While Obama and Congressional Democrats lead the charge to end our addiction to fossil fuels and change the economic calculus made by polluters, consumers, and energy companies, here's what we're hearing from the GOP today.
Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), ranking member, House Energy and Commerce Committee:
It is a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown, in this case a $20 billion shakedown ... a $20 billion slush fund, that's unprecedented in our nation's history, that has no legal standing.
Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK), House Energy and Commerce Committee, thinks the Obama administration and Congressional Democrats are exploiting the Gulf crisis to push an energy bill.
Rep. Parker Griffith (R-AL), House Energy and Commerce Committee:
This is not gonna be the worst thing that's ever happened to America.
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), House Financial Services Committee, said:
But if I was the head of BP, I would let the signal get out there -- 'We're not going to be chumps, and we're not going to be fleeced.' And they shouldn't be. They shouldn't have to be fleeced and make chumps to have to pay for perpetual unemployment and all the rest -- they've got to be legitimate claims.
Rep. Steve King (R-IA), said the following about President Obama's motivations:
When you look at this administration, I'm offended by Eric Holder and the president also, their posture. It looks like Eric Holder said that white people in America are cowards when it comes to race. And I don't know what the basis of that is but I'm not a coward when it comes to that and I'm happy to talk about these things and I think we should.
But the president has demonstrated that he has a default mechanism in him that breaks down the side of race - on the side that favors the black person.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate minority leader, posted the following on his government-owned US Senate official website:
Republicans are happy to have an energy debate. Like most Americans, we support an all-of-the-above agenda that seeks to produce more American energy and use less. But while American livelihoods are in immediate danger, and we watch oil gush into our waters and wash up on our beaches, now is not the time to push ideology. It is time to fix the problem.
But, if the White House insists on using this event as an opportunity to push the same kind of government-driven agenda that got us the health care bill, then they’ll need to answer some questions. Since the outset of this crisis, they’ve clearly been more focused on identifying a scapegoat than in taking charge. But questions persist about the administration’s response.
McConnell also said:
The problem for Democrats is that debating the Democrat cap-and-trade bill might not fit neatly into the White House messaging plan, since it’s been widely reported that a major part of the Kerry-Lieberman bill was essentially written by BP.
McConnell's floor statement in the chamber of the US Senate was judged "false" by Politifact.com. In other words, McConnell lied on the US Senate floor.
While much of the energy and attention has been recently focused on Obama's lack of passion, his inadequate response to the crisis, and the shortcomings of a tiny minority of Democrats in the Senate, next-to-nothing has been written (or recommended, anyway) on the GOP's words, actions, and attitudes.
I think we need to stop the infighting and start working toward solutions.
There is a significant difference between Democrats and Republicans. There are basic choices presented to the American people in 2010. They can choose regulation or deregulation, pro-business policies or pro-labor policies, a "we're all in this together" attitude or an "every man for himself" attitude.
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