I'm going to keep this short.
It's fun to grasp onto idiots like Joe Barton, Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin. Barton's "apology" to BP chief Hayward made great video, but we're giving the Republican leadership a pass.
http://rsc.tomprice.house.gov/...
This document reveals an ugliness that has mostly escaped coverage by the media, because it's too busy following buffoons like Barton and Bachmann to see what new nonsense comes out.
6.16.2010
Chicago-Style Political Shakedown
Washington, Jun 16 - Republican Study Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-GA) issued the following statement after the White House announced it had reached a deal with BP to require the oil company to place $20 billion into an escrow fund to pay claims filed against the company in the wake of the Gulf oil spill.
"We all agree that BP should be held fully responsible for its complicity in the oil tragedy in the Gulf," said Chairman Price. "In fact, BP has already begun paying claims. Any attempt by the company to sidestep that responsibility should be met with the strongest legal recourses available. However, in an administration that appears not to respect fundamental American principles, it is important to note that there is no legal authority for the President to compel a private company to set up or contribute to an escrow account.
"BP’s reported willingness to go along with the White House’s new fund suggests that the Obama Administration is hard at work exerting its brand of Chicago-style shakedown politics. These actions are emblematic of a politicization of our economy that has been borne out of this Administration’s drive for greater power and control. It is the same mentality that believes an economic crisis or an environmental disaster is the best opportunity to pursue a failed liberal agenda. The American people know much better."
This type of rhetoric needs to be called out, and stomped on.
It's laden with conspiracy theory craziness.
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The government's job is to regulate and protect the public interest. Price's perverse distortions, trying to characterize these responsibilities into a 'quest for greater power and control' could be used to create a whole universe of powerful political ads.
Turn this meme on its head.
People are not going to side with corporations.
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"same mentality that believes an economic crisis or an environmental disaster is the best opportunity to pursue a failed liberal agenda" - an insult to the collective memory of this country that sacrificed 4000 American lives in Iraq for a lie.
These people need to be held accountable for their lies and distortions.
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Letting circus clowns like Barton, Bachmann and Palin lead in coverage and focus is a mistake. That little short note Price penned should be milked for every bit of political nuance it's worth, because he represents as leader the ' Republican Study Committee", which has a large membership, consisting of the very worst, most lunatic of the fringe elements.
Go after the leadership of this group.
Forget about the circus act. Price should be held to account for what he said above. Every bit of it.
Most importantly, John Boehner should be asked point blank if characterizing the President's action as "Chicago-style shakedown politics". is something he agrees with, or not. Either he, as leader of the Republican House agrees with that characterization, or he doesn't. Get Boehner on record, one way or the other.
Going hammer and tongs on leadership when they make outrageous comments like this is more effective than embarrassing a clown like Barton. This is more effective at helping to drive the wedge between what remains of the reasonable Republicans, and the lunatics.
I have to go, I won't be able to respond - a final note.
In my opinion, we are missing a huge opportunity here to fracture the GOP.
Even Bill O'Reilly has gone on record on his show rejecting the terminology 'shakedown'. Price is the leader of a group that has 114 members in it.
What do we need to launch a full scale political counter attack?
An invitation on a silver platter?