Rep. Barton apologizes to BP for Obama's "shakedown"

[tazber]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 12:14pm

I mean, WTF?

Wrapping up, Barton said: "I apologize. I do not want to live in a country where any time a citizen or a corporation does something that is legitimately wrong, is subject to some sort of political pressure that is, again, in my words — amounts to a shakedown, so I apologize."

Can he be that ignorant about what's happened here? This blows my mind.


!!!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 12:27pm

"They shouldn't have to be fleeced and made chumps" - Michele Bachmann

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 12:41pm

Dear Lord.

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 12:46pm

The contradication between how the right wants to treat PB vs how they treated ACORN is astounding, even by Washington standards.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 12:48pm

ACORN was trying to help "the small people," silly. They HAD to be stopped.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 12:49pm

"Barton has received more than $1.5 million in campaign donations from the oil industry, according to Open Secrets, a nonpartisan watchdog group."

Talk about shakedowns.

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 1:03pm

A 2004 quote from Joe Barton:

"Offshore drilling and production platforms are so technologically advanced that one platform on the surface of the water can handle production from several different wells several miles apart, house a myriad of technologically advanced computer systems, employ scores of personnel, generate electricity, enable people to face and conquer the adversities of living in the middle of the ocean, and do so 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; all without so much as losing a gum wrapper over the side of the platform. It is truly amazing."

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 2:08pm

Since when is 'Liability' a shakedown?

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 2:36pm

^ Perfectly phrased.

[romantico]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 2:38pm

Pat Buchanan: Barton's Apology To BP Was 'Very Courageous'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB6DrJYapQI&feature=

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 2:47pm

^ In case there was any doubt in your mind that it was an idiotic thing to say.

[Piper3500]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 2:55pm

oh my good god! so, let me get this right. people are criticizing Obama for not being emotional enough, or not showing empathy and he isn't doing enough? so then when he does, the right have the audacity to apologize for him? so how would they have handled it? the way they did Katrina? (which was awful and still has a lot that needs to be fixed due to it) I mean I can say they are comparable if Elisabeth Hasselbeck can. I jest. They are not comparable at all. I hope this is discussed on late night news programs tonight. this is effin pathetic!!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 3:38pm

It seems like only yesterday when they were lecturing us about not criticzing the president while we're at war.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 3:42pm

I think that only applies to presidents who are republican. Or white.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 3:56pm

What Barton said is idiotic, but so is pretty much everything else. Out inept congress sanctimoniously grills BP (completely guilty), while our own government's complicity in this is ignored. BP didn't drill where they did (US Federal property), on their own. They are and were, subject to the approvals (insistence by the EPA to drill where they did, rather than where they wanted, closer to shore) and oversights and audits of the US Government. Let's just keep appointing czars and not expect anyone to do anything. Let's keep blaming someone else. The news isn't what Barton said. What's it matter what he says? The inability of our government to do anything is the news. Two months in, and we've done nothing, except blame BP and refuse help from various countries.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 4:01pm

Republicans from the gulf states are demanding that he resign--not as congressman--we wish!--but from his position on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

So far he has refused to step down.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 4:03pm

He should absolutely step down. If not, he should be removed from that Committee.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 4:05pm

refuse help from various countries.

Source?

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 4:05pm

Aren't there around 13 foregin ships in the Gulf assisting and providing use of equiptment and such?

And isn't Obama securing $20 billion from BP (instead of the legal cap of $75 million) doing a little something?

As for the gushing, it won't stop until a relief well is drilled. And even that is being hopeful. There is actually nothing else that can be done in that regard.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 4:23pm

No, there aren't around 13 foreign ships in the Gulf. That's illegal.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 4:24pm

The only place I heard of us refusing foreign help was Sarah Palin on Bill O'Reilly. Again, what's your source?

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 4:27pm

Possibly Fox"News."

"refusal" of foreign aid Updated On: 6/17/10 at 04:27 PM

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 4:59pm

Well...I read this on Mudflaps today:

"And by the way, there are 15 foreign-flagged vessels in the Gulf right now, and we’ve accepted equipment and assistance from many foreign countries INCLUDING … wait for it…. Norway and The Netherlands."

Who knows. Maybe his last name is Palin, and he made the whole thing up!

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 5:07pm

And this from CNN:

"Meanwhile Tuesday, federal authorities announced guidelines to speed up maritime waivers that would allow more foreign ships -- in addition to the 15 already in the Gulf of Mexico -- to assist in oil cleanup efforts."

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/17/10 at 5:08pm

From Politico:

===

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) is apologizing for his apology.

After infuriating Democrats and Republicans alike with his public apology to BP and suggesting that a $20 billion escrow fund was a “shakedown” by the White House, Barton is now “retracting” his statement, made at a hearing with BP CEO Tony Hayward.

I apologize for using the term ‘shakedown’ with regard to yesterday’s actions at the White House in my opening statement this morning, and I retract my apology to BP,” Barton said. “As I told my colleagues yesterday and said again this morning, BP should bear the full financial responsibility for the accident on their lease in the Gulf of Mexico. BP should fully compensate those families and businesses that have been hurt by this accident."

Joe Barton retracts apology to BP