WAKE UP AMERICA
Posted on 06/20/2010 5:37:09 PM PDT by Qbert
Democrats sought to bunch together House Republican members of a committee critical of a $20 billion oil spill relief account funded by BP, labeling them "The BP 114."
Democrats are trying to explicitly tie the 114-member Republican Study Committee (RSC) to a top Republican's apology to BP this week for the government's actions to compel BP to create the $20 billion fund to pay out claims to victims of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) took steps this weekend to cast RSC members as in agreement with Rep. Joe Barton's (R-Texas) apology to BP CEO Tony Hayward during a hearing this past week through its extensive email list and an online ad buy.
At issue are remarks similar in tone by Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), the chairman of the group of House conservatives, along some other members of the group, that were critical of the fund. Price said the creation of the fund was a result of "Chicago-style shakedown politics" by President Barack Obama and his administration, which pressured BP into creating the relief fund.
(Barton called the account a "slush fund," and echoed the "shakedown" claim.)
Many RSC members have been sharply critical of Barton's apologetic remarks to Hayward on Thursday. Reps. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) and Joe Bonner (R-Ala.) have demanded Barton's resignation as ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Two other members of the study committee who also serve as members of leadership, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) and Conference Chairman Mike Pence (Ind.), have also called Barton's remarks "wrong."
Still, Democrats have gone to great lengths to portray RSC members' views as in lockstep with Barton's sentiments.
"While a Republicans criticized Barton once he became a PR problem, not a single member disagreed with the RSC attack on the accountability fund which happened the day before Barton's comments," noted DNC national press secretary Hari Sevugan.
To that end, the DNC sent out emails to the districts of the 114 members of the committee, which included tools allowing recipients to easily call local radio stations and express opinions on the members. The DNC also started running Google ads redirecting users who search for members of the committee to a Democratic-hosted page criticizing RSC members for their views on the oil spill.
"Rep. Price stated from the very beginning that BP should be held fully responsible for this tragedy. Rather than focus on responding competently to this crisis, Democrats are focused entirely on playing politics to cover up their lack of leadership," said Price spokesman Ryan Murphy. "The American people are looking for solutions not the same, tired political games. Republicans have solutions and that is why the Democrats are now grasping at political straws."
The "BP 114" effort is part of a broader political push by Democrats in Congress and the White House to capitalize on Barton's remarks, which the DNC claimed was a "pivot point" in the debate over the oil spill. President Barack Obama had been suffering from flagging approval ratings over his handling of the ecological crisis, but Democrats seized on Barton's controversial statement in an effort to get traction on the spill as an issue.
Obumbler- Biggest recipient of campaign contributions from...BP
Rahm Emanuel- Lives rent-free in the basement of...a BP advisor
I knew they were going to use the oil spill and try to pin it on the republicans. Of course, Joe Barton did his part too.
the more the rats try to politicize this the more they are in trouble considering:
1- their members were the top recipients of campaign $$ from BP...
2- oil continues to spill into the gulf destroying the area while this incompetent administration has no plan...
3- new stories crop up almost daily pointing to the fact this inept administration knew in advance about the potential of this disaster and did nothing...
4- zero continues to play golf while the gulf self destructs...
of course this assumes the GOP turns the tables on the rats and use these talking points...not to hopeful in that vane...
Gotta love those special ‘rino’s’...
The gift that keeps on givin... for the D’s that is.
They should probably wait to see what O does with the cash before they defend the slush fund too ardently.
If history is any teacher, it won’t go to the people who need it.
Even though we understand and appreciate what Joe Barton said, you know when he opened his mouth it was a gift
to the Democrats to take the focus off of Obama and his Golfing, parties, etc.
You have to have the smarts to work against the Dems
OBAMA (the ‘empty suit’) and the RATs (clueless AHoles) have ZERO credibility left with the American people (at least the intelligent ones), and are now utterly grasping at straws (and ‘straw men’) like they did against Bush when the country swallowed their toxic deceptive campaign ads.
I think not, that the country will swallow again, from the same toxic waste they are desperately trying to shove down our throats.
I haven’t seen that before- that’s awesome!
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Why don’t they just run on how great things have been since 2007 when the dems took over congress?
Joe Barton is an opportunity to eductate America. This was a shakedown.
http://brayincandy.com
Pray for America
The socialists are really delusional to think that such a lie is going to work. Really pathetic.
“I knew they were going to use the oil spill and try to pin it on the republicans. Of course, Joe Barton did his part too.”
Who knows- this might turn out to be another Joe Wilson situation: initial
condemnation by the Dems; panicked apologies from the GOP... But eventually people realize he was right and he grows in popularity.
Beg to differ ,the public will Buy it because the Republicans are running scared and will not defend what Barton Meant so they will be perceived as Guilty.
They can say Barton was wrong in saying he was Apologizing but he was Defending the rule of Law,we are a Country of Laws not Men and when a Catastrophy Happens you cant sell out your Principles,the President is acting Like Hugo Chavez a Tin Pot Dictator.
For once lets act Like Americans,we can use the system to Punish The Guilty but lets not have a Lynching.
If the Republicans are not going to Stand up for America Then They dont deserve to be in Power anymore than the Banana Republic tyrant that we have now
It’ll fail.
The fact that Bonner and Miller have come out against Barton blows the hugest hole in the argument.
I’ll say this for Jo. It took 8 years but he’s finally making a name for himself.
Twitter Tweet from Sarah Palin:
RahmEmanuel= as shallow/narrowminded/political/irresponsible as they come,to falsely claim Barton’s BP comment is “GOP philosophy”Rahm,u lie
How about "The Commiecare™ Crowd"?
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