Nelson: Barton Apology Shows Big Oil's Power

(CBS)  Florida Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson said today that Rep. Joe Barton's apology to BP CEO Tony Hayward for what Barton cast as a government "shakedown" of the oil company reflects the fact that "the oil industry has ruled the roost, and in part they still do."

"We're trying to lift that artificial cap of $75 million on economic damages and we can't get it through the Senate because oil state senators keep objecting to our request to get that legislation up," he said on CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday.

Alabama Republican Sen. Richard Shelby, meanwhile, told host Bob Scheiffer that Barton did not speak for the entire GOP when he made his controversial comments. As Schieffer noted, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel suggested Sunday that Barton's prepared comments reflected Republicans' governing philosophy.

"They see the aggrieved party here as BP, not the fishermen," Emanuel said on ABC's "This Week," arguing that Barton and GOP Kentucky Senate candidate Rand Paul "think that the government's the problem."

Shelby replied that Barton, the ranking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, "only spoke for himself. That is not mainstream Republican thought."

He called Barton's comment "dumb," and noted that Barton repudiated them later.

Shelby also said he wanted to invite Barton and Paul to visit the Gulf to see the devastation0.

"We don't owe BP an apology; they owe the people of the Gulf an apology, the American people," Shelby said.

Also on the program, Rep. Joseph Cao of Louisiana defended his fellow Republican, saying Barton's comments were "out of character" in light of his past inquiries about what New Orleans needs and how things were going for its residents.

"I know that Joe Barton is a caring person and it somewhat baffles me with respect to why he apologized to BP," he said.

California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer told Schieffer that the current $75 million liability cap for oil companies is "ridiculous" and said she expected legislation to raise it in the Senate in the next ten days.

As Schieffer noted, critics of raising the cap say that doing so could force smaller oil companies out of business because they would not be able to afford insurance.

"I don't think that oil companies should be treated any differently than individuals. If you hurt people you have to step up and pay for the damage that you did," Boxer said, comparing an oil company that causes damage to an unlicensed driver who causes an accident.

Bozer also said that Exxon spent two decades fighting court battles in an effort not to reimburse those effected by the Valdez disaster, who ultimately got about $15,000 each. That shouldn't happen again, Boxer argued.

"It's a matter of justice, it's a matter of fairness," she said.

[infobook]

Senators can you say dead zone ?
because thats what we are making it out in the gulf
big oil companys may have slip a couple of bucks for your war chests
but just remember this Man doesnt own this world he just borrowing it
tougher laws now please !

[Regensburger]

Just so you know:

When Obama acknowledges mistakes that everyone already recognizes, it's an apology, even if he doesn't actually apologize, and that's a bad thing.

But when Joe Barton actually apologizes for an oil conglomerate that puts money in his constituents' pockets, that's a good thing.

Allrighty then. Glad we cleared that up.

[Palin_for_Presidentess]

Why is it that REPIGLETARDS are holding up lifting the liability cap if they are in concurrence with Barton?

[antoniof123]

Yes....

What other reason could there be.

[bobnjersey]

[Shelby replied that Barton, the ranking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, "only spoke for himself. That is not mainstream Republican thought."]

of course it's not. the mainstream republican thought we be not to have any inquiry at all.

[Palin_for_Presidentess]

Exactly. Why is it that REPIGLETARDS are holding up lifting the liability cap if they are in concurrence with Barton?

[wdrussell1]

We used to be the land of the free.
The TeaParty wants us to be the land of BP.

[pubsrtoast]

As I understand it the 75 Million dollar cap was null and void if the cause was found to be gross negligence or unlawful actions. It certainly appears that BP is guilty of both.

[Palin_for_Presidentess]

Yep. Also, that seems to be the legal basis for negligent homicide.

When are the charges going to be filed?

[ohyes1234]

The best way to balance the budget is to have the big companies pay their share.

[fleabag75]

MAGNUS4000,, (or is this really Joe Barton), I think the comment was to have the oil companies pay their fair share in taxes right off the top. All your dividend garbage comes later. Don't worry, you'll still get your pound of flesh.

[bobnjersey]

[Just to be clear, you are going to tax the shareholders on what they make, and then tax them again on what the take home? Or would you exempt dividends?]

the dividend gets taxed once ... as it does now ... when it's taken as income to the investor.

[ohyes1234]

Barton's comment is consistent with Rand Paul's comment that President Obama is too tough on BP. It is consistent with conservative blogger, Eric Erickson?s, comment that getting BP to put $20B in escrow is a shake down. It is consistent with the Republicans attacking the President to try to control bankers, oil companies. They want little government with no personnel availability to control their masters.

[tonyatq]

You could not have said it better

[SueZeeeQue]

Barton's apology to BP is just another glaring illustration of the huge difference between Republican values and the values of ordinary, hard working, Americans.



Republicans believe that corporations should be able to do whatever they want and the taxpayers should have to pay to clean up the mess.

[antoniof123]

They call that facism.

[vista8635]

Barton does not give a damn about the people who live on the Gulf Coast. Help baby. Help!

[tonyatq]

Barton- You are on your own.