Huffington Post: On Thursday afternoon, Texas Republican Congressman Joe Barton issued an apology for telling BP CEO Tony Hayword that the Obama administration’s actions to hold the oil giant accountable in the wake of the Gulf Coast oil spill was a “shakedown.”

“I’m ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday,” said Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.) during a hearing on Thursday morning with BP’s CEO Tony Hayward.” 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 — with the attorney general of the United States, who is legitimately conducting a criminal investigation and has every right to do so to protect the American people, participating in what amounts to a $20 billion slush fund that’s unprecedented in our nation’s history, which has no legal standing, which I think sets a terrible precedent for our nation’s future.” [ READ MORE ]

Fox News Rushes To Defend Disgraced Oil Company

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Newt Gingrich says Obama “is directly engaged in extorting money” from BP

Hannity repeats tired falsehood that Obama administration is refusing foreign help with oil leak

Rudy Giuliani’s massive vacation hypocrisy

Limbaugh calls BP escrow fund “extortion,” “redistribution,” and wonders “where is this money gonna go?“

Limbaugh: Obama taught students “how to use the Constitution to shakedown corporations … much like he’s doing to BP“

Limbaugh: Obama “wanted” disaster, and “needed oil-soaked beaches to make his propaganda points“

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