Obama: "Top Kill" Failure "Enraging as it is Heartbreaking"

President Obama listens to Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen with Carol Browner, the president's energy and climate change adviser, aboard Marine One while traveling to Port Fourchon, La., May 28, 2010.

/ White House/Pete Souza

After BP's announcement that its "top kill" procedure, the risky method of plugging its blown-out well at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico with mud and cement, had failed, President Obama released a statement Saturday night calling the failure "as enraging as it is heartbreaking."

Special Section: Disaster in the Gulf

Mr. Obama also said that BP's next plan to try and stop the leak gushing millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf "will be difficult and will take several days." Doug Suttles, BP's chief operating officer, told reporters earlier Saturday that the plan, which would try to cap the site of the leak rather than plugging it, would take between four and seven days.

Below is Mr. Obama's entire statement as provided by the White House:

Today, I've spoken with National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen, as well as Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, and senior White House advisors John Brennan and Carol Browner regarding the ongoing efforts to stop the BP oil spill. From the beginning, our concern has been that the surest way to stop the flow of oil - the drilling of relief wells - would take several months to complete. So engineers and experts have explored a variety of alternatives to stop the leak now. They had hoped that the top kill approach attempted this week would halt the flow of oil and gas currently escaping from the seafloor. But while we initially received optimistic reports about the procedure, it is now clear that it has not worked. Rear Admiral Mary Landry today directed BP to launch a new procedure whereby the riser pipe will be cut and a containment structure fitted over the leak.

This approach is not without risk and has never been attempted before at this depth. That is why it was not activated until other methods had been exhausted. It will be difficult and will take several days. It is also important to note that while we were hopeful that the top kill would succeed, we were also mindful that there was a significant chance it would not. And we will continue to pursue any and all responsible means of stopping this leak until the completion of the two relief wells currently being drilled.

As I said yesterday, every day that this leak continues is an assault on the people of the Gulf Coast region, their livelihoods, and the natural bounty that belongs to all of us. It is as enraging as it is heartbreaking, and we will not relent until this leak is contained, until the waters and shores are cleaned up, and until the people unjustly victimized by this manmade disaster are made whole.

More Oil Spill Coverage

BP Admits "Top Kill" Fails, Will Try Cap Next

BP's Credibility Sank as Oil Spill Grew

Obama Finally Leans into the Gulf Oil Spill

Obama Forced to Become Defender-in-Chief Over Oil Spill Response

Obama to Gulf Residents: "We're In This Together"

[sunday42]

Commenting on his time in office was he when he said "Enraging as it is Heartbreaking" was he?

[pasmalltown]

Only in your dreams...........

[pasmalltown]

by larry0304 May 30, 2010 12:27 PM EDT
"That my friend is HYPOCRISY in it's finest form. It would be nice to live in a world where politics can be removed from the equation, but that world does not exist."
"As for the comparison of both, they are similar in that both scenarios not that they are similar in scope, nature or cause."
"Look, I understand BOTH political parties have serious problems, however it's the hypocrisy that I really can't stomach and I have seen a belly-full of it lately!
_______________________________
The REAL "HYPOCRISY" of this oil spill is this:
BP caused this mess, it not a natural disaster. The real hypocrisy is BP POLITICS! "They"(Katrina and this oil spill) are not similar from that standpoint. - to require "a strong response from the govt."? WHY? With Katrina Mother Nature caused that disaster, yet in the case of the oil spill it was caused by man-made, "dirty politics" and clearly this is something that BOTH parties can address if properly motivated. Clearly we all have more control over something man-made as opposed to a natural disaster. So assessing blame to the Fed gov't in either case is simply finger pointing and DOES NOTHING to address the real issue.

"I've seen a belly-full" of blaming from BOTH sides pointing fingers at each other....Both parties are full of hypocrisy, so re-stating that fact only serves to muddy the REAL waters - BP caused it and BP is to blame - be that thru backroom lobby deals to weaken regulation or whatever.
It all comes down to answering one simple question - Why is it when private industry screws up, it's the "Government's" fault and when private industry's running along smoothly, it is "TOO MUCH" gov't oversight???? L-O-B-B-Y - That, my friend, is the real problem, here and with Katrina as well. I am not that naive to believe that "things" will really change in my lifetime, but I am convinced that is the REAL problem, and "belly aching" or "finger pointing" about it certainly does "nothing" to prevent the same scenario from occurring over and over again.

[ronaldr5-2009]

"Yes, I'm enraged and heartbroken; but look here -- I'm on vacation right now, so can we talk more about this later? I flew down here, didn't I? What more do you want??"

[wjksea]

dwilson59
There was no de-regulation. That is a liberal lie to smear the GOP and take pressure off this administration. The problem lies in the fact that we had folks working such as inspectors that were taking bribes. Falsifying forms. All the government is responsible, both sides. This happened on Obama's watch so he will take more heat.
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Well sir, if that happened I think BRITISH petroleum has acted accordingly then and just ignored it all. BRITISH petroleum is a bit ahead of the rest of us. We need to ignore the government too. The government just costs us all a bunch of money and the more we involve it and have it take responsibility for everyone elses's accidents and hardships the more we all will pay in taxes. That's socialism and I'm against socialism. Aren't you?

[wjksea]

lilbear925 May 29, 2010 9:17 PM EDT
"As enraging as it is heartbreaking" also describes the unstoppable flow of illegals across the Mexican border, but Obama has yet to do anything substantial to stop that, either.
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Now what sir, would you be wanting Mr. Obama to be doing about that? Don't you know sir, government is the problem, it's not the solution? There you are looking to government to get all involved in matters such as this which only costs the taxpayer.

