Barton NOT ALONE in defending BP, Michelle Bachman calls BP fund "Redistribution of Wealth"

This is coming from an article I just read on yahoo about Barton's remarks...but this i find absolutely amazing...

Apology to BP's Hayward triggers uproar

Barton is not alone among Republicans holding this view. Georgia Republican Representative Tom Price, chairman of the Republican Study Committee, a group of conservative House members, issued a statement arguing the same point. He said the White House does not have the legal authority to compel a private company to set up and fund an escrow account.

The White House has dismissed such criticism. Price said BP's willingness to go along with the White House's new fund suggests that the Obama administration is "hard at work exerting its brand of Chicago-style shakedown politics."

"These actions are emblematic of a politicization of our economy that has been borne out of this administration's drive for greater power and control," Price said.

And former Texas Republican Representative Dick Armey, who was House majority leader and is a leading voice in the conservative Tea Party movement, told a Christian Science Monitor breakfast this week that Obama lacks the constitutional authority to set up such a fund. "The Constitution doesn't give that authority to the executive branch.... There are courts for this purpose," Armey said, according to the Dallas Morning News.

In addition, conservative Republican Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota was quoted as telling the Heritage Foundation think tank on Tuesday that the escrow account was a "redistribution-of-wealth fund."

Barton is the biggest recipient of oil and gas industry campaign contributions in the House of Representatives, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

Its data showed that Barton has collected $1,447,880 from political action committees and individuals connected with the oil and gas industry since 1989.

news.yahoo.com...;_ylt=AibPfoU0Z7AWp9.Q.fx3EG.s0NUE;_ylu=X3o'___'NsYzN2MnFwBGFzc2V0A25tLzIwMTAwNjE3L3VzX2 9pbF9zcGlsbF9hcG9sb2d5BGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDMgRwb3M'___'AEcHQDaG9tZV9jb2tlBHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcnkEc2xrA2Fwb2xvZ3l0b2JwMw--[link]


Way to go Tea Party...these are the asshats THAT ARE LEADING YOUR MOVEMENT!!!!!!!

Redistribution of wealth???? ARE YOU SERIOUS BACHMANN???



[edit on 17-6-2010 by David9176]

[edit on 17-6-2010 by David9176]

[edit on 17-6-2010 by David9176]

Yeah, no kidding. These republicans, here is their chance to shine, and what can they do? Apparently nothing more then make complete clowns of themselves. Must be some big payola (even beyond the campaign-contribs) going on behind the scenes.

[edit on 17-6-2010 by elcapitano75]

Dont forget Michelle Bachman ...she started he support of BP several days ago and then reiterated it right after POTUS spoke to the Nation the other night.

Should make for some interesting campaign ads this fall and just as people are having to leave or evacuate the Gulf because of BP'S negligence.

Obviously, she doesn't even know what redistribution of wealth REALLY is and just likes to throw the phrase out there as a rhetorical device to get people all riled up.

I wonder what the Republicans in the Gulf area think of the way the people they voted for are reacting to this? They might be losing support as we speak.

David, please fix your link.

This is ridiculous! I can't believe people are defending BP!

Rush Limbaugh:

"I hate saying this. (interruption) He's making them have an escrow account, BP and escrow, 20 billion. That's one year's profit, by the way. And thank God for windfall profits or they wouldn't have the money to put in escrow".

So... Thank God BP is making billions or else who would clean up the Gulf???

My head hurts!

Limbaugh

To be fair, the people questioning Tony Hayward on TV today are just doing what they think will get them elected. It's all politics.

Well, does the President have the power to do this or not?

The Patriot Act came from 9/11.

Hi David. It's good to see you.

THis is appalling. When the news of the gusher first broke, I read somewhere that BP had something like 57 Billion dollars in their bank account.

I am feeling better about what they are willing to do in the last few days.

But as far as money, I think they can take the hit.
If some of the wealth is redistributed, I couldn't be happier.

And people want to protect BP's assets rather than the "small people"?
Well, at least we know who they are.

(Gee, if Tony's face gets any redder today, he's going to explode).

reply to post by ladyinwaiting


I think you are missing the argument. The debate is whether or not the President has the right to do this, correct? I won't claim to know because I don't, but maybe someone more familiar with the law could offer some input.

It isn't about protecting BP or throwing BP under the bus, it is about whether or not our government has the right to do this to a private company? It works both ways, you can't only take advantage of the laws when it is to your benefit.

It makes me wonder, it looks like Mr. Heyward is trained to gladly accept the government input and demands. Our billion dollar company is incompetent, please US Government, come and save us! We'll also throw in some cash for Haliburton in the process, why not? Oh, our government has now extended its reach to the banks, the auto industry, and the oil industry. Sure, they've always had it, but now it's out in the open and no one cares. What's next?

I've been watching this committee hearing all day, and to be fair both sides have been equally p'd off and concerned, although this BP CEO Tony Hayward has ZERO answers and so questions are not being answered. We are so F'd! This process is way too slow! We ask a question, and if BP wants to answer, it takes more than 5 days to get it, and most likely their answer is just a run around that will need many more questions asked to clarify. Why can't we just demand EVERYONE (CEO, Chairman of their Board, responsible engineer's and technical advisors...) sit in front of our lawmakers and be forced to honestly answer these questions or plead the 5th like normal criminals do?! This is crazy...

