Obama Talks to BP Chairman About Hayward's Ouster

President Obama spoke yesterday with the chairman of the board of BP about their change in leadership, but BP CEO Tony Hayward's departure is "immaterial" to the company's obligations to the Gulf Coast in the wake of the oil spill, a White House spokesperson said today.

"The key is that BP can't leave and should not leave the Gulf," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said at a briefing. "I think that's the viewpoint of everyone that's involved here, that they have obligations and responsibilities as the responsible party in this instance that have to be met, regardless of who the CEO is or who the chair of the company is."

BP announced Tuesday that embattled CEO Tony Hayward would step down from his position on October 1, and his American deputy, Bob Dudley, would take his job.

When asked by the British press whether his ouster was fair, Hayward replied, "Life's not fair," and said he was forced to leave because he was demonized by the American media. He also said he may be "too busy" to attend American hearings on the oil spill.

"What's not fair is what's happened on the Gulf," Gibbs responded today to the remarks. "What's not fair is that the actions of some have caused the greatest environmental disaster that our country's ever seen."

He added, " don't think that a lot of people in any country are feeling overly sorry for the former CEO of BP."