In an astonishing move, U.S. Representative Joseph Barton of Texas, a Republican, apologized to BP executives for an Obama shake-down, as Barton called it. He criticizes Obama for his actions at yesterday’s meeting with BP in getting billions of dollars in restitution to fix and restore the Gulf of Mexico in regard to the oil spill. Shocked Republicans are lining up to distance themselves from the comment and from Barton. . . To say that the Congressman’s apology to a foreign CEO of a foreign company for an American leader’s action was not received well in Washington, DC, is a gross understatement. Later in the day, Barton was summoned to Capitol Hill where he was met with livid Republican heads demanding that he correct his poor-chosen actions or possibly lose a powerful position as the chairman-in-waiting of the House Energy and Commerce Commission which would be a severe slap in the face to Barton.
Father Orthoduck thinks he can safely say that the story speaks for itself. But, let us quote his own Republicans as reported on Fox News:
“Congressman Barton’s statements this morning were wrong,” Boehner, Cantor and Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., said in a written statement. “BP itself has acknowledged that responsibility for the economic damages lies with them and has offered an initial pledge of $20 billion dollars for that purpose.”
Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., said he was “shocked” by Barton’s “reprehensible comments that the government should apologize for the ‘shakedown’ of BP.”
“I condemn Mr. Barton’s statement,” Miller said in a written statement. “Mr. Barton’s remarks are out of touch with this tragedy and I feel his comments call into question his judgment and ability to serve in a leadership position on the Energy and Commerce Committee. He should step down as ranking member of the committee.”
Of course, by now Congressman Barton has apologized. But, he did state what he believed. This lets Father Orthoduck make the obvious comment that, like Rand Paul in his apology over the civil rights bill, Mr. Barton was merely stating the logical conclusion of a political philosophy that sets private and corporate ownership over all other considerations. Thus, he ends up with this contradiction that the government is supposed to do something, but only provided that the something that the government does do does not in any way interfere with company operations or their private ownership of their lease, as he points out in the video of his original apology.
Fortunately, the Rand Paul’s and Barton’s of the political world are not common. And, fortunately, the Republican leadership quickly reacted to his statements. There are plenty of matters related to the oil spill for which President Obama can be justifiably criticized. But, convincing BP that not paying shareholders would be a good idea is certainly not one of them. In fact, as the Republican leadership agrees, this is an excellent idea. BP is responsible for cleanup costs and shareholders should not get a “profit” while the cleanup is ongoing.
If one goes the route that Barton fellow suggests, the only people who get rich are the lawyers. So a compensation fund seems a good idea, though a moment’s reflection makes me ralise that it will probably be awarded by corporate bureaucrates who will award themselves more in bonuses than anyone gets in compensation. See Notes from underground: Bloody Sunday and Oily Tuesday.