Oil spill reveals GOP hypocrisy
“Drill baby, drill” became the Republicans’ 2008 presidential campaign motto. Now one has to wonder if it will be “drill baby drill ‘til it spills baby spills.”
The drill advocates are as silent as a swamp cricket laced in raw crude. They simply did not have much to say on the Sunday morning political yak shows about the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico other than to blame President Obama.
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Since the catastrophic British Petroleum oil rig explosion on April 20, which killed eleven men, the Coast Guard has estimated nearly 5,000 barrels of oil a day has been spewing into the water. By April 30, there were reports the slick had reached the Louisiana shore, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has since halted all fishing from the Louisiana to the Florida coasts. It is believed this will devastate the region’s seafood industry.
At 5,000 barrels a day, which even government officials say could be low estimates, it is set to surpass the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill, making it likely to be the worst oil spill disaster in U.S. history. Officials estimate it could take BP up to several months to plug the broken well, which is located nearly a mile underwater.
In a political environment as raucous as today’s, it was simply a matter of time before the right wing pinned this on the president. If you listen to their talking points, you would think this is President Obama’s Katrina. Americans probably remember Hurricane Katrina from seeing citizens dying in the streets and an entire major American city drowning, all while then-President George W. Bush was ensuring us Michael Brown, or “Brownie” as he became known, was doing “a heckuva job.”
This is not President Obama’s Katrina. Unfortunately, many of the mainstream media types have adopted that right wing talking point and have begun regurgitating that officials have been questioning the administration’s response to the oil spill. What they don’t say is those “officials” are other right wingers and Republicans taking cues from Rush Limbaugh, who originally coined the Obama’s Katrina term on his Friday radio show.
From broadcast to broadcast on Sunday, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar had to defend against the statement: “Some are saying this is President Obama’s Katrina.”
But alas, isn’t this why the right wing noise machine plays so well? After all, is it not the Republican Party that always advocates stripping away those burdensome, pesky government regulations? We know the ones, somewhat like the ones European countries require oil rigs to implement to prevent disasters such as the one heading to the Gulf States. Yes, the regulations that supposedly stifle business, until something like this happens and we see they were much needed.
Republicans and their right wing organ players are masters at flipping scripts. Let’s examine some well-known conservatives who are directly impacted with the Gulf Coast spill.
Republican Governor Bobby Jindal became the up-and-coming conservative until he flopped out on national television attempting a response to the president’s early 2009 economic stimulus speech. Governor Jindal then doubled down and remarked he would refuse any federal stimulus money. But once the money became available it was a different story, and the governor fell in the handout line like everyone else. After all, Louisiana has largely avoided the economic belt tightening other states have endured thanks to federal funds provided since Katrina.
Then there’s Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi who in his 2006 State of the State address in response to Hurricane Katrina said, “We didn’t whine to the federal government…[like Governor Blanco did], we just laced up our britches and got to work.”
And there’s the whole slew of conservative senators and other politicos lining the Gulf Coast states who also argue against any investment in alternative fuels. Even Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), whose labor with Senators Kerry and Lieberman finally led to a long-awaited energy bill, walked away from his own legislation to toe the conservative line and fight anything the president proposes.
It is important to note that besides demanding their “fair share” of federal funding, these conservative states, or ones that elect conservative politicians at least, are known as what are called welfare states. That means for every dollar states like Michigan and Ohio send to D.C., they only receive around 84 cents back because states like Mississippi and Louisiana receive $1.20 for every one sent to D.C. Of course, that does not mean the anti-government, anti-regulation rhetoric has to stop.
For these reasons, it is difficult for me to stomach the fact President Obama went to Louisiana Sunday and committed every resource it would take to remedy the spill. I wanted to suggest he leave Governor Barbour a bucket and a few sponges and tell him to “lace up your britches again, Halley, you got some cleaning to do.”
Fortunately, the president’s demeanor is calmer than mine. Perhaps I am a bit upset, too, that next time I visit family in Louisiana I might have trouble finding a soft-shelled crab or oysters.
Why weren’t regulations in place to stop such a disaster? Is oil drilling off our delicate coastlines really the answer to our energy needs? More importantly, will the oil slick’s sludge finally clear the vision of the drill baby drill crowd or will politics continue to cloud their judgment?
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by Salvadore J DeMarco Sr.
