How Joe Barton Managed To Have A Worse Day Than Tony Hayward
It's okay for a corporation to shake down the citizens of his country--but not okay for that country to require accountability for destruction of it's environment, endangering industries, wildlife and lifestyle of entire communities.
watta treasonous b@st@rd. SO typical of republicans
Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, went out on a limb today to do something maybe no other American would think to do: He apologized to BP for having to put $20 billion into a fund for Gulf spill damages. Only Barton called it a "slush fund" and a "shakedown."Barton's apology to BP led at first to a delicate dance, as some Republicans tried to move away from the so obviously toxic statements without outright condemning Barton, and later a full court press as Republican leaders publicly called Barton's comments "wrong."
The leaders reportedly gave him an ultimatum: "Apologize, immediately. Or you will lose your position, immediately."
Eventually, Barton, who would become the energy committee's chairman should the Republicans take the House this fall, said he was sorry. He first apologized if anyone had "misconstrued" his statement, and shortly after apologized for using the word "shakedown" and retracted his original apology (to BP, that is).
Nonetheless, House GOP leaders came down on Barton hard.
"The oil spill in the Gulf is this nation's largest natural disaster and stopping the leak and cleaning up the region is our top priority. Congressman Barton's statements this morning were wrong," House GOP leaders John Boehner, Eric Cantor and Mike Pence said in a statement.
It's worth nothing that the leaders have not condemned a statement put out yesterday by the Republican Study Committee, a conservative bloc of more than 100 House members led by Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), that called the escrow account a "Chicago-style political shakedown." Nor has the RSC apologized. However, by Thursday evening the release appeared to have been removed from the RSC's site, replaced with the message "We are sorry, but this document is not published."
Boehner told reporters earlier today that he disagrees with Barton's characterization of the government's response. He also said he's "glad" BP is "being held accountable."
NRSC chairman Sen. John Cornyn said he "shares" Barton's concern that "this has really become a political issue for the President and he's trying to deal with it by showing how tough he's being against BP." LinkHere
Angry GOP, Democratic Reps Call For Joe Barton To Resign From Committee .. Earlier: Barton Says White House Subjected BP To A 'Shakedown' .. Robert Gibbs: 'Both Parties Should Repudiate His Comments'
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posted by Kangaroo Brisbane Australia at 7:13 PM
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