Republicans Apologize, Grovel to BP

[deminks]

http://www.alternet.org/environment/147245/republicans_apologize,_grovel_to_bp_

The BP oil spill has put many Republicans in a precarious position – they’re understandably relishing the opportunity to portray President Obama as feckless and weak, but are worried that the crisis is making their pals in the oil industry look pretty bad.

Most of them have steered clear of this quandary by either solely attacking the Obama administration for its belated and inept response to the crisis or by even acknowledging that BP was a particularly bad apple within the oil industry. After all, smart GOP operatives understand that Americans are just as pissed off at big business as they are at the government and that the GOP will blow its chance to retake Congress this fall if it can’t control its authoritarian impulse to hump corporate America’s leg.

Thankfully, though, not all right-wingers have the message discipline of your typical GOP campaign manager and many of them have dutifully gone to bat for our economic overlords at BP. This Thursday, Rep. Joe Barton actually apologized to CEO Tony Hayward for the White House's arrangement with BP to establish $20 billion fund to pay for damages in the Gulf. Pundit Tony Blankley got the ball rolling at the National Review last month by crying about Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s declaration that he intended “to keep the boot on the neck of British Petroleum.” Blankley found this statement to be disturbingly totalitarian, comparing it to the image of a boot stepping on the face of humanity used in Orwell’s “1984.” Such a hostile tone, reasoned Blankley, was not the proper “attitude toward a respected member of the corporate community.”

Never mind that this respected member of the corporate community owns two refineries that accounted for 97 percent – yes, 97 percent – of all flagrant safety violations found in the refining industry over the last three years. Also never mind that BP has blatantly and knowingly lied to the public about the size of the disaster by a factor of more than 14. And finally, ignore the fact that BP has a long history of disregarding even its own safety standards and of pressuring its employees to keep their mouths shut about safety violations. No, none of this matters: in the Randroid world of economic royalism, any company that makes ungodly sums of money must by nature be run by morally superior individuals who deserve honor and respect from the little people who greedily sponge off their productivity.

(end snip)

A pretty good read, and a grabby headline that should be shouted from one coast to the others.

[alstephenson]

1. Oh, cute, an "unrec" already.

"Unrec'ers" should get a life.

[WeDidIt]

2. Oh cute, an "unrec whine"

Unrec whiners should get a life.

[eShirl]

9. have some cheese

[WeDidIt]

10. .

:evilgrin:

[devilgrrl]

11. I need to know... what's "a life"?

eom

[WeDidIt]

12. I dunno in this context

I just notice there's an unrec whine on most posts these days.

:evilgrin:

[southernyankeebelle]

3. Gee, I hope the american people in the gulf will realize the republican party isn't their friends.

They don't care about the "little people" or their businesses. I hope come mid elections they will realize who is on their side. Obama is trying to strike a deal. Personally I think BP should be put out of business. They have ruined the gulf coast and people's lively hood.

[opihimoimoi]

4. KnR #4

[mod mom]

5. really..how could anyone in their right mind apologize to BP for this. UFB!

[BrklynLiberal]

6. The repukes must always make sure their corporate overlords do not get to angry at them....

[phantom power]

7. Dance, GOP whores! Dance for the one that brung ya.

:woohoo:

[SpiralHawk]

8. How pathetic for Americans to have to witness this wholesale Republicon ass kissery

Republicons have turned their backs on America, and with their hands out have eagerly lined up to serve as shameless corporate ass smoochers. I reckon its what Americans have come to expect from the party of chickenhawkery, fear, and wide-stance public urinal faux lesbian diaper-sex bondage geekery.

[Adsos Letter]

13. KNEEL!!!

KNEEL BEFORE ZOD!

[yowzayowzayowza]

15. LOL n/t

[Urban Prairie]

14. How's that unfettered free-market global conservative condoned corporate capitalism

workin' out for ya lately, Repugnican'ts??

[Scurrilous]

16. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Divine Discontent]

17. they QUICKLY got Barton to pull his apology! big surprise. they know how this will be used - as it

should be!

[Bluzmann57]

18. So Barton cares nothing about the 11 dead men?

That's the way I see it. He doesn't care about the fact that there are 11 dead men who left behind families and friends. All he cares about isd poor ol' BP, who is obviously getting picked on. Let's hope that Barton's opponent in the upcoming election hammers this home to each and every person in that district.

[AsahinaKimi]

19. I think its time all

Republican Senators and Republican Members of Congress got Drug Tested.
oh!! And Orin Hatch is first!