Democrats Seize on Barton’s BP Apology

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Well, that was fast. 

After Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.) apologized to BP this morning for Obama’s “shake-down” of the company, the Democratic Congressional Campaign committee hasn’t wasted any time in going on the offensive. The DCCC has already launched Facebook ads and a petition demanding that the Texas Republican retract his comments. “The DCCC will hold these out-of-touch House Republicans accountable who have no shame when it comes to jumping to the defense of Big Oil,” said DCCC spokesman Ryan Rudominer. Here’s the DCCC’s attack line:

GOP Congressman Joe Barton had the nerve to apologize to BP CEO Tony Hayward for the “tragedy” of holding the oil giant accountable for the devastation caused by the Gulf oil disaster. The American people must respond to this shameful display with a strong and unified voice. Add your name to the petition below:

Congressman Barton: The real tragedy is happening in the Gulf of Mexico and the communities along the Gulf Coast. Instead of apologizing to BP, we are calling on you to retract your shameful statement and apologize for standing with Big Oil at the expense of the American people.

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BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

Mother Jones was founded to do journalism differently. We stand for justice and democracy. We reject false equivalence. We go after stories others don’t. We’re a nonprofit newsroom, because the kind of truth-telling investigations we do doesn’t happen under corporate ownership.

And the essential ingredient that makes all this possible? Readers like you.

It’s reader support that enables Mother Jones to devote the time and resources to report the facts that are too difficult, expensive, or inconvenient for other news outlets to uncover. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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