Rep. Joe Barton Retracts Apology to BP's Tony Hayward

[brooklynite]

Source: CBS News

Rep. Joe Barton of Texas has offered an apology for his comments this morning apologizing to BP CEO Hayward for what he described as a "shakedown" at the White House to set up a BP-funded $20 billion fund to pay for damages from the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Barton made the initial comments in his opening statement at Hayward's testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, unleashing a torrent of criticism.

He asked for a "small point of personal privilege" when questioning Hayward in the afternoon to address his earlier comments.

"I want to be absolutely clear that I think BP is responsible for this accident, should be held responsible and should in every way do everything possible to make good on the consequences that have resulted from this accident," he said. "And if anything I said this morning has been misconstrued to the opposite effect I want to apologize for that misconstrued misconstruction."

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20008075-503544.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody

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Personally, I think he should have stuck with the first apology; now everyone is going to be pissed off at him.

[fl_dem]

1. do you think his legs can handle

all of this backpedaling?

:fistbump:

[damntexdem]

2. No, Joe, you just can't get that toothpaste back into the tube.

But you'll get a lot of TV play -- in Dem political ads.

;-)

[Indianademocrat91]

3. Wow

I guess Hayward's bj afterwards wasn't up to par with the other big oil men to keep Barton's remarks non-rescinded.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. toooooo baaaaaaaaaaaaaad. We have video tape nowadays, ya know.

[Ruby the Liberal]

8. ...and the interwebs

One can only wonder if these sept/octo-generian politicians truly grasp the magnitude of that. Starting with the spritely yet pinheaded John No-one-outside-of-congress-wants-Universal-Healthcare Boehner.

[Old and In the Way]

5. Bet he really doesn't feel that way.

25% of Barton's political contributions since he 1st got elected are from Big Oil. $3.3MM worth. He's a bought and paid for oil stooge in Congress.

[Ruby the Liberal]

6. Toothpaste/tube.

Way to win the hearts and minds, Mr. Barton. Now you have lost everyone. Grow a spine. If you want to defend BP, take it to the mat so we know what we are dealing with. Asshole.

[C_U_L8R]

7. the tea is outta the bag

what a glorious mess

[NYC Liberal]

9. Fuck him. It's a "Sorry you were offended" apology:

"if anything I said this morning has been misconstrued to the opposite effect I want to apologize for that misconstrued misconstruction"

[Lasher]

10. That's exactly what it was.

A non-apology.

[bc3000]

13. yep

[Loki]

11. I just called my Rep. in Texas Ted Poe's office and

demanded that he call me and inform me,as his constituent, what his stand is on Rep. Barton's statements and where he stands in regards to this disaster in the gulf. I hope that every Texas DU'er will do the same. Make these assholes hear our anger.

[truthisfreedom]

12. "I want to apologize for that misconstrued misconstruction." Bwahahahahahaaaaaaa.

So repuke that it hurts.

[xchrom]

14. Oh I see -- the viewed 'misconstrued' your

Blatant apology.

I see. It's our fault shit fell out o yo mouth.

[City Lights]

15. You lie!

You meant every word you said, and everyone knows it.

[TroglodyteScholar]

16. Congrats, Joe...

Not only are you a contemptible whore...you're also a gutless, pandering coward. Absolutely pathetic.

[fascisthunter]

17. too late chump