Reporter: Sen. Ron Johnson “Biggest Douche”

By: Brian Sikma

A political reporter, who frequently covered Senator Ron Johnson (R) from 2010 to 2012, yesterday called the senator the “Biggest Douche” in Washington. Clay Barbour, who left the Wisconsin State Journal last September around the time of layoffs at the newspaper, made the comment in a Facebook post left on the wall of Jack Craver, a former Democratic Party intern who currently covers politics for the CapTimes. Barbour now works as a reporter in Virginia.

Barbour’s frank opinion came out in response to a CapTimes article critical of Senator Johnson’s recent statements about spending and unfunded legislative priorities in Washington. “Said it before. Say it again. Biggest douche in a town (DC) full of douches,” Barbour opined. When Barbour first developed this opinion isn’t clear, but his reporting on Johnson at the State Journal was less than objective at times.

In a profile piece in 2010, Barbour made a number of subtle and not-so-subtle jabs at the then-candidate. Calling Johnson “the Minnesota native,” Barbour opinionated that the candidate’s performance at a Madison event was “unspectacular.” Johnson and his wife have lived in Wisconsin since 1979.

Johnson’s frequent conservative stands have made him a regular target of Wisconsin journalists who highlight with incredulity positions and statements of his that they seem to believe are ludicrous.

Barbour left the Wisconsin journalism scene last September for The Virginian Pilot, a newspaper in Hampton Roads, VA. His employer, the State Journal, simultaneously announced numerous staff layoffs, including newsroom employees.

Discussion | 8 Comments

Carie said

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Feb 14, 2013 at 12:47 PM

The Cap Times is a lefty paper and Barbour just another disgruntled liberal.
Robert Earle said

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Feb 14, 2013 at 2:58 PM

Calling someone born in Minnesota a “Minnesota native” is a “jab”?

I bet there’s a few million Minnesotans who would disagree.
Dan said

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Feb 15, 2013 at 1:28 PM

Just goes to show you how low the libs have sunken. Just when you think they’ve hit a new low, they prove us wrong. I bet his mother is really proud of him.
Barlowmaker said

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Feb 16, 2013 at 10:42 AM

If you’re too stupid to even get in the School of Education, and you don’t fit into any Ethnic Studies demographic, you go into Journalism.
- Cletus said
  
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  Feb 16, 2013 at 6:10 PM
  
  I thought libs were the overly educated “elitists” your crowd loves to ridicule for having ivy league educations?
Barlowmaker said

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Feb 16, 2013 at 10:48 AM

This guy obviously knows a douchebag when he sees one: https://twimg0-a.akamaihd.net/profile_images/2782914528/c29f9b2be4a700c03de80cb9c40f2227.jpeg
Cletus said

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Feb 16, 2013 at 6:08 PM

Yep, Ron Johnson is a douche. Married into $. Ayn Rand devotee that believes in the “every man for himself” ethos. The atheist Ayn Rand had a lot in common with Jesus lol. You’ll never see Ron Johnson open himself up to criticism or make public appearances. He hangs out in DC and schmoozes with the boys with the deep pockets. Completely out of touch with the ‘little people’. Exactly what we don’t need in DC. Someone who would sell out this entire country if it would enrich the CEO’s and 1%. No morals whatsoever. Empathy is the dirtiest of words to the Republicans.
- Robert the Earle said
  
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  Feb 19, 2013 at 1:02 PM
  
  So you must feel the same way about most all of the current administration heads; Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Frank … Sorry the list is endless on the Democratic side and I don’t have room or the time here.