Ron Johnson Explains Hiring Lobbyist As Chief Of Staff

Incoming Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) successfully ousted Russ Feingold this year, attacking Feingold's "controversial" ties to Washington lobbyists and touting his own ability to create more jobs. So when Johnson turned his alleged job creation skills to providing a plum staff position for a Washington lobbyist, Wisconsinites cried foul.

Now Johnson is explaining his choice to bring seasoned lobbyist Don Kent on board as chief of staff.

"I hired him for his organizational skills, for his ability to identify people of intelligence and integrity to staff my Senate office, and so far he is doing a phenomenal job," Johnson told the Wisconsin State Journal.

During campaign season, Johnson and other Tea Party-backed hopefuls cited the close ties between Capitol Hill and K Street as evidence that Congress was broken, but a recent Washington Post report found that many incoming GOP legislators have already shifted away from this position, drafting high-profile lobbyists as staffers.

Beyond Johnson, Sen.-elect Mike Lee of Utah, as well as Reps.-elect Charlie Bass of New Hampshire, Chip Cravaack of Minnesota, Robert Dold of Illinois, Steve Pearce of New Mexico, Jeff Denham of California, and Raul Labrador of Idaho have all drawn scrutiny for their lobbyist personnel picks, according to the Post.

The Washington Post also reports that a large number of congressional newcomers have wasted no time in taking part in the glad-handing Washington culture they demonized during their campaigns.

Dozens of freshmen lawmakers have held receptions at Capitol Hill bistros and corporate townhouses in recent weeks, taking money from K Street lobbyists and other powerbrokers within days of their victories. Newly elected House members have raised at least $2 million since the election, according to preliminary Federal Election Commission records filed last week, and many more contributions have yet to be tallied.

Comments

[Mebal Zahari]

01:02 PM on 01/28/2011

What's worse is that people actually voted for this knob.

[neil1017]

06:21 PM on 01/05/2011

No we no longer go by the name wisconsin but Wississippi

[Joe The Plumber5]

01:33 PM on 01/04/2011

How sad... words are cheap/actions take courage and determination.
All we can say it is business as usual in Washington...

[AmericanLeslie]

07:50 AM on 01/03/2011

While I know Democrats are by no means perfect, I've lost count of the many inconsistancies, lies and do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do acts Republicans have done during the past 3 years. I shutter to think about the things they've done that the media may never report.

[donnie-cheesehead]

01:10 AM on 01/03/2011

I voted, but not for this dishonest shell of a man ........

The fact that Ron Johnson was funded by Dick Army and
his "FreedomWorks" thugs was a well known fact available
before the election.

I have stated this feeling before and will repeat it again ....
Has the Wisconsin Electorate become as dumbed down
as you see in Ohio ?? You bet. We have become Ohio.

[southingtonian]

12:45 AM on 01/03/2011

"I hired him for his organizational skills, for his ability to identify people of intelligence and integrity to staff my Senate office, and so far he is doing a phenomenal job," yeah, of identifying people of intelligence and integrity, the better to avoid their presence in his staff.

[twoto2]

12:19 AM on 01/03/2011

I sadly have to agree with most of these comments, Wisconsin, you people have been had. God, the foolishness of voting with emotions.

[neil1017]

06:22 PM on 01/05/2011

I agree and I'm from Madison

[NYC07]

11:20 PM on 01/02/2011

Wisconsin, I weep for you.

[UnePetiteParisienne]

05:59 AM on 01/03/2011

I don't.
When you have a choice between Russ Feingold and this clown and you vote for the clown ....

[xpub63]

09:18 PM on 01/02/2011

It will never end! Greed is Greed.

[PatA]

10:44 PM on 01/02/2011

I watched the YouTube video of his speech. Heaven forbid that the man ever has anything to do with a decision that will affect the American people.

[thinkingwomanmillstone]

06:30 PM on 01/02/2011

For all the Gomers who voted for these corrupticians...Surprise, Surprise, Surprise...NOT.

[opinioned1]

02:25 PM on 01/02/2011

How`s it happen that you vote for a candidate who wins, and then turns over the power of that trusted vote to a lobbyist who will be calling all the shots and telling the spineless how to vote 24/7.

Once again we see ignorance as well as the influence of the Roberts court where money talks and B.S. walks.

[Littlewords]

12:17 PM on 01/02/2011

Ron Johnson Explains Hiring Lobbyist As Chief Of Staff

Explanation:
Well you see people, the guy's backers represent a really really big amount of money and when you combine that with my total hypocrisy and willingness to lie right to your face, well I suppose there you have it.
So get ready for six more years of me and such bad choices, gaffs, and squandered representation after dumping one of the US Senate's finest Senators for little old Tea Party me.

[Sisa]

11:44 AM on 01/02/2011

And now we have have Pee Wee Herman for governor.

[PatA]

12:21 PM on 01/02/2011

I would take my chances with Paul Rubin/Pee Wee Herman, over Repuglicans.

[Rangergirl]

11:42 AM on 01/02/2011

This guy is a con artist. You folks got duped into throwing out one of the best people in the Senate. Russ Fiengold was an honest man.. You will be regretting your choice in the years to come. These guys talk the talk but when it comes to walking the walk. They can't walk a straight line.... Wisconsin will reap what you have sown in your picks for Governor and legislators.

[Sisa]

11:41 AM on 01/02/2011

How can you say he has an ability to identify people of intelligence and integrity when he is running around with the like of you?

[PatA]

12:27 PM on 01/02/2011

Sisa, my mouth dropped open when I read that. Say, what?

I believe "identifying people of intelligence and integrity" means he will "identify" more like them.

"You voted me in, didn't you"? My, my, the people of Wisconsin are in for a helluva ride.