VP Biden Demands Apology from Rep. Joe Barton's Comments on White House's Pressure on BP

Vice President Joe Biden spoke to the press at the White House Thursday, calling on Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, to issue an apology for comments Barton made earlier today stating that the White House put pressure on BP Plc (NYSE:BP) to fund a $20 billion escrow account to financially compensate victims affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Biden called comments made by Barton, who is the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, "incredibly insensitive [and] incredibly out of touch" with the Gulf region's affected residents.

During today's Congressional hearing with BP CEO Tony Hayward, Barton said, "I think that it is a tragedy of the first proportion that a...corporation is subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown, in this case a $20 billion shakedown."

"I apologize. I do not want to live in a country where any time a citizen or a corporation does something that is legitimately wrong is subject to some sort of political pressure," he added.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said that Barton's role as ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee should be questioned in light of the comments.

Shares of BP closed trading down 0.44% Thursday afternoon at $31.71.

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[alexandreleverrier]

BP really has it good ! they fuck up your entire ecosystem, put people out of jobs and get an apology for it ?! That's like saying sorry when someone steps on your foot, I can't imagine how working class citizens vote for conservatives or republicans, it just baffles me...

[ripleysb]

to IMAVET (continued from previous post) but when our representatives do vote against their partys mainstream, they are ostracized, That happened during the Bush administrations 2nd term. A republican member of the electoral college chose to vote his conciense and gave his electorial vote to the Democrat candidate to give voice to voters in that state who voted Democrat) and Bush shunned him as did many of his party. We do ourselves and the country a huge diservice.by being so divisive.

[ripleysb]

Dear IMAVET. I am sorry you are a vet and for any suffering that may have caused you. I dislike Republicans almost as much as you hate Dems. You can't,,,and neither can I... blam all our woes party was in control at the time of said woes . The REAL problem (as I see it) is that there has to be this constant war for the supremacy of one or the other party. I thinks it is incredibly foolish and irresponsible . I'm sure that many Dems and repubs agree on many issues,but ...see next post.

[EricTheNihilist]

@mueygringo enjoy WW3 then two weeks after president Palin is elected americunt.

[mueygringo]

When will Biden apologize for the Administrations lack of response in the Gulf. BP you handle it. No one is incharge except BP. Politics and leadership are different Mr.Vice President. Leaders resolve a crisis politicians divert attention away from themselves. We need leadership now or get new leaders in the next election.

[Magnumanxxl]

The GOP surpport a BAILOUT of BP. Check my page.

[ripleysb]

I am and have been a Democrat before I knew what a Democrat was.and have little tolerance for Republican views and greed....BUT.....I find myself agreeing with some of what Barton said. I respect Obama, but I have to admit that I'm not sure he had the right to impose that fine on BP when he did. It seems a little dictatorial to me. I have no doubt that the people in the Gulf need and deserve that money, but it is scary to think that a president could do that on his/her own.

[justonefirefly1]

@iamavet This is what homeschooling leads to - dumbasses - did you ever think that Biden did not have one gd thing to do with that explosion - that you old whore is what happens when you deregulate and let oil companies oversee safety - all the billions and trillions over the years that we have given these oil companies from our hard earned money and this what they do - turn us into a 3rd country fucking dumbass repunklican

[pig5689]

Well, I be danged. Now that the meaningless formalities are over & BP has had their asses chewed, then GET BACK DOWN THERE AND PLUG THAT FU*KIN' HOLE! NOW! NOW! NOW! WE DON'T CARE IF BP STICKS PLAYDOUGH, SILLY PUTTY, GOLF BALLS, MUD OR BY DROPPING 50-TONS OF USED TAMPAX DOWN THE HOLE! JUST GET THIS SHITHOLE PLUGGED BEFORE OVER HALF THE PLANET IS WRECKED PERMENANTLY! This kind of incompetence should be limited to greedy, lazy, thieving bank execs. They're a wreck, too.

[jobedied]

@iamavet you make about as much sense as someone trying to catch a fart and paint it green.