Rahm: ‘In Case You Forgot What Republican Governance Was Like, Joe Barton Reminded You’
Appearing on This Week, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel linked the Republican Party as a whole to Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), who apologized to BP for the treatment it has received from the Obama administration: “Do you think that BP is the aggrieved party here? Do you think that Wall Street should be left alone and not have any reforms? Elections are about choices. Those are what is fundamental. There is a difference in our philosophies. And not only in our philosophies, how we make sure that American strengthens its economy. Joe Barton and the Republican — major voices in the Republican Party just told you their view. And in case you forgot what Republican governance was like, Joe Barton reminded you.”
McConnell: ‘I Couldn’t Disagree With Joe Barton More’
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said, “I couldn’t disagree with Joe Barton more,” and that it was “nonsense” for Democrats to link Barton’s apology to BP to the Republican Party’s policies on the oil industry. McConnell also criticized the Obama administration’s handling of the oil spill: “If you’re going to advocate expansion of government it doesn’t look very good when the government you’re already in charge of doesn’t function so well.”
Murkowski: ‘Let’s Not Be Distracted’ By Joe Barton
Appearing on State of the Union, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) accused Rahm Emanuel of trying to deflect attention away from the seriousness of the oil disaster by going after Joe Barton. “Let’s not be distracted by saying, you know, Joe Barton made this gaffe or this — this inappropriate comment,” said Murkowski. “Let’s focus on what we need to do, which is getting relief to the Gulf, making sure that they have every asset possible, making sure that we’ve got a claims compensation system that works for them. Let’s focus on providing what the people of the Gulf need, not pointing fingers back and forth and saying, ‘oh, you know, what you said was wrong.'”
Barbour: Escrow Account ‘A Good Deal For BP’
Appearing on Meet The Press, Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS) responded to Democratic attacks linking the Republican Party as a whole to Joe Barton: “Well, they’re going to try to make anything but this oil spill a–they, they want to change the subject, and I can understand that. But, you know, one of the things that they’ve got to come to grips with that’s very true, we’ve talked about Ken Feinberg’s appointment being good for the president, it’s good for BP. BP–that was to their advantage to get taken out of the claims business. The $20 billion, once it was done, where BP could continue to operate as a, as a going concern and pay their bills that they owe Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida and Alabama, that also was a good deal for BP.”
Cao: Barton Is A ‘Caring Person,’ His Apology To BP ‘Somewhat Baffles Me’
Appearing on Face The Nation, Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA) defended Joe Barton. Cao, who represents New Orleans, said that Barton’s remarks were “out of character” given his past inquiries about the city’s condition: “I know that Joe Barton is a caring person and it somewhat baffles me with respect to why he apologized to BP.”
Bill Nelson: Barton’s Apology Shows Oil Industry’s Power In Washington
Appearing on Face The Nation, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) said that Joe Barton’s apology to BP was representative of oil industry control in Washington. “We’re trying to lift that artificial cap of $75 million on economic damages and we can’t get it through the Senate because oil state senators keep objecting to our request to get that legislation up,” said Nelson.
Lieberman On Energy Bill: ‘We Can Do It’
Appearing on State of the Union, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) said that it is possible to pass a comprehensive energy bill: “There are about 50 senators who want to vote for a strong, comprehensive energy bill that puts a price on carbon pollution. There are about 30 who are set against it and there are 20 undecided. You’ve got to get to 60 to pass anything in the Senate. We need half of the undecided and we can do it.”
Rahm: Nothing More To Say About Sestak And Romanoff
Also during his appearance on This Week, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel brushed off further questions about any job offers that were made to Senate candidates Joe Sestak (D-PA) and Andrew Romanoff (D-CO): “First of all, the White House — it’s also Bob Bauer, introduced and did a report, made it public that said nothing inappropriate. Two of George Bush’s attorneys, one that worked at OLC in the Justice Department, one that worked in the White House, said nothing inappropriate happened here. There is nothing that — more that needs to be added to that.”
