Representative Joe Barton (r) had a thing or two to say about British Petroleum’s $20 billion:
…Barton apologized to Hayward earlier in the hearing for the $20 billion escrow fund BP was pressured to create. The congressman’s remarks have been lighting up the blogosphere ever since….
You think?
The White House responded:
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
______________________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2010
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.”
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Oooh, that’s gonna leave an oil slick.
Update:
Apparently the House republican leadership smacked down Joe Barton (r) and sort of made him backtrack. Sort of.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs via Twitter:
MICONSTRUCTED?! about 1 hour ago via web
Who would the GOP put in charge of overseeing the energy industry & Big Oil if they won control of Congress? Yup, u guessed it – JOE BARTON about 1 hour ago via web
What? They think Roy Blunt (r – lobbyists) will be enjoying retirement?
Update II Vice President Joe Biden:
What Blue Girl said:
…If the DNC had competent leadership instead of the one man the Democrats have that makes Micheal Steele look like a friggin’ genius in comparison, the ads would already by running tying Barton and BP to every republican candidate and incumbent in the entire country…