President Obama gets tough(er) in visit to Gulf Coast

[jefferson_dem]

Mark Knoller, of CBS, is in the press pool and provided live updates on twitter.

Pres. Obama warns BP not to engage in "nickel-and-diming" gulf coast residents while spending on advertising & dividends.

At the end of a meeting with Governors of LA, FL & AL, Obama says BP has a moral and legal obligation to pay for the damage it has done.

Obama made clear he doesn't want to hear that gulf coast fisherman are having trouble getting damages payments due them from BP.

Obama said he's heard BP has contracted for $50-million in advertising intended as damage control of its image.

Obama also cited reports that BP will be paying $10-billion in dividends to investors this quarter.

Obama said he doesnt want to hear that BP is "nickel and diming" fisherman & small businesses along the Gulf Coast who have payments coming.

Obama also says he hopes BP "is not lawyering up" and that they want to make good on the obligations in the Gulf.

http://twitter.com/markknoller

[ananda]

1. Tough sounding is not tough acting.

BP management should have already been dissolved and all the company's
assets taken over by the government.

[phleshdef]

2. Right, because thats what they would do on teevee, right?!!

[Beetwasher]

4. Really? How So? What Mechanism Allows The US Gov't To Just DO That?

I'd like to hear your explanation of the process, rules, regulations, laws, federal code, USC etc. that would allow the US gov't to have accomplished what you say they should have already accomplished.

I'll wait.

[Thrill]

5. What universe do you live in? We might not like how BP does business

But I don't want the government having that much power over any business. Just think if you were a business owner?

[BeyondGeography]

3. It becomes an international issue very quickly if they don't play ball

Does the new ToryBoy PM want to fall on his sword and damage US/UK relations to protect corporate profits? Should be fun.

[flamingdem]

6. He is tough acting by sending the first BILL and sicking Holder on them nt

[jefferson_dem]

7. Pres. meeting w/locals at Camardelle's Live Bait & Boiled Seafood on Grand Isle.

...Angry BP hasn't paid some fishermen & others it hired.

http://twitter.com/WestWingReport/statuses/15446590228

[jefferson_dem]

8. Obama: BP has 'moral and legal obligations' to Gulf Coast

Obama blasted BP officials today for sponsoring a $50 million television ad campaign to "manage their image" as they try to stop the oil gusher that is polluting the Gulf of Mexico and threatening the livelihoods of coastal residents.

"They've got moral and legal obligations to the Gulf," Obama said, also noting that BP just paid out quarterly dividends of $10.5 billion. "That's billion, with a b," he said.

BP should not be spending million and billions while "nickel and dime-ing fishermen and business owners in the gulf who are having a hard time," Obama said.

Obama -- who has been criticized for not showing enough emotion over the oil spill -- demanded that BP process damage claims from the area as quickly as possible, or his administration would pressure them to do so. He noted that, in television ads, BP says it wants to make things right.

"Well," Obama said, "we want them to make it right."

...

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2010/06/obama-oil-spill-louisiana-thad-allen/1

[jefferson_dem]

9. During the 2-hr drive, signs:

"HELP US!" Another, w/the "Hope" image from the campaign, had, across Obama's forehead: "What Now?"

http://twitter.com/WestWingReport/statuses/15446701354