Posted on 06/22/2010 7:35:49 AM PDT by MarkLevinFan
There is no greater injustice than punishment of a man for doing something good, and no more loathsome cowardice than when those responsible for defending good sacrifice their cause to accommodate an uncompromising evil. But this type of betrayal is not uncommon for the Republican leadership, and it happened again last week in Congress.
Thursday's House committee hearings with BP CEO Tony Hayward consisted mostly of the empty political grandstanding one would expect from this type of proceedings, characterized by Mark Levin as Soviet-style show trials. There was an exception, however, when Representative Joe Barton spoke out against the Obama regime for extorting $20 billion from BP -- without due process -- to be distributed by an Obama appointee as compensation not only to Gulf residents harmed by the oil leak, but also to those left unemployed by Obama's moratorium by fiat on all offshore drilling operations. This was not to say that the Gulf residents shouldn't be compensated, but that the manner in which the funds were expropriated is reprehensible, and it is outrageous for the government to force a private corporation to finance a moratorium imposed by the president.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) condemned remarks Thursday by Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) in which he apologized to BP for the treatment the company has faced by the government.
“The oil spill in the Gulf is this nation’s largest natural disaster and stopping the leak and cleaning up the region is our top priority. Congressman Barton’s statements this morning were wrong,” the three said in a joint 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.”
Forcing Barton to apologize just made us look like fools.
The 3 Cowards!!
Ping!
Even if Barton was correct, he should have remained silent.
Why?
Was it not a “shakedown” ?
I agree.
“Was it not a “shakedown” ?”
Yes, but the comment was tone deaf. Sometimes one must ride the wave of popularism -— because people are stupid.
Let's not lose it over this one. Defending BP is political suicide and it is the democrats dream that Republicans go for it. They already are trying to claim all Republicans think BP is the victim here.
An angry listener critical of Republicans for caving called Rush on this yesterday and Rush (who was talking this same theme previously) explained to him that he (Rush) does not have to get elected and that defending BP would cause election problems, and that he (Rush) didn't mean to defend BP. I normally rip Republicans for folding but pushing this line of argument is pointless given BP is the bad guy. Especially for a party that generally supported TARP when they were in power.
Better to defend against energy taxes and drilling restrictions against other energy companies that had nothing to do with this leak.
” Yes, but the comment was tone deaf. Sometimes one must ride the wave of popularism -— because people are stupid.”
That thinking got us here. If people are stupid they need to be led. We turned that job over to the Democrats.
DumBO cannot allow a $20 billion slush fund to not benefit his friends, so, the applicants for oil spill relief will be paid in new GM/Chrysler cars.
I disagree. Its a highly-emotional time, and BP certainly screwed up -— bad.
He didn’t need to attack BP, but he should have remained quiet -— for now.
It's about defending the rule of law and the Constitution, not BP. And these 3 Republicans do not have to get re-elected. If fact, I wish they wouldn't! They should be replaced by Republicans that have a spine!
Obama took tons of BP money. Any politician bring this up on the national stage?
NO
” It’s about defending the rule of law and the Constitution, not BP. And these 3 Republicans do not have to get re-elected. If fact, I wish they wouldn’t! They should be replaced by Republicans that have a spine! “
Exactly.
1) Obama took BIG MONEY from BP
BP cut corners
Obama was “ BOUGHT OFF” by BP. When BP “f”ed up, Obama “DROPPED SUPPORT “ of BP. Then Obama “shook down” BP.
Sarah Palin did early on. She asked why the media didnt investigate Obama which I thought was a good approach.
But that contradicts the 'BP is a victim' theme that some Republicans want to go with. It's just suicide to defend BP when they agreed to pay for the spill and are not even defending themselves regarding it.
Even if Barton was correct, he should have remained silent.
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“All that is needed for the forces of evil to succeed is for enough good men to remain silent.”
It’s chess, not checkers.
“All that is needed for the forces of evil to succeed is for enough good men to remain silent.””
Lose lips sink ships.
” Sarah Palin did early on.”
Sarah Palin does not hold political office, and nobody takes her seriously, as she has nothing to lose.
If Jim DeMint or someone who DOES have something to lose, goes after Obama, it might count.
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