This article clearly states the problems that are occuring here in my home state of Louisiana and along the gulf coast. President Obama and others have campaigned and spoke time and time again about pushing for clean and renewable resources for energy. This will not only get us off the addiction of foriegn oil, but it will also benefit our environment. Now, because of BP and the republicans continued fight to “drill baby drill”, the prime industry in my state will suffer unprecedented losses. Shrimp, fish, crabs, crawfish, and oysters will no longer be available to me unless I get Chinese crawfish or frozen seafood from other parts of the world. Governor Jindal and Governor Barbour always complains about President Obama and the federal government, saying it is to big and states can handle themselves just as Governor Barbours’ quote is stated in the article above, “We didn’t whine to the federal government…[like Governor Blanco did], we just laced up our britches and got to work.” Now these governors are begging the federal government to aid with the cleanup and helping the seafood industry. This is my home and now my wetlands and coastline are getting covered in oil. The barrier islands off our coast and our wetlands help protect us against hurricanes. Thank you to all republicans and other politicians involved in “drill baby drill” to help destroy my home. Awesome article Sammy, you touched on very important issues that not only effects us here on the gulf coast, but the entire country.
Flag for moderationby Lenny F
Heard an interesting fact this morning during a story about the fines and lawsuits that BP and their contractors will be getting in the near future.
Did you know who is responsible for inspecting oil rigs, and ensuring their safety? The owner of the rig. Really. Until now, that is…
The BP rig explosion caused unwanted and inconvenient attention by a couple of members of congress. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/05/11/Salazar-to-split-rig-inspecting-unit-in-2/UPI-64821273614526/
Flag for moderationby Peter Cook
Your article is a stretch on reality. I might be more sympathetic except that the Democrats control the White House, the House, and the Senate. Obama’s Interior Department botched the permits that were supposed to regulate BP’s activity in the Gulf (the White House has correctly even admitted to this). I am a registered Democrat but to lay blame for this on the party totally locked out of power is counter-productive and untruthful. I personally think the President has an ecological tiger by the tail. I am an environmentalist and if this had happened during George Bush’s watch we would rightfully want his head on a pike.
Flag for moderationby Steven Bannister
I call BULLSHIT!
The Gulf Oil Spill most certainly IS Obama’s Katrina – in fact, it’s even worse, much worse as it will cause environmental devastation for years to come.
The issue is NOT BP’s failure to plug up the leak, the issue is the Obama’s Administrations inept, inadequate “deer in the headlights” response to this national disaster. Immediately upon hearing of leak ON THE OCEAN FLOOR, the Obama Administration should have declared a state of emergency.
A fleet of barges should have been sent to surround Lousiania’s fragile marsh areas WEEKS AGO to lay down booms. The National Guard and Army Corps of Engineers should have been deployed to build barriers – WHICH WAS REQUESTED BY GOVERNER JINDEL MULTIPLE TIMES!
Instead, the Obama Administration treated the whole incident as an unwelcome “inconvenience” (in the words of Democratic strategist James Carvel) and allowed this nightmare to unfold for 35 days and counting!
Let us ask ourselves honestly: If John McCain had won the last election and was president right now- how much MORE critical would all of us be? We all know the answer – if John McCain was president, there would be protests in the street and this WOULD be called “McCain’s Katrina” right smack dab on the cover of Newsweek!
I say all of this not to demonize Obama or defend the Republicans but rather to point out how partisan prejudices often affects our ability to be critical WHEN IT COUNTS.
By the way – did I mention that Barack Obama received more money from BP than any other politician in the last campaign? START ASKING QUESTIONS.
Flag for moderationby Gary Burnaska
Obama got more money form BP than any other politician, also months before this disaster happened, here is the kicker… Three months before the massive BP oil spill erupted in the Gulf of Mexico, the Obama administration proposed downsizing the Coast Guard national coordination center for oil spill responses, prompting its senior officers to warn that the agency’s readiness for catastrophic events would be weakened.
Sure the spill is BP’s fault but the federal government screwed up in reacting to it because too much of our tax money is going to stupid pet projects than real issues.
Face it liberals, you great messiah of hope and change is a DUD. I was no fan of GW Bush but Obama is making me nostalgic for the Bush years.
As for these alternative energy sources, right now those sources are still to inefficient and costly to really replace oil. Should we explore them? yes, can we replace fossil fuels right now NO.
