GOP Gives Joe Barton a Free Pass

PoliticsJune 2010 • Views: 2,410

In today’s Republican Party, you can make politically disastrous statements, blatantly shill for Big Oil, and be an undisguised theocratic climate change denier — and you’ll still be welcome to lead the Energy and Commerce Committee.

The Republican Party has given Joe Barton a free pass.

House Republicans who condemned Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) and threatened to yank his position atop the Energy and Commerce Committee have backed off and will let Barton remain the party’s top lawmaker on the panel.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), who rebuked Barton for his BP apology last week, told the House Republican Conference Wednesday morning in a closed door meeting that it’s time to move on.

“Joe has done the right thing by apologizing — it’s time to move on,” Boehner told his Republican colleagues, according to multiple sources in the room.

And Barton, of course, immediately gloated about it.

Once news broke that Barton was safe, he posted this POLITICO story in his Twitter feed, then followed up on Twitter by linking to another story with the headline “Joe Barton was right.”

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37 comments

Targetpractice Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:06:15am

Once again, the wingnut base screams "JUMP!" and the GOP leadership asks "How high?"

Kragar Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:07:08am

Well, here is what I think of the GOP nowadays.

You can kiss my ass, you pricks.

erraticsphinx Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:09:31am

So his "apology" earlier was total bullshit, and now that he's safe he's conforming it. The ads write themselves.

RadicalModerate Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:09:56am

Of course, as soon as Politico reported on this, the second part (about Barton's gloating) has been pulled from his Twitter feed.

lawhawk Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:10:06am

Politics as usual. Go figure.

Charles Johnson Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:13:14am

What you're seeing here is the influence of Big Oil on the GOP. Barton is one of their biggest boosters in the House, and there's no way they're going to let the GOP get rid of him. There's absolutely no accountability. Barton lied about apologizing for his statements, and is openly gloating now.

The whole rotten system is corrupt.

Sol Berdinowitz Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:13:40am

One cannot eypect his own party to turn on him. But I would like to see the voters turn on the party.

They will have their solid 30-odd % of the frothing right-wing vote tied up tight, but I think that the middle is moving away from them faster than they can solidify their base.

Lidane Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:13:55am

He was never going to face any consequences. The GOP is so far gone these days that you can apologize to the oil company that's destroyed the Gulf of Mexico and still come out on top.

It's ridiculous.

Sol Berdinowitz Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:14:12am

Hey Barton, go misconstrue yourself!!!

iceweasel Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:14:22am

Shill, baby, shill!

Fozzie Bear Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:14:41am

I think it's safe to say the GOP will never come back from this. They are an extremist group now.

Kragar Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:16:11am

re: #6 Charles

What you're seeing here is the influence of Big Oil on the GOP. Barton is one of their biggest boosters in the House, and there's no way they're going to let the GOP get rid of him. There's absolutely no accountability. Barton lied about apologizing for his statements, and is openly gloating now.

The whole rotten system is corrupt.

I stand by my previous blowjob analogy from several days ago.

Amory Blaine Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:16:32am

Good. Now they can get back to bashing Obama 24/7. Because he started the wars, the recession, the deficit etc.

/sarcasm

Sol Berdinowitz Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:16:56am

re: #12 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

I stand by my previous blowjob analogy from several days ago.

Missed that one. Care to give us another peek through the analogy gloryhole?

Fozzie Bear Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:17:04am

The GOP desperately needs another one of these.

Walter L. Newton Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:18:03am

re: #11 Fozzie Bear

I think it's safe to say the GOP will never come back from this. They are an extremist group now.

Pay attention... they never left. You may not agree with some of the positions and antics of the GOP, and I may not agree with them either, but that doesn't erase the fact that they certainly have support, and a lot of it, and exactly for the reasons of their positions.

I think it's safe to say they aren't going anywhere. And you can't just wish them away, you can't just embarrass them away, and it appears that you can't use what you consider logical arguments to change their mind.

Fozzie Bear Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:18:05am

re: #14 ralphieboy

I believe he saud that outr entire political and economic system is based on an elaborate series of BJ's. I laughed for a good 5 minutes. Then I cried, cause it's true.

Fozzie Bear Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:18:33am

re: #17 Fozzie Bear

omg my typing skills have left me completely. for shame.

