Joe Barton: "A tragedy of the first proportion"

I think it is a tragedy in the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown -- in this case a $20 billion shakedown

These were the words yesterday of Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex) commenting on the escrow account that the administration got BP to agree to. An agreement Burton labelled a "shakedown." Although most of the media has focussed on the word "shakedown." It seems to me that - in the face of a real "tragedy of the first proportion" in the Gulf of Mexico, Burton would characterize the White House/BP deal in those words. Talk about insensitivity.

June 4: Citizen's arrest at BP headquarters

Citizen's Arrest at BP Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

Friday, June 4, 12:00pm - 1:00pm

BP's Washington, D.C. Office

1101 New York Ave., N.W., Washington, DC

Public Citizen, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Energy Action Coalition,
Chesapeake Climate Action Network, 350.org, Hip Hop Caucus and the Center for Biological Diversity are going to hold BP accountable for its high crimes and misdemeanors. They need YOU to help them deliver the charges against BP!