Friday, June 18, 2010

GOP House Member in Hot Water Over "Shakedown" Comment

I don't understand this. Representative Joe Barton (R-TX) referred to Mr. Obama's $20B extortion hit on BP as a "shakedown" during a Congressional hearing the other day, and Republican House leadership made him apologize for it.

Why?

Isn't that what it was? There is a legal process for filing claims and a legal process to determine culpability and negligence. Are these processes no longer the way we work things out?

Barton got it right, and Boehner and Cantor are acting like weenies on this one.

2 comments:

Goldwater's Ghost said...

Politically, I think it was unwise. I think the sentiment could have been conveyed better. Instead, he came off sounding as a shill for BP - which both democrats and republicans alike can agree has handled this whole mess poorly.

He should have said that the administration's action may be overstepping the limits of executive power, and might set a dangerous precedent.

"The Hammer" said...

This (w)hole thing is a mess but they broke Reagan's golden rule. Thou shalt not criticize another Republican in public.
When are you "small" people gonna get it?

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