Lidane Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:18:49am

re: #13 Amory Blaine

Good. Now they can get back to bashing Obama 24/7. Because he started the wars, the recession, the deficit etc.

/sarcasm

Don't forget that Obama is the one who should resign because of BP's negligence. At least that's what Fox Nation tells me. =P

Walter L. Newton Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:19:05am

re: #18 Fozzie Bear

omg my typing skills have left me completely. for shame.

And your piano playing stinks too!

Fozzie Bear Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:19:36am

re: #20 Walter L. Newton

At least I can still sing.

Walter L. Newton Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:19:58am

re: #21 Fozzie Bear

At least I can still sing.

That's debatable!

Kragar Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:20:28am

re: #14 ralphieboy

Missed that one. Care to give us another peek through the analogy gloryhole?

The basis for our entire political and economic system;

Youtube Video

blueraven Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:22:08am

MSNBC reporting General McChrystal has been relieved of duties.

Political Atheist Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:22:40am

Charles, are you going to post an embed of Obamas conf in a few minutes? If so I won't page it. No point in duplicating...

iceweasel Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:22:58am

re: #8 Lidane

He was never going to face any consequences. The GOP is so far gone these days that you can apologize to the oil company that's destroyed the Gulf of Mexico and still come out on top.

It's ridiculous.

It still completely blows my mind that the GOP would side with BP.

I think it's time to wholly give up the pretence that they give a shit about the country.

webevintage Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:23:05am

Why would they punish him?
All he did was repeat what was already being said by others and sanctioned by the RSC:
[Link: rsc.tomprice.house.gov...]

Sol Berdinowitz Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:23:06am

re: #23 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

The basis for our entire political and economic system;

[Video]

It is certainly the basis of the British class system: ritualized buggery starting in boarding school. It is how the peckering, er, pecking order is established.

Four More Tears Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:24:11am

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Politicians should be limited to contributions from residents of the district/state/etc. they will represent.

avanti Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:24:19am

The MSM is reporting McChrystal is gone.

Political Atheist Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:24:39am

Going upstairs...

Targetpractice Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:26:19am

re: #29 JasonA

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Politicians should be limited to contributions from residents of the district/state/etc. they will represent.

And just like every other campaign finance law, they'll find a way around that one too.

Mad Al-Jaffee Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:26:24am

re: #17 Fozzie Bear

I believe he saud that outr entire political and economic system is based on an elaborate series of BJ's. I laughed for a good 5 minutes. Then I cried, cause it's true.

It's a quote from a Mr. Show sketch.

Four More Tears Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:27:03am

re: #32 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

And just like every other campaign finance law, they'll find a way around that one too.

That doesn't mean we should stop trying to make them.

abolitionist Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:27:59am

Why Republicans Need Barton to be Quiet

A new Public Policy Polling survey in Texas suggests Republicans are well advised to stay clear of Rep. Joe Barton's (R-TX) apology to oil giant BP for how they were treated by the Obama administration.
"The poll numbers indicate this is an issue where Democrats could find some resonance with independent voters. [snip]

re: #17 Fozzie Bear

I believe he saud that outr entire political and economic system is based on an elaborate series of BJ's. I laughed for a good 5 minutes. Then I cried, cause it's true.

Robes are traditional attire for judges and some others in positions of authority. A deep bow before a king or head of state is a long-standing custom. Placing hands together near one's face is a common gesture when praying to one's lord. I'll stop there..

simoom Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:39:41am

re: #27 webevintage

Why would they punish him?
All he did was repeat what was already being said by others and sanctioned by the RSC:
[Link: rsc.tomprice.house.gov...]

Optics.

It wasn't the "shakedown" rhetoric, targeted at the Obama administration, that interrupted the planned talking points for a few days and caused his colleagues to distance themselves from his statement, it was his tacked on apology for the $20B fund. While conspiratorial allegations are given a pass in todays media environment, GOP political strategists must have decided that a direct apology to BP's Tony Hayward, who very few voters have much sympathy for, was a bridge too far.

Barton's crime was that he bungled the talking point.

darthstar Wed, Jun 23, 2010 10:46:10am

Boehner wants to 'move on' from this apology? Big surprise there. Asshole.

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