Joe Barton Retracts Apology to BP

Geez that was quick.

From Politico:

"Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) is apologizing for his apology.

"After infuriating Democrats and Republicans alike with his public apology to BP and suggesting that a $20 billion escrow fund was a “shakedown” by the White House, Barton is now “retracting” his statement, made at a hearing with BP CEO Tony Hayward.

"“I apologize for using the term ‘shakedown’ with regard to yesterday’s actions at the White House in my opening statement this morning, and I retract my apology to BP,” Barton said. “As I told my colleagues yesterday and said again this morning, BP should bear the full financial responsibility for the accident on their lease in the Gulf of Mexico. BP should fully compensate those families and businesses that have been hurt by this accident.""

The moment I thought I heard the truthful speech from a politician, it was retracted.

Again, he was not denying that BP should fully compensate for the damage. He was saying the way the White House pressured BP into coughing up $20 billion fund to be managed by the Obama appointee (Pay Czar) was a shakedown and it shouldn't have happened.

But English comprehension is not practiced in the US, and people are conditioned to simply react to sound bites without context or meaning.

Good luck getting any money for the damage from this shakedown fund managed by the government. Already, the definition of "damage" is quickly broadening; one politician wants to use that money to provide health care to people who lost their jobs and lost their health care insurance coverage.

Why stop at health care? Why not food stamp program, child care program, unemployment checks, low-income housing? How about paying to retain public union workers - teachers, firefighters and policemen?

Who needs the government, if you have BP?

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