Florida Republicans slam Barton, but will they be in trouble with the GOP?

By Mitch Perry on Fri, Jun 18, 2010 at 10:20 am

But Barton's problem was making his comments on national cable television to one of the most unappealing personalities of the moment in Tony Hayward. But if he had made his comments, say, behind a radio microphone or to other reporters, he wouldn't nearly be in this much trouble.

You think otherwise? Well, let's take a look at what some other conservatives have been saying over the past 48 hours.

On Wednesday, former Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey said at a breakfast in Washington that "The Constitution does not envision the president of the United States saying that 'I will decide what compensations, what redress will be elicited from British-owned company. There are courts for this purpose."

Georgia Representative Tom Price called BP's announcement that it would set up a $20 billion escrow fund a sign of the company giving into Obama's "Chicago-style shakedown politics."

And of course El Rushbo was feeling that same vibe yesterday,

twenty billion dollars when the maximum allowed by law is $75 million, but Obama brings 'em in, who knows what happened in that meeting, it went on much longer than expected, it was said that he was darting in and darting out, he wasn't there for the whole thing. "Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) said Tuesday that President Barack Obama is exceeding his legitimate constitutional authority in telling BP it must set up an independent fund, not controlled by the company, for compensating victims of the Gulf oil spill. She described the administration's policy as an action 'that's all about extortion.'" It is all about extortion by threat of legal hell. And it's redistribution. Where is this money going to go?

I ask again the questions I asked yesterday. Where is the money going to go? What unions are gonna get it? What ACORN people are gonna get it? What Democrats who are experiencing great trouble here in their reelection bids, are going to get this money? We were told we have an independent commission or entity that is going to be handing out the dispersal of this money. Well, who is he? Well, he's the pay czar. He's already one of Obama's czars. How in the world they can call Feinberg independent is beyond me. Let's go to the audiotape. This is what I said yesterday on this program about this $20 billion escrow fund.

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By now everybody's heard of Texas Republican Representative Joe Barton's apology to BP CEO Tony Hayward for the $20 billion escrow account the company will pay into in order to cover damages from the disaster. Barton called the account a "tragedy," a "shakedown" and a "slush fund."

Several Florida Republicans came down hard on Barton, not to mention virtually every Democrat and much of the mainstream media. By the end of the day, Barton came up with a half-assed mealy mouthed "apology" that was obviously done only because he was told to House GOP leadership.

Pensacola Congressman Jeff Miller was one of the first Republicans out of the box to slam Barton, saying,

"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. He should step down as Ranking Member of the Committee."

Polk County's Adam Putnam followed suit.

“To say they were ill advised is an insult to advice,” added Mr. Putnam, who is running for state agriculture commissioner this year. “He owes the people of the Gulf Coast an apology, not the C.E.O. of the company who may have cut corners to produce this horrific national tragedy.”