The more we know about Ron Johnson, the more we appreciate the depth and breadth of his unqualifications.
Now we learn from Jim VandeHei, editor of Politico and Oshkosh native, that Johnson's spin of being a well-known community leader isn't true:
A trim, silver-haired businessman, he was rich but unknown, even in this, his hometown, despite big donations to Lourdes High School and his thriving plastic company here.
VandeHei isn't the only prominent Oshkosh native to express this truth. I recently spoke to a prominent Oshkosh area businessman, who is now retired, but used to be CEO of a large area company. This person is a lifelong Republican and supporting Johnson, but said he was "absolutely shocked and disgusted by the rise out no where" of Johnson and adding, "Nobody has ever heard of the guy up here. Not even ME -- and I know everybody!"
This is amazing when you think about it. Johnson has no real qualifications other than being rich: His billionaire father-in-law, plastics titan Howard Curler, carved out a job for Johnson in the plastic industry-- just like he did for his sons and his other son-in-law.
It's also amazing that basic qualifications for getting elected to the world's greatest deliberative body isn't an issue worthy of coverage.