Russ Feingold has an opponent who is open to drilling in Great Lakes, and owns BP And Exxon Stock

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/12/ron-johnson-gop-senate-ca_n_643138.html

Ron Johnson, GOP Senate Candidate, Open To Drilling In Great Lakes, Owns BP And Exxon Stock

First Posted: 07-12-10 02:03 PM | Updated: 07-12-10 02:08 PM

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ron Johnson found himself under the political microscope late last week after it was revealed that he owns up to $315,000 in BP stock while he has defended the oil giant against its critics and called for continued offshore drilling.

The Wisconsin businessman -- who is vying, in a closer-than-expected contest, for Sen. Russ Feingold's (D-Wisc.) seat -- has spent the last few weeks trying to temper criticism of BP in the wake of the Gulf spill. Johnson, whom national Democrats like to refer to as the "forgotten Tea Party candidate," has expressed disappointment with the administration's "assault" on BP. At the same time, he's been a vocal advocate for continued and even accelerated oil and gas exploration, going so far as to express an openness to drilling in the Great Lakes.

"The bottom line is we are an oil-based economy," he told the site WisPolitics in mid-June, when asked about drilling in the Great Lakes. "There's nothing we're gonna do to get off of that for many, many years. I think we have to be realistic and recognize that fact and, you know, I, I think we have to, get the oil where it is, but we have to do it where it is."

Those comments and many others make Johnson among the most pro-drilling pols in a Republican Party filled with drilling proponents. But in offering his support for the practice, Johnson didn't reveal that he has serious financial stakes in the continued sucess of BP and the greater oil and gas industry.

[Lucian]

1. Um, don't thousands of people rely on water from the Great Lakes?

For drinking?

Why the hell would anyone want to drill in freshwater lakes?

[Blue Owl]

2. One would think this would swing more votes to Russ

Russ's campaign needs to shackle the BP ball & chain to Johnson, big time.

[Blue Owl]

3. Johnson = paid oil shill

Doesn't care about anything other than big corporate profits at the expense of the middle class.

[hedgehog]

4. I'm not certain, but I think any attempt to drill for oil in the Great Lakes

would have to meet the approval of both the US and Canadian Federal governments as well s of the adjoining state and provincial governments.

[eilen]

5. I think the Great Lake Compact prohibits it.

I'm not sure-- I'll have to look it up but it was designed to protect our Great Lakes.

[hedgehog]

6. Now - if only we could close the salt mines beneath Lake Erie!

http://www.wcpn.org/WCPN/news/7073