Flag for moderationby Liza
Admiral Mike Mullen has said BP is best equipped to handle the spill.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/31/mike-mullen-oil-industry-_n_595206.html
As far as the call for using idle fisherman to clean the spill, beings this is a hazardous product, they must first be trained. However, even then, there’s reports of trained fisherman becoming ill: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/may/26/nation/la-na-oil-workers-sick-20100526
On Governor Jindal’s sand bar theory, the Army Corps and other scientists aren’t sure that would even work: http://www.wbur.org/npr/127018713
And besides, according to the Corps, it would take six to nine months to complete.
I think this was caused by the conservative theory of no regulations as the article suggest.
Flag for moderationby Kenneth Barna
Dear Bannister and Burnaska,
Flag for moderationI find it truly amazing that almost all of your right wing politicians that were calling for “drill baby drill” during the last presidential election are now nowhere to be heard, except to back off of that comment. Especially Ms. Palin.
How much money is going to what pet projects? Let me see, if you include the stimulus, health care reform, banking reform, as well as others, it seems to me that the Obama administration is trying to improve the lives of everyday Americans. The call by republicans for smaller government is no longer convenient when they want federal help. You can’t have it both ways. You either want the federal government to help, or as Governor Barbour put it: “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps” and don’t seek federal aid.
As for alternative energy sources we are moving far too slowly, and should be pushing congress harder to bring wind, solar, natural gas, hydrogen, and others with incentives to move in those directions.
by Gary Burnaska
Energy Companies such as BP will invest in these alternative sources once it is apparent there is money in it. All investors want a return in the investment. Oil companies need to realize they are not in the OIL business they are in the ENERGY business. Look at Radio, they are not in the Radio business they are in the Communications Business. Once Solar, Wind and Hydrogen become profitable BP will invest in it.
Right now a conventional power plant is still cheaper to run and maintain than a wind farm. Once gas power plant as a life span of 40 years, one Wind farm wind mill has a life span of 10 years and require far MORE constant maintenance to keep it operating.
stimulus, health care reform, banking reform? Even left wing rags like Rolling Stone are trashing the Stimulus as a failure and Banking Reform leftists are calling Pres. Obama a sellout. If you are the most liberal president and the first black president and RS is trashing you. Something is WRONG.
Health Care, this bill that no one wants pretty much made him a one term president and cost Dems congress. In the Army we call a tactical move like that downright f**cking stupid.
As for this Oil Spill, this disaster is pretty much the Chernobyl of oil spills, that disaster was a black mark in nuclear power and was the result of bad leadership. We are seeing it here, We have a President who cannot lead, Congress that is inept and BP who caused this mess out of incompetence.
Obama has just been a disappointment, we ran for president when He did not have the experience or any leadership background then during the campaign He oversold himself, and portrayed himself as an empty suit that wide-eyed voters can put their own hopes and dreams into. Now that suit is no longer empty the voters are starting to see who he really is and we are not liking it.
Flag for moderationby Kenneth Barna
Dear Mr. Burnaska,
Flag for moderationYour first premise is wrong, because big business never looks beyond their noses when it comes to changing the landscape of a particular product or service. They will continue to hang with whatever they have until they have exhausted it. Then, and only then, will they look at something new.
I would like to know your sources of information on wind farms. Even if you are correct with your facts, what about all the pollution your power plant is throwing into the atmosphere?
When you say that even Rolling Stone is trashing President Obama about the stimulus, or banking reform, you are correct, because he did not go far enough. That is not the same as republicans trashing him because they would do nothing about either problem, and if you checked with the editorial board of that publication, they still support Mr. Obama far more than former President Bush.
Again, as most republicans, you would advocate doing nothing with health care, even though many of you have said costs are out of control.
President Obama has been involved from day one of the oil spill in the gulf, however, there is only so much the federal government can do. The government does not own, or have any controling interest in oil equipment to control the spill. Isn’t that what good republicans would want?
Finally, if being the governor of Texas is any more of a qualifier than being a senator in congress for the job as president, you are really spliting hairs. If anyone oversold the general public it was your republican President Bush. A man who butchered the english language, could not put two coherant sentences together, tried to take some of our rights away from us, and ran the most secretive administration in history. Give me President Obama anyday.