Joe Barton Keeps GOP Leadership Role Despite BP Apology

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Republicans ,; Congress

(Credit: AP)

Updated at 5:30 p.m. ET

Beleaguered Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) will remain the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Republican leaders said today, despite his apology to BP CEO Tony Hayward.

Barton came under fire from Republicans and Democrats alike for apologizing to Hayward during a congressional hearing.

At the White House's urging, BP agreed to contribute $20 billion to an escrow fund to pay for damages from the oil spill. In the hearing, Barton called the deal a White House "shakedown" and said the company's CEO deserved an apology.

The Democratic Party seized on Barton's statements and called for him to step down from his leadership role on the committee. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs tweeted, "Who would the GOP put in charge of overseeing the energy industry & Big Oil if they won control of Congress? Yup, u guessed it - JOE BARTON."

House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) said today that Barton apologized to his Republican colleagues at a meeting this morning, CBS News Capitol Hill Producer Jill Jackson reports. Boehner said it's time to move on.

"We should not allow this distraction to get in the way of the real problem," he said. "The administration has no plan that will stop the leak in the Gulf and help clean up this mess. And frankly, they want to use this distraction in order to push their national energy plan, their cap and trade bill."

While many Republicans voiced their disapproval of Barton's remarks, at least one of Barton's colleagues is still embracing him, the Hill reports. Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) is holding a fundraiser next week with Barton as a special guest.

Update: After GOP leadership announced that Barton would keep his position, the congressman's Twitter account went up with the message "Joe Barton Was Right," the Washington Post reports. The Twitter message, which has since been removed, linked to an American Spectator article defending Barton's apology to BP. Barton's spokesperson reportedly clarified that he -- not Barton -- posted the message to Twitter, and that the congressman was not aware of the tweet.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Disaster in the Gulf

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by dhough1953 June 23, 2010 5:32 PM EDT: The media is not going after the tea party because they love the narrative; THE ANGRY VOTERR. What is really at work is the angry corporations and Wall St. power brokers using the voter as their tools for fighting against government intereference and control. Odd isn't it that the tea party as a movement says nothing about a corporate disaster like the BP oil spill, even though it is essentially an attack against America and our economy by a foreign entity. See the story of who's behind the tea party here http://wp.me/pNmlT-f7; Reply to this comment


by izzyis1 June 23, 2010 5:21 PM EDT: J.Barton knows that BP stands for 'Bought & Paid for'; Reply to this comment


by thebob-bob June 23, 2010 2:35 PM EDT: Of course Barton stays. He's the Oil Industry front man in Congress. Without him, Oil companies might actually be regulated in a meaningful way. He has to protect all the subsidies that the Oil Industry gets from Congress. He has to block any subsidies going to alternatives. He has a very important job. That's why they pay him so much.

Republicans are the Oil Company Party. Duh!; Reply to this comment


by abby_del_abbey June 23, 2010 2:02 PM EDT: And the oil industry wins again!

And the GOP shows its true loyalty lies with the corporations and not the American people.

Barton is a symptom of the disease in American politics.

We have the worst politicians money can buy, and they have all been purchased -- lock, stock, and barrel.

Or, should I say barrels of oil???

Each gallon of gasoline we buy helps the oil industry buy the politicians.; Reply to this comment


by jd2408 June 23, 2010 1:47 PM EDT: I can't believe this. How could the GOP leave this man on a committee where he has a conflict of interest ? IMO this man is a traitor to the citizens of this country and nothing more than a bought out politician. No one should trust policies coming out of that committee. I will remember this move for a very long time.; Reply to this comment

by jimbom121 June 23, 2010 1:42 PM EDT

Is anyone really surprised> After all, he is saying what most of the GOP are thinking.

Reply to this comment


by Bisk1 June 23, 2010 3:42 PM EDT: Exactly why they didn't remove him - The POTUS did FIRE McChrystal - like,let's know where you stand. Dumb Repugs !!