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*** UPDATE 2 *** Rep. Barton's communications director reached out to First Read to take responsibility for the Tweet. (See below)
Rep. Joe Barton infamously apologized to BP last week at a hearing for what he called a White House "shakedown" and infringement of a private company.
The Texas Republican then apologized for apologizing only after Republican leadership vowed to strip him of his all-important ranking status on the House Energy and Commerce Committee if he refused.
Today, a "Tweet" of his raises new questions as to just how sorry he is. He wrote: "Joe Barton Was Right," linking to a perspective item written on a blog of the conservative magazine The American Spectator with the same headline.
*** UPDATE *** NBC's Ellie Hall reports that Barton's Tweet has now, in fact, been deleted.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Rep. Barton's communications director reached out to First Read to take responsibility for the Tweet. Sean Brown writes:
Since you guys wrote an article about it its morning: I did it!
Without thinking about it much, I added a headline from one of the daily news clips to a website that is, in turn, linked to the congressman’s Twitter account. Mr. Barton was not aware of the Tweet…
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Oh, boy! A wingnut backed up by the American Spectator! In other news, the sun rose in the east this morning!
It it trite to say he is the gift that keeps on giving, but the good news for Democrats is that he will be out and about defending himself...Just like "You Lie" Joe Wilson. Barton will be the poster child for big oil, Wall Street bankers, and healthcare insurance companies. A reminder of what the Tea Party is all about.
Aside from the fact that the Conservadrones are splintered and have no clue who to vote for (the same problem they had with McSame and Failin) this will be a blow they will be crippled from.
There are so many instances of Republithugs shooting themselves in the foot that they'll be defending themselves... I take that back... they are already too busy defending themselves and that is before the Dems have even posted any ads.
The Tea Party express sounds like they will need some coffee for the long nights ahead.
:^p
Reminds me of this guy this morning on The Today Show who represents a conservative 'think' tank...LMAO!
A conservative "think tank"? That must be one of those new smart weapons the army has.
A conservative "think tank" is an oxymoron. Heavy on the MORON.
Joe Barton was right! Hey Joe call BP and apologize for the well gushing uncontrollably again!
I'm still trying to fathom why I get all tingly inside when I hear the rhetoric come from a crazy Whackadoodle Republithug.
BTW, I'm digging this new format FR. I commented every once in a while on the previous board but it was way too constrained.
Once again ...he was let go wild by "Boehner" the most hated man in the GOP ! Another x military loser!
VOTE THIS BUM " Boehner (r) OHIO OUT !!! in NOV !!!
I wish it was that easy. Bohner's district LOVES him to death.
If President Obama had so much "antipathy for business" as this right-wing outfit says, why did he bail out GM, Chrysler, and support TARP. I would think as a left-wing anti-business guy, he would have let them go and in the process been more popular with voters.
The elephant Joe Barton brought into the room was his voicing the previously underlying but seldom voiced truth, the REAL republican thinking--everything for big business, and nuts to the people, the environment and anything in the way.
aka, Cicero
Well, as even Chris Matthews said after the speech last week, "under what authority does the President have to confiscate private property?" I do belileve that BP is ultimately repsonsible for the spill, yet what authority does the President/Executive have?
Private property rights and the Rule of Law are the centerpiece of our society. There are a series of laws rules we have accepted in order to live in a civil society. What we expect in return is to have our rights protected. What's to stop the Executive branch in the future from confiscating ANY of our property. Giving into whims of either the left or the right?
Just a word of caution to watch what you wish for. Cause ours is a system where we Govern Ourselves, so what we desire, is what we will receive. If the rights of One are disrespected, the rights of ALL are disrespected.
BP forked over the cash willingly enough, there wasn't much arm twisting they tapped out real quick because they know they have huge liabilities (huge is an understatement). They did not do this out of kindness or concern this was a business decision on their part. If they didn't think it was best for BP they would have forced the issue. BP's worth is estimated at a trillion dollars, 20 billion is just a decent down payment against the destruction they are responsible for.
Finally a rational comment. Thanks Rob, for the momentary break.
If one commits a crime and their privately owned automobile, which was used in the crime, is comfiscated wouldn't that be the same thing? What BP owns will likely be returned when they show they have paid for their crime and can be responsible citizens of the world.
