Barton Retracts Apology to BP

Texas Republican regrets use of word 'shakedown'
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 17, 2010 3:28 PM CDT
Barton Retracts Apology to BP
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, right, in a file photo from March.   (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)

Well that was fast. The Tony Hayward grilling hasn't even finished in Congress, and Joe Barton already is walking back his earlier apology to BP. "I apologize for using the term 'shakedown' with regard to yesterday's actions at the White House in my opening statement this morning, and I retract my apology to BP," said the Texas Republican in a statement.

"I regret the impact that my statement this morning implied that BP should not pay for the consequences of their decisions and actions in this incident," said his statement, as per CBS. Barton also addressed the matter in his afternoon questioning: "I want to be absolutely clear that I think BP is responsible for this accident, should be held responsible and should in every way do everything possible to make good on the consequences that have resulted from this accident," he said. "And if anything I said this morning has been misconstrued to the opposite effect I want to apologize for that."
(More Joe Barton stories.)

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