Friday Funnies, Part 3: The Schmuck Of The Week!

OK, so this isn't that funny, except for the reactions. Texas congresscritter Joe Barton (R-Big Oil) apologized to BP executives yesterday, characterizing the Obama administration "of perpetrating a shakedown by pressuring BP to set aside $20 billion to cover expected damages."

TPM, quoting idiot from Texas:

"I think it is a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown, in this case a $20 billion shakedown," Barton said. "I'm only speaking for myself, I'm not speaking for anybody else. But I apologize. I do not want to live in a country where any time a citizen or a corporation does something that is legitimately wrong, is subject to to some sort of political pressure that is, again, in my words, amounts to a shakedown. So I apologize."

 Notwithstanding the fact that Barton is one of Congress' biggest recipients of Big Oil largess, his comment was particularly tone-deaf in light of the country's anger and frustration at BP, and how the spill is being handled. Of course, the GOP leadership's response was "don't say that shit out loud!" However, in an act typical of GOP hypocrisy, several Rethug members of Congress had already complained about the escrow fund. Also bellyaching were the Wall Street Journal, Erick Erickson of CNN and RedState, Laura Ingraham, Newt Gingrich, and Rush Limbaugh, to name a disgusting few.

But of course, Barton had to eat his words. "...he (sort of) apologized for apologizing. Then he apologized again, falling on his sword even as party leaders were throwing him under the bus." Barton didn't get the memo: it's ok to criticize Pres. Obama, but for God's sake, don't openly side with the oil companies! "Off with his head!" they cried. So Barton apologized twice, and so far, there are two Republicans who want him to resign his position as the ranking Rethug on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. We'll see how many more jump on the bandwagon by Monday.

Ahh, hell--Jon Stewart did this better than I ever could. I'll let him take it from here:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Day 59 - Judgment Day - The Strife Aquatic
www.thedailyshow.com
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And there you have it: this week's Schmuck Of The Week, the (dis)honorable Joe Barton!