by Mike Memoli
The agreement reached between the White House and energy giant BP emerged as an early partisan flashpoint at a Congressional hearing this morning, as a Republican Congressman apologized to the company's CEO for what he called a "shakedown."
"I'm ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday," Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) told BP's Tony Hayward at today's hearing of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee for Investigations and Oversight. "I do not want to live in a country where any time a citizen or a corporation does something that is legitimately wrong is subject to some sort of political pressure that is -- again, in my words, amounts to a shakedown."
Barton called the agreement to create an independent escrow account, funded by BP to the tune of at least $20 billion, "a tragedy of the first proportion," saying it had "no legal standing" and sets "a terrible precedent for the future." He also raised concerns over the participation of Attorney General Eric Holder, who is conducting a criminal investigation of BP over the incident at its Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico, at yesterday's negotiations with company executives.
"There is no question that ... BP made decisions that objective people think compromise safety. There is no question that BP is liable for the damages. But we have a due process system, where we go through hearings, in some cases court cases, litigation, and determine what those damages are and when those damages should be paid," Barton said.
The Texas Republican said he was speaking only for himself, not his Party or any other member of Congress. Indeed, House Minority Leader John Boehner seemed to distance himself from the statement in an interview on Fox News Channel, saying: "I don't know what context Mr. Barton was making that remark, but, I'm glad BP has accepted responsibility for their actions."
His comments also invited a prompt retort from fellow subcommittee member Ed Markey (D-Mass.). Rather than a "shakedown," he called the agreement "the American government working at its best."
Comments
Of course it is a shakedown. Just as they circumvented the bankruptcy courts to funnel money to the auto worker unions, this sham administration is using the threat of criminal prosecution to steal money from shareholders and bondholders. Rather than following the rule of law and ruling on claims in court, these facists will now decide who the winners and losers are.
No redress, no appeals, simply one branch of government ruling with an iron fist and no accountability. I hope the next Repub president takes these new powers and dismantles all unions and returns all union dues back to the shareholders from whom they were stolen.
Facism has a new face and this time there is no mustache. First they came for the shareholders.....
Posted by: Hans | June 17, 2010 11:37 AM
Shakedown or Deal made between President Obama and BP I am starting to wonder if BP will have the financial reserves to survive the 20 Billion Dollar escrow? This disaster is of major proportions and 20 Billion Dollars my not be enough to cover all the damage done by this major oil spill. That is why I and others are having serious fears that BP may not survive this major disaster financially in the Gulf and go under. And if that should happen there will have major negative effects on the world financial markets that could hinder or even stop any type of economic recovery that is currently going on. It seems as every day goes by this situation gets worse and worse.
Posted by: depot jim | June 17, 2010 11:37 AM
I'm certain that he is an expert at shakedowns. Shall we take his word for it? I don't think so, given his track record with the Oil Corps !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | June 17, 2010 11:39 AM
It probably wasn't a good idea to have Holder in the room.
But Barton is clearly an apologist for oil patch.
BP must be prevented from doing what Exxon did 20 years ago:
Mouthing the right platitudes when the spotlight was on, then slinking off and litigating damages for 20 years.
I understand why Barton, a politician from oilpatch, would not like that.
Posted by: ornery | June 17, 2010 11:40 AM
I'm certain that he is an expert at shakedowns. Shall we take his word for it? I don't think so, given his track record with the Oil Corps !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | June 17, 2010 11:45 AM
Are Republicans really this stupid?
Rhetorical question I know but they are already in the position of oppossing health care for Americans and now they are going into an election cycle actively defending BP during this huge oil spill and simply handing us the moral high ground.
This is a thing of beauty.
Let the Republicans own big oil, BP and this environmental disaster. They want to own it? Let them.
Posted by: Andrew White | June 17, 2010 12:20 PM
"First they came for the shareholders....."
Haha, right. Join Rep. Joe Barton in saving the planet - neuter yourselves.
Posted by: Leia | June 17, 2010 12:35 PM
Rep Barton, Tx (R) sez it's a shakedown.
Rep Markey, Ma (MD) sez it's Amerika at its best.
Steadman Himmler, AG, is in on the action, Waxman - in, Markey - in, Porky Franks and Brotha Jesse will probably muscle in. This thing can't possibly play out any better, but why did Mustapha settle for so little? Marxists doing what Marxists do. What a country.