We brother are on one big planet, ain't none of us illegal or legal, we's just here. Now I'm a believer in the free market sir.

I believe the free market provides the proper incentives for our economy which includes those you been calling illegal. They sir are good for business, and what's good for business and creates rich people then creates more jobs. It's a win win.

Take for instance:

The free market is providing the proper incentive for the situation in the gulf coast.

BRITISH petroleum, a multi-national corporation, is helping america grow less dependent on foreign oil. A win win.

BRITISH petroleum receives the invisible hand which gives drive to BRITISH petroleum to not want to see it's valuable oil wasted to the great and vast ocean which in time is bio-degrading this sellable resource. It much rather get it to the market place and make a profit and in turn fuel our way of life. These conditions create another win win.

The people living on the beaches who like to eat fish don't want oil in their sand and too much of it in their gumbo. They are benefitted from this incentive on the part of BRITISH petroleum to slow this at least to a trickle down. Still again another win win.

The invisible hand creates the different motives and unites them in a marriage, like male and female, both parties enjoying mutually satisfying complementary outcomes.

[jericolover]

What in the world is all this dribble about. Stay on topic please.

[alanrobisch]

ten days before accident administrators allowed the operation without checks to see if they were prepared to handle severe problems et al. The regulation vs deregulation is a bunch of bs the same rules are in effect for agricultural imports and food produced in USA yet we have frequent discov eries after the fact o botulism or salmonella in food.

First it seems to me this was an accident due to human error or just the breakdown of equipment. Its human to try and find a scapegoat and for dems to deflect criticism of their administration they have to find some malevo;ent cause for this because its a large corporation.

It seems to me rather than pointing blame the problem is solving the problem and then to see if future problems like this can be averted. See the unsinkeable titanic for an example of technical failure in design and human errors.

At the same time the dems are trying to deflect criticism by passing the buck. I know the president has now said its his problem but apparently MR Markey didn't get the message. It is easy for democrats to blame big oil because that has been their MO which their liberal base accepts.

[wjksea]

No sir, you blame the government and demand it takes responsibility, you cost me the taxpayer. You sir are a liberal cause it's apparent to me you like socialism and think somehow we need to all pay together with this socialist government and sing Kumbaya over someone else's mishap. If I ever have a fender bender, will you come a runnin' and go fetch me the government so it can take responsibility for me? I won't kick a gift horse in the mouth and neither will BRITISH petroleum.

[pasmalltown]

by alanrobisch May 30, 2010 9:43 PM EDT -
"the same rules are in effect for agricultural imports and food produced in USA yet we have frequent discov eries after the fact o botulism or salmonella in food."
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The same rules may be in effect for agricultural imports, yet less than 1/2 of 1% of ALL imported ag products are actually inspected and tested by the US gov't. That, my friend, is the "real" reason why you see problems with ecoli and salmonella outbreaks in the US. It has EVERYTHING to do with the enforcement of food regulations(as you put it, "those same rules"), but "it is so" because that's the way the food lobby wants it..... Using such vague terms to explain why the argument over regulation or deregulation is BS, IS IN FACT, BS!

And I agree pointing fingers or assessing blame politically should be excluded from solving the oil spill problem, except for assessing the fact that BP caused this spill, and for whatever reason, BP's lobbying efforts(i.e. "politics") should be investigated to ensure that future problems will be minimized... Whatever the "cause" of this disaster, it was man-made with BP at the helm...
________________________________________
"It seems to me rather than pointing blame the problem is solving the problem and then to see if future problems like this can be averted."
---------------------------------
Yet all you can to is point your finger at the democrats??? Why not go one step further and investigate the oil lobby's part in this disaster? For you to suggest that the Repubs don't point fingers is equally lame. BOTH the Repubs and Dems DO IT, so why suggest otherwise?

[dwilson59]

I have been searching the internet for the last 2 hours looking for "oil industry deregulation" that would of stopped this oil spill. I can not find it! Can someone help me find the Deregulation that would of stopped this oil spill?

[dwilson59]

I ask this questions because I do not know?

What specific deregulation of the oil industry happened over the last 8 years?

[dwilson59]

what I mean is what deregulation happened that would of made the BP spill not happen.

[dwilson59]

uubrrew12

So you talking about something that was never a regulation in the first place.

Now the real question is what was the cost of the "sonic switches" If what your saying is true the cost of the switches must of been 10 millon

[Stainless-joe]

8 long years of REPUBLICAN DEREGULATION, I am sick of hearing THE IDIOTS
of the Republican party making any comments about all of our nation's problems. They caused most and now have the nerve to say things about how our Nation is trying to handle the problems.
Just go away until you can be positive about something and have some ideas.You need to change your party to get with this century!!!
Or let Palin, Beck, Russ, Spence or Boner take you down the path of destruction your choice.........

[inseeisyou]

Joe, I guess you did not notice the time of blaming Republicans is past and most Dems are starting to take responsibility for what is going on, Obama and crew got about all the mileage they could out of blaming others as they could

[nimbleswitch]

inseeisyou, who are you trying to con? The Republican messes that Obama is strapped with trying to clear up will be with us for decades. "The time of blaming Republicans is past"? In you dreams, maybe--but in reality, not by a long shot! You really think the American people are stupid, don't you.

[dwilson59]

Just my Thought......

Take all the people getting unemployment and put them to work today cleaning the Oil Spill. Then Bill BP for all the unemployment plus a 25% fee. There has to be 50k people that are collecting unemployment in the south of LA.

This is a win win situation the Govt gets paid back for unemployment and 50k people get a job.