Lying To Make Friends

I may have spoken too soon in giving the Republican leadership credit for their response to Rep. Joe Barton’s comments.  The actual statement put out by the House Republican leaders raises eyebrows in some of its word choice:

“The oil spill in the Gulf is this nation’s largest natural disaster and stopping the leak and cleaning up the region is our top priority.  Congressman Barton’s statements this morning were wrong.  BP itself has acknowledged that responsibility for the economic damages lies with them and has offered an initial pledge of $20 billion dollars for that purpose.

“The families and businesspeople in the Gulf region want leadership, accountability and action from BP and the Administration.  It is unacceptable that, 59  days after this crisis began, no solution is forthcoming.  Simply put, the American people want all of our resources, time and focus to be directed toward stopping the spill and cleaning up the mess.”

As much as Republicans may want to believe that desecrating the environment in the name of commerce is God’s work, the explosion of a man made oil rig is not a “natural” disaster.

-AR