Jimmy Buffet Blames Bush’s Oil Ties for BP Spill: 'It was like Dracula Running a Blood Bank'

NewsBusters ^ | 07/07/2010 | Alana Goodman

[Rational Thought]

Jimmy Buffett, a singer famed for his laid-back island tunes, had some harsh words for the people he claims are responsible for the BP oil spill - the administration of former President George W. Bush.

The Obama-supporting musician told the Associated Press on Tuesday that he believed the Bush administration was responsible for the crisis, due to their alleged ties to oil companies.

"To me it was more about eight years of bad policy before [Obama] got there that let this happen," said Buffett. "It was Dracula running the blood bank in terms of oil and leases."

Buffett will be playing a sea-side concert next Sunday in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

But Buffett's attempt to cheer up Gulf Coast residents may have backfired. According to Alabama news website Al.com, the Margaritaville-singer's comments sparked anger among some readers who said Buffett should stick to music and stay out of partisan politics.

Al.com is a site owned by The Birmingham News, The Huntsville Times and The Mobile Press-Register. In an article published by the site's staff titled, "What you're saying: Jimmy Buffett should leave out politics," the writers noted that Buffett's comments sent readers "into a frenzy of discussion over the singer-songwriter's political affiliations."

"When is this administration going to grow up and start taking responsibility for anything?" wrote one commenter cited in the article. "I hope the people of Alabama boycott his sister's restuarant in Gulf Shores. I will never eat there again."

[Rational Thought]

You've got to love the people of Alabama

[sinanju]

Somebody just pulled a Dixie Chicks, bigtime.

I predict a hail of tarballs at his next concert.

Once and for all... SHUT UP AND SING!

[Army Air Corps]

Yet another reason not to listen to his trite music.

[ReneeLynn]

‘Some people claim that George Bush is to blame, but I know...it’s Obama’s fault.”

He should just keep looking for his lost shaker of salt.

[A_Former_Democrat]

Wasted away again, eh, Jimbo?

[Frantzie]

This guy is such a money grubbing POS hypocrite. Parrotheads are AH too.

[Kirkwood]

He just opened the Margaritaville Hotel in Pensacola and is desparate for customers. His recent “free” concert was a scam to get people into the hotel.

[DirtyHarryY2K]

Too much weed and rum.. He's only got two brain cells left and they're waving goodbye to each other.

[Robwin]

Too much weed and rum.. He's only got two brain cells left and they're waving goodbye to each other.

If that's true, it's Bush's fault

[Lower55]

A definition of a Jimmy Buffet concert.......

A real cool party that is interrupted by an hour or so of crappy music.

[Fabozz]

Okay, Jimbo, quick timeline:

• January 2009: Obama becomes President.
• February 2009: Major Obama donor and cap-and-trade advocate BP files an environmental impact statement for the Macondo well, stating that a spill was unlikely and that if a spill did occur it wouldn't affect the shore, since the well was 48 miles off the coast.
• July 2009: Obama appoints environmental activist attorney Elizabeth Birnbaum, who has no oil industry experience or education, as Director of the Minerals Management Service, the agency that oversees all US offshore drilling.
• October 2009: BP begins drilling the well.
• April 2010: Despite repeated warnings from Halliburton experts that BP was violating several important industry best practices, MMS issues a permit for BP to complete the well.
• April 20, 2010: Well explodes in exactly the way Halliburton warned.

Now, go ahead and tell me again how this is Bush's fault. I'm listening, I really am.

[Steelers6]

Buffett needs to check some facts before he drinks his margaritas. Before Obama put his boot on the throat of BP he took a $1 million in campaign cash and gave them safety awards for pushing Cap & Tax!!

This guy needs to be FREEEPED

[Steelers6]

Buffett needs to check some facts before he drinks his margaritas. Before Obama put his boot on the throat of BP he took a $1 million in campaign cash and gave them safety awards for pushing Cap & Tax!!

This guy needs to be FREEEPED

[Steelers6]

Buffett needs to check some facts before he drinks his margaritas. Before Obama put his boot on the throat of BP he took a $1 million in campaign cash and gave them safety awards for pushing Cap & Tax!!

This guy needs to be FREEEPED

[Kirkwood]

Maybe it is Bush’s fault because he didn’t get elected to a third term???

[rbosque]

Good rundown!

[JrsyJack]

So Bush is to blame for an accident that occurred at a well that didn’t exist when he was in office?

[eyedigress]

Lib moonbats are quite the detrimental card. One more reason real representation need to kick musicians to the curb.

[Just Lori]

Hey Jimmy,

Shut up and sing.

[nutmeg]

Excerpt:

Buffett will be playing a sea-side concert next Sunday in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

But Buffett's attempt to cheer up Gulf Coast residents may have backfired. According to Alabama news website Al.com, the Margaritaville-singer's comments sparked anger among some readers who said Buffett should stick to music and stay out of partisan politics.

Al.com is a site owned by The Birmingham News, The Huntsville Times and The Mobile Press-Register. In an article published by the site's staff titled, "What you're saying: Jimmy Buffett should leave out politics," the writers noted that Buffett's comments sent readers "into a frenzy of discussion over the singer-songwriter's political affiliations."

"When is this administration going to grow up and start taking responsibility for anything?" wrote one commenter cited in the article. "I hope the people of Alabama boycott his sister's restuarant in Gulf Shores. I will never eat there again."

God bless these fine people of Alabama!