Gulf oil spill puts industry-friendly Republicans in tight spot

[ProSense]

Gulf oil spill puts industry-friendly Republicans in tight spot

By Karen Tumulty
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, June 18, 2010

Who says there's no such thing as loyalty in politics?

Rep. Joe L. Barton (R-Tex.), who has received more than $100,000 in campaign contributions from the oil industry during this election cycle, revealed Thursday that he may be the only person in America who believes that BP deserves an apology for the way it has been treated during the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Although Barton later retracted his suggestion that BP was the victim of a White House "shakedown" -- after House GOP leaders threatened to take away his position as ranking Republican on the Energy and Commerce Committee -- the episode showed the uncomfortable spot in which some Republicans find themselves.

This is not the moment to be seen as coddling Big Oil. The GOP leadership has laid out a set of talking points that spread blame in all directions -- toward the company, the White House and the regulators who looked the other way.

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[rpannier]

1. Rec

Not sure why it isn't all Industry Friendly politician (including Mary Landrieux)

[Cha]

2. Barton must be due some sort of booby prize for

having some of the worst timing and biggest slobbering apology in the history of wrongheaded apologies.

[Zoeisright]

3. Let's hope it keeps them out of power for generations.

Fucking assholes.