Posted by: Django - N Rotational Exile | June 17, 2010 1:08 PM
no legal standing....that's why they chose this DISTANT HANDS OFF nonsensical remedy...duh. don't worry we'll bail them out IF we ever decide to collect in the FUTURE after length court battles fought IN the TIMELESS media...
the public would have been more happy to see the heads involved in a serious showdown shaking-down and frisking some of those birds blinking from behind a cast of oil than sitting behind a desk or strolling pristine sand as not to TAINT our UNSOILED ties.
Posted by: bangbang | June 17, 2010 1:23 PM
Remember that Joe Barton got $100k in campaign contributions from oil and gas interests since the start of 2009. If he *doesn't* pander to the oil companies, he's not getting that kind of money anymore.
Either way he's f'ed
Posted by: kb | June 17, 2010 1:39 PM
Rep Barton, Tx (R) sez it's a shakedown.
Rep Markey, Ma (MD) sez it's Amerika at its best.
Steadman Himmler, AG, is in on the action, Waxman - in, Markey - in, Porky Franks and Brotha Jesse will probably muscle in. This thing can't possibly play out any better, but why did Mustapha settle for so little? Marxists doing what Marxists do. What a country.
Posted by: Django - N Rotational Exile | June 17, 2010 1:08 PM
I love it---
Mustapha settled for so little thanks to that bucket of cash thrown in the window by BP during the campaign...any more and he would not have BPs support in his cap and trade shakedown.
This is theater--
Congress critters trying to find a way to ask intelligent questions about the spill and cleanup( when they haven't a clue about either.)and also appear to be "keepng the boot" on a private company.
While at the same time, thanking the gods that they get a break from explaining how badly they misled us all on health care-( now that the rules are being written) and how it could be possible that we are still at 10% unemployed despite throwing boatloads of cash(drawn from my grandkids credit cards) at the proverbial wall...
Of course its a shakedown- but we are the ones that Mustapha is holding out the window by the ankles...
Posted by: heartburn | June 17, 2010 1:52 PM
Um Don posting the same insane drivel over and over only makes you look crazier and dumber than you really are.
Posted by: Libtard | June 17, 2010 2:12 PM
I knew eventually that the Repugs would step in it with this oil spill disaster.
The Repugs can't help themselves when it comes to their Big Oil Overlords. Kissing Big Oil's butt is in their DNA.
Posted by: Planet Wingnuttia | June 17, 2010 2:42 PM
Um Libtard posting the same insane drivel over and over only makes you look crazier and dumber than you really are.
Posted by: Libtard | June 17, 2010 2:12 PM
Posted by: Just sayin' | June 17, 2010 3:42 PM
I do like the escrow idea and BP paying for the clean-up, but the issue brought-up is does the gov't have the right to force BP to pay into this escrow fund w/o any due process? Today it is BP, tomorrow it could be a corporation that falls out of favor with the gov't. There really needs to be strict oversight on this escrow fund or it could just become a goody basket for gov't to dole out favors to its cronies.
Posted by: Terry | June 17, 2010 7:14 PM
To the polymoronic: Of course, government has the right to tell British Petroleum what to do, but only if it is Big Government !! Remember that old polymoronic saying: Might makes right !! It was a big hit with the Republican-Libertarian-T.Bagger gang !! Now, it should be in the dustbin of history, given our capabilities of annihilating the world, many, many times over. Or we could just let the Oils Slicks write the rules and our world would die the slow death by climate change, pollution. In other words, uninhabitability. You know, like the Gulf of Mexico disaster !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | June 19, 2010 8:40 AM
I do like the escrow idea and BP paying for the clean-up, but the issue brought-up is does the gov't have the right to force BP to pay into this escrow fund w/o any due process? Today it is BP, tomorrow it could be a corporation that falls out of favor with the gov't. There really needs to be strict oversight on this escrow fund or it could just become a goody basket for gov't to dole out favors to its cronies.
Posted by: Terry | June 17, 2010 7:14 PM
Actually that's not a bad point. I'm GUESSING that the escrow fund is an "out of court" settlement, since we could -- if we really wanted to -- send their short hairs through a VERY tight wringer (pardon the mixed metaphor). BP could use whatever positive press they can get, and it makes them look less monstrous to be cooperating in their financial responsibility.
I'm also in favor of the fund being very closely watched and its activities being made as transparent as possible.
Posted by: Op109 | June 21, 2010 3:29 PM