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roachboy · 06-17-2010, 12:45 PM

that's funny stuff, ace. apparently you think barton was more correct than barton does:

Quote:

Barton retracts BP apology, regrets 'shakedown' comment

By Aaron Blake

UPDATED at 4:15 p.m.

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.), who touched off a furor Thursday morning by apologizing to BP, has now retracted his remarks -- and is apologizing for accusing the White House of shaking down the oil giant.

Speaking at a House hearing Thursday morning, Barton first apologized to BP chief executive Tony Hayward for the administration's conduct in securing a $20 billion fund for victims of the Gulf oil spill, calling it a "shakedown."

Late in the afternoon, Barton issued a statement that said: "I apologize for using the term 'shakedown' with regard to yesterday's actions at the White House in my opening statement this morning, and I retract my apology to BP. As I told my colleagues yesterday and said again this morning, BP should bear the full financial responsibility for the accident on their lease in the Gulf of Mexico.

"I regret the impact that my statement this morning implied that BP should not pay for the consequences of their decisions and actions in this incident."

It was Barton's second crack at an apology for his initial apology. During the hearing, he returned to say that he was sorry, but only for any "misconstruction" of his comments. His more recent apology differed in that it actually expressed regrets for the content of his remarks.

House GOP leaders put out a statement around the same time as Barton, distancing themselves from his comments.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) issued a joint statement. They said Barton's comments that that White House coerced BP into agreeing to a $20 billion fund for claims "were wrong."

"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," the three leaders said.

"The families and businesspeople in the Gulf region want leadership, accountability and action from BP and the Administration," they continued. "It is unacceptable that, 59 days after this crisis began, no solution is forthcoming. Simply put, the American people want all of our resources, time and focus to be directed toward stopping the spill and cleaning up the mess."

The leaders' statement did not mention other members who have offered comments similar to Barton, including Republican Study Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-Ga.). Price has also called the White House's handling of BP a "shakedown."

Barton apologizes for 'misconstruction' of BP apology

3:29 p.m.: Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.) is apologizing for any "misconstruction" of his comments this morning, in which he personally apologized to BP CEO Tony Hayward for the White House's "shakedown" of the company.

In Barton's second apology, he said he was sorry if anything he said this morning took the blame for the Gulf oil spill off of BP's shoulders.

"Let the record be clear that I think BP is responsible for this accident, should be held responsible, and should in every way to everything possible to make good on the consequences that have resulted from this accident," Barton said. "And if anything I've said this morning has been misconstrued, in opposite effect, I want to apologize for that misconstruction."

Barton has been under considerable pressure ever since apologizing to Hayward this morning for the way in which the White House has treated BP. He said the Obama administration used political pressure to force BP into creating a $20 billion escrow account for claims made against the company.

At least one Republican, Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), has already called for Barton to step down as ranking Republican of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Barton told Politico that he will stay on in his current post.

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