Tommy Thompson has been going around Wisconsin, stating that his Democratic opponent Tammy Baldwin has been quote "soft on Iran". Thompson had made the statement in a meeting with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, just before the second debate between the two tonight in Wausau, Wisconsin. The Huffington Post reported that Thompson had held stocks, roughly 50 grand worth of stocks of companies that does business with Tehran.
According to Thompson's personal financial disclosure, he owns up $50,000 worth of stock in such firms.
Some of the smaller investments include up to $1,000 in the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, Gazprom and the China National Petroleum Corporation, which were all cited in a recent Government Accountability Office study as having done business with Iran.
Thompson owns up to $17,000 worth of stock in Royal Dutch Shell, which the GAO also named, and between $1,000 and $15,000 worth of stock in oil services firm Schlumberger, which has been probed by the Justice Department over its Iran work.
Perhaps most significantly, Thompson owns between $1,000 and $15,000 worth of stock in the mining operation Rio Tinto, which is partners with Iran in mining uranium. Iran owns 15 percent of a uranium mining operation in Namibia with Rio Tinto.
So convientley right before the debate Thompson sold those stocks thinking that the issue would go away, and wouldn't be call out on it. But much to his chagrin, Baldwin blew up his spot calling him out on it. Thompson stated that he was not aware of the stocks he hold did business with Iran, and when he found out today, he sold them right away. Sparking chuckles from the debate audience.
"I didn't know about the fact that my stockbroker had purchased two shares, two company's stocks. I sold it. I sold it today," said Thompson, when Baldwin brought up the issue. The audience reacted audibly in surprise. "I do not -- I found out today, and I sold it today. I do not tolerate -- I do not agree with anybody doing business with Iran -- none whatsoever."
While he was stating that quote, Thompson was so rude and condescending to Baldwin when he tried to respond, and flip the script on Baldwin by claiming she took contributions from companies that support non-sanctions on Iran. And a so called "Council for a Living Earth".
Thompson interjected the following towards Baldwin:
"Let me finish! You had two minutes. Let me finish! You want to interrupt me, Joe Biden, just give me a chance," said Thompson, referring to the vice presidential debate last week where the Biden frequently jumped in while Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) was talking. In response to Thompson's jab, audience members -- who had been mostly silent -- booed.
This has been a reoccurring theme for Thompson, as he tries to portray Baldwin as being anti-Israeli when the women has partial Jewish heritage herself, to not supporting Iranian sanction. Despite running a pathetic campaign, the race is still competitive. Since taking the lead in mid-September, Baldwin has been holding her own. With Thompson constantly stepping in it, and having bad headlines after headlines, Baldwin chances to be the next Senator from that state gets better and better.