll just throw it away, and not collect on it's value. LOL! Third, what the hell is wrong with owning stock in BP, since most of you are hypocrites and drive those nasty, gas-driven vehicles?
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