Joe Barton Protecting His Best Interests

Republicans have been bending over backwards in defending BP. The Grand Old Party thinks BP shouldn't have to set up a $20 billion escrow account to pay victims of the oil spill. Rep. Joe Barton went as far as to publicly apologize to BP CEO Tony Hayward for the White House making BP set up the escrow account.

"I think it is a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation would be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown -- in this case a $20 billion shakedown," Barton said.

"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 some sort of political pressure," the 13-term congressman said. "That... amounts to a Shakedown. So I apologize."

How does Barton think the financial damage will be paid for. Barton is saying if a corporation "does something that is legitimately wrong" it should not be subjected to political pressure. Does Barton think the problem will magically go away on its own?

Anadarko Petroleum has been one of Barton's top campaign contribitor since 1989. Anadarko Petroleum is 25 percent owner of the Macondo Prospect; the site of the Deepwater Horizen rig that is ground zero for the oil spill. It is easy to see why Barton does not want oil corporations to be financially responsible for spills.

Update: Vice-President Joe Biden drops the hammer on Barton.

“There's no shakedown. It's insisting on responsible conduct and a responsible response to something they caused. And I find it outrageous to suggest that if in fact we insisted that B.P. demonstrate their preparedness to put aside billions of dollars, in this case $20 billion, to take care of the immediate needs of people who are drowning.”

Barton is now doing the walk of shame and issuing an apology.

“I apologize for using the term ‘shakedown’ with regard to yesterday’s actions at the White House in my opening statement this morning, and I retract my apology to BP,” the statement from his office read, ““I regret the impact that my statement this morning implied that BP should not pay for the consequences of their decisions and actions in this incident.”

Update: Florida Rep. Jeff Miller (R) calls on Barton to step down as ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

“I condemn Mr. Barton’s statement. Mr. Barton’s remarks are out of touch with this tragedy and I feel his comments call into question his judgment and ability to serve in a leadership on the Energy and Commerce Committee,” Miller said in a statement. “He should step down as Ranking Member of the Committee.”

Update: Organizing For America head David Plouffe is calling for Barton's resignation as rankng member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

“But big oil knows exactly who its allies are,” Plouffe – Obama’s former campaign manager writes, “Notably, companies like Halliburton -- the folks responsible for cementing the Deepwater Horizon rig -- are directing their political committees to deliver thousands of dollars to GOP candidates this cycle. Barton himself has received more than $100,000 from the oil and gas industry this election cycle. Barton should apologize to the people of the Gulf and he should step down as the highest-ranking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.”

Plouffe is close to Obama and members of the White House's political team. The White House must have given Plouffe the green light that Barton was fair game.