Our lawmakers have no control over these corps who do as they please and answer to no one. Our Federal Gov. and these Big Corps are in bed like a mofo, and are just playing off each other. Corporations have more rights and protection than American civilians do.

ps. Diane DeGette from Colorado has been giving it to him all day, and finally just now was the first one to ask Tony Hayward to turn around and ask his technical advisor to help him answer a question he couldn't, he turned back around and said his technical advisor couldn't answer the technical questions either! WTF!
cspan.org...

[edit on 17-6-2010 by LifeIsEnergy]

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic


I think Limbaugh simply means that if BP didn't make billions, they would be declaring bankruptcy right now and the people in the Gulf would get nothing from them and only as much as the Federal Government alone saw fit to reimburse -- and since the Federal Government is probably closer to bankruptcy than BP, I, too am glad they have the money to pay for this disaster. I may not like how they earned those billions, but at least they have them to pay out.

End of reply

As far as it being a redistribution of wealth, I frankly can't even see how they came to that conclusion. Had it been a blanket pay-off across the board, perhaps, but the fund is only for people/businesses that have actually suffered a loss, so I can't see any "wealth" coming from this -- more like a wash at best. And even that is only true for the immediate losses and I'm sure doesn't factor in those that will never be able to fish or shrimp again and lost their profession in the Gulf for a decade plus.

I certainly wish some of these politicians came with a "MUTE" button.

Michelle Bachmann's response to this is absolutely insane and she has no idea what she is talking about. If BP paying for their mistake is considered a "redistribution of wealth" then so be it. They screwed up the Gulf and their complete malfeasance has led to Billions of dollars that will be lost from Small Business. Tourism dollars, fishing dollars, future drilling dollars, not to mention the ecological damage that this is going to cause should come out of BP's pockets. Anyone who is making a claim that this is some sort of socialist agenda on Obama's part needs to think again. BP should pay because when private business effs up like this, they should pay. Not only that, if their business model sucks (which it does) they should either innovate or PERISH. They deserve to go out of business and I refuse to feel sorry for the elite cretins that just poisoned quite possibly a fourth of the ocean because they didn't follow proper guidelines.

Good lord. Limbaugh needs to stick some more Oxycotin in his piehole and just shut the * up.

I don't feel sorry for BP. At all. Nor will I. Screw them and let their business die like it should.

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic


What I don't get is Rush's comment "he's making them". How can he make them do anything? Is there some kind of recourse if they do not listen?

reply to post by TheFinalTruth14


No, THIS debate is about Michelle Bachman's assertion that this is a distribution of wealth.

reply to post by David9176


The GOP had great momentum leading up to November and now thru their incredible stupidity or ignorance of the situation they just handed the dembs a huge strategic campaign advantage.

All the TPM, anti Obama administration cred. has just evaporated with thier slavish obedience to their corp. overlords.

They have shown their true colors in that they have thrown the people of the Gulf Coast under the bus in favor of the oil companies and the voters will remember this in the voting booths.

I bet we soon see some GOP candidates distancing themselves from these fools and showing some compassion toward those that will bear the brunt of this ecological and economic disaster.

Chalk one up for the "tree huggers"





[edit on 17-6-2010 by whaaa]

reply to post by TheFinalTruth14


Hm. Thank you for showing the error of my ways.

I was moreless thinking the subject was the thread title, and also this:

Apology to BP's Hayward triggers uproar

As far as the legalities involved, I believe the issue is now in front of our primary legal body. Perhaps they will know what they can and cannot do.

...........Just a guess.

reply to post by David9176



Michelle is right about their being a "redistribution of wealth"

It will be away from the small businesses, fisherman, motels, Tshirt makers, guide services, charter boats and anyone else that makes their living along the Gulf Coast. And perhaps even up the east coast as the currents carry this filth further and further away.
My Texas GC accounts are beginning to feel the effects and the oil really hasn't hit there.....yet.

The full effect of this disaster may not be felt for years.






[edit on 17-6-2010 by whaaa]

Far be it for me to play devil's advocate here, but I think they have a point when they said this was "shakedown" politics. And I play it for only one reason. Where does the US Government get the authority to make a private company set up a trust fund? Is that a law? If not, then shouldn't the government be speeding through a law stating that in the case of a natural disaster they have the authority to appeal to the company or companies responsible to make funds available? If there isn't a law giving them that power then isn't the federal government overstepping its boundaries here big time? We all want to hang BP by the balls for this disaster but let's not lose sight of the fact that the government cannot and should not have power to do anything they want. Isn't that what laws are for, limiting the power of government?

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic

"I hate saying this. (interruption) He's making them have an escrow account, BP and escrow, 20 billion. That's one year's profit, by the way. And thank God for windfall profits or they wouldn't have the money to put in escrow".

It's funny that Limbaugh doesn't talk about the tax subsidies they receive...or that gas and oil companies receive worldwide from governments....which is 750 BILLION dollars a year.

To be fair, the people questioning Tony Hayward on TV today are just doing what they think will get them elected. It's all politics.

I agree for the most part...I am sure there are those who are extremely angry though...especially politicians from the gulf states who were truly well intentioned.

reply to post by nunya13

What I don't get is Rush's comment "he's making them". How can he make them do anything? Is there some kind of recourse if they do not listen?

BP is on the record for agreeing with doing this. They could have fought it....wouldn't have been very smart of them however...