This is good. We need to attack and attack Republicans on this.
Statement by the Press Secretary on Congressman Joe Barton's Apology to BP
"What is shameful is that Joe Barton seems to have more concern for big corporations that caused this disaster than the fishermen, small business owners and communities whose lives have been devastated by the destruction. Congressman Barton may think that a fund to compensate these Americans is a 'tragedy', but most Americans know that the real tragedy is what the men and women of the Gulf Coast are going through right now. Members from both parties should repudiate his comments."
TPM
Jed has an excellent recap on the front page of what Barton said:
Hayward hearing: Republican apologizes to BP CEO
According to Barton, asking BP to set up an escrow account to compensate victims of BP's disaster was a criminal action -- a "shakedown" as he put it. Barton's not alone: his comments echo those made by other Republicans in recent days, including Michele Bachmann, Haley Barbour, and Tom Price.
From DKos TV, the apology:
I think 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, with the Attorney General of the United States, who is legitimately conducting a criminal investigation and has every right to do so to protect the interests of the American people, participating in what amounts to a $20 billion slush fund that's unprecedented in our nation's history, that's got not legal standing, and which sets I think a terrible precedent for the future.
I expect/hope for more piling on by Democrats and will update as I find it.
Update I: Markey took on Barton. Here is a snippet. I hope to find more:
A Democratic member, Rep. Edward Markey, took issue with Barton's comments, saying the fund is "the American government working at its best."
cnn.com
More Markey:
Rep. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, quickly slapped back at Barton, saying the compensation fund was "not a slush fund, not a shakedown."
"It was the government of the United States working to protect the most vulnerable citizens that we have in our country right now, the residents of the Gulf," he said.
NY Daily News
More Markey rebuttal from kitty in the comments:
"American citizens are being harmed," Markey added. "We cannot wait, as unfortunately so many victims of the Exxon Valdez had to wait years to see those families compensated. We can't lose sight of fact that the 1984 Bhophal disaster and lawsuits related to it, were only settled last week. We have to make sure American citizens are protected."
"The families of the Gulf will be crushed financially unless this compensation fund is put in place," said Markey, arguing that the history of Gulf families will be "permanently altered" without action.
[update] From icebergslim in the comments:
Rep. Ed Markey Stands Up To BP, Lambasts Rep. Barton
Update II: another Dem Response from kitty:
"At a time when everyone agrees that BP should be held accountable for every dime of the economic and environmental catastrophe they cased, it’s disgraceful that Congressman Barton would defend BP," said Ryan Rudominer, spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Update III: From amk for Obama in the comments:
Tom. Apparently barton introduced the Energy (3+ / 0-)
Recommended by:gustynpip, yella dawg, TomP
Policy Act of 2005, part of which required MMS to act on drilling appeals within 30 days. Which everyone knew was impossible and meant, in practice, that drilling permits were automatic. Maybe someone should ask him why he did that.
h/t blogger wbgoone at sargent's blog
BP - Proving Oil and Water do mix.
I want a no-drama Obama, not an emobama.
Check in your vuvuzela before you login.
by amk for obama on Thu Jun 17, 2010 at 09:40:39 AM PDT
Barton helped cause the regulaatory breakdown.
Update IV: From the front page, Nancy Pelosi on twitter:
Americans are suffering in the Gulf while Republicans apologize to Big Oil. We need clean energy now. #BPhearing
Put Barton's apology on facebook, share with your friends, twitter it, spread this around to all you know.
Update V: From The Plum Line
DNC spokesman Hari Sevugan:
"While the President has gotten BP to rightfully apologize to the American people for their reckless behavior, their inexcusable response and their insulting approach, Republicans are apologizing to BP. Republicans could not have this more backward, and it raises serious questions as to why they are on the side of BP and the oil companies instead of that of the American people. The only people Republicans and Joe Barton should be apologizing to are the people of the Gulf who they've turned their backs on to defend BP."
Update VI: Joe Biden hits it out of the park!
"I find it incredibly insensitive, incredibly out of touch. The reason why I got involved in politics ... is the one primary role for government is to protect people who are being taken advantage of."
"There's an entire way of life in jeopardy. This is just not about jobs ... this is an entire way of life that's in jeopardy."
"I just think that it's pretty important ... that people disassociate themselves from that."
"It's insisting on responsible conduct ... responsible response to something they caused."
"There's no shakedown ... I find it outrageous to suggest..."
On Gulf Coast business owners/workers: "These guys don't have deep pockets."
"He can't afford to lose."
"I find it pretty astounding, the comment."
Time Mag, The Page: Biden on Barton June 17, 2010
Update VII: Barack Obama's reaction (from kitty in the comments)
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said today that President Obama, upon hearing Rep. Barton's apology to BP, "shook his head" and said, "I can't understand why anybody would say that."
Update VIII: From icebergslim (link to msncb.com in comment).
Federal Election Commission records show that during the current 2009-10 campaign cycle, the oil and gas industry has been the second-biggest contributor to Barton, at $100,470, behind only the electric utility industry ($162,800).
FEC records show that BP has given Barton an average of $1,350 a year since 1990.
Public Campaign, which calls itself a nonpartisan advocate for reducing campaign costs, said its analysis shows that he has received $27,000 in contributions from BP since taking office in 1985.
Update, who can count this high?: Had to include this from The Plum Line
Gibbs kicking ass:
"It's hard to tell what planet these people live on," Gibbs said, when asked about the litany of attacks on the White House's treatement of BP coming from multiple Republicans.
"It's hard to understand their viewpoint but it may explain their votes on financial regulation," he continued. "It explains how they view whether or not the banks ought to be able to write their own rules and play the game the way they played it several years ago that caused our economy to crash."
Gibbs ripped BP for doing untold damage to our economy, environment, and "way of life," and added that if you listen to Barton, Michele Bachmann and other Republicans, "you'd think somehow BP was a hankerchief, a crying shoulder."
Gibbs also asked whether the GOP really thought it advisable to keep someone who said "I'm sorry to BP" as the ranking Republican on the Energy and Commerce Committee just when it was investigating the disaster.