My thinking is that they (BP) are hoping that 20 billion is ALL they have to pay...
Police departments all over the country confiscate private property all the time and they don't put it into escrow for restitutuion of crime victims they keep it, even cash money. It seems nobody has been complaining too much about that.
Adler / Grump
They confiscate without legal authority, due process?
They confiscate because they are mad and their poll numbers are dropping?
Amazing that people cannot separate their emotions and understand the difference.
They confiscate without legal authority, due process?
Yes the property is taken before any trial it is taken at the time of arrest.
And if there is no legal precedent BP's world wide team of lawyers would not know this? They voluntarily surrendered the cash, because it was good business for them.
Actually, BP and the other Oil Cos don't 'own' the wells or the gas and oil they produce, they Lease them. If those entities lie about what they are going to do on their forms, and get caught, then they SHOULD forfeit their leases and it is well within the rights of the Executive to demand this. Considering that all of the Disaster Management plans are basically copied from one another, and have supposed protections in place for the' walruses, salmon and seals' these leases NEED to be rescinded and then renegotiated...at the proper taxation/royalties level as well. The Oil Co's have no 'right' to the oil and gas, which are a National resource, but they get all the profits from it and try to pass off the costs to the rest of us. Barton has proven himself to be beholden ONLY to the Corporate Bottom Line....Greed and unsustainable profits at the cost of everything else. He is the True Poster Child of the Repubs and the gift that will keep on giving to the Dems, this year AND in 2012! If I was a local down on the Gulf I would be seriously thinking of gathering up all of the politicians that are beholden to the Oil Companies and using them as absorbent booms...although they may actually be a worse danger to the Gulf with their toxic sliminess!
Name the law Obama broke in negotiating an escrow fund with BP. I'm so sick of hearing this. Put up or shut up.
Grump
You cannot be this obtuse. One more chance.
Do the police have LEGAL AUTHORITY when they make a LAWFULL arrest? Do they dispose of your property before a trial? Do you have any understanding of due proces and what that means?
There is no LEGAL precedent.
You are right, they voluntarily surrendered the cash, because it was good business for them. In fact, they spent 50 million saying they would pay for everything and have spent over 100 million in damages already - because it is good business for them.
Obama had no LEGAL AUTHORITY to force them to set up the fund. It was a show for the American public. It worked and now his defenders have something they can say he actually did instead of it's Bush's fault.
My point is he probably did not force them, and I'm not a lawyer but I would not be suprised that with lease agreements and such that there is a legal argument. But even if there is BP did not defend this, at least not very hard.
Forrest, in his speech before he met with them, he said he'd "inform" them, he didn't say they "will" or "I will make them. Those words weren't used because he didn't have the authority to do it.
In drug seizures, they're allowed to take the property because the law has defined with certain types of drug arrests they can legally take it.
The GOP allowing Barton to keep his Energy Committee post clearly shows that regardless of what they say for public consumption, the GOP agrees with Barton and his Pro-Big-Oil leanings in their hearts.
I used to be a registered Republican, fooled into thinking that the "Regan revolution" would be good for our country - now I see that 21st Century Republicans are the most Anti-American group ever to disgrace our government.
President Lincoln said in his Gettysburg Address: ".....and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth".
Notice the words: "government of the people, by the people, for the people" NOWHERE in there do I see the words "corporation" nor "business" nor "CEOs" nor "biggest contributors"!!! I see the words "the people".
Now is the time for "the people" to take back the United States of America. Wake up Citizens, for if you don't it will be too late for your children and grandchildren!
Roger,
Welcome to the side of rational thought and intellectual discourse! The dark side will not miss you since you seem capable of independent thought.
Unfortunately, the SCOTUS recently granted corporations status as "people" and are now equal with all other "citizens" of the USA. We need to do what we can to limit the impact of that ruling and, I agree, that we need to roust those that are still willing and able to see things for what they are and rise to action politically before it is too late and we are too far gone to salvage.
One of the original progressives, Woodrow Wilson once said when speaking of leadership:
Obama learned well.
"I'm sorry for saying I was sorry about saying I was sorry..."
"UPDATE: Sorry about that."