A congressman who has no shame

Robert Blanner, North Las Vegas

Sunday, June 20, 2010 | 2:04 a.m.

On Wednesday, President Barack Obama met with BP executives at the White House. One result of the meeting was BP agreeing to contribute $20 billion to a compensation fund. On Thursday, Tony Hayward, CEO of BP, went before a House committee to discuss the tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico.

In one of the opening statements, Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, called the establishment of the compensation fund a “$20 billion shakedown” and further said, “I’m ashamed of what happened at the White House Wednesday.”

Later in the afternoon, Barton, obviously after getting a lot of heat for his statement, said, “I am sorry if I was misconstrued.” In reality his first statement left nothing to misconstrue, but I guess his idea of an apology was more than one could expect.

First of all, from Day One, BP said it would pay to compensate for the spill. This $20 billion represents a major commitment toward meeting that goal. It will be managed by a third party and will not be used for any other purpose.

The fund will greatly expedite the distribution of money needed by those who are suffering. If this third party can get money to someone who has to make a mortgage or car payment or pay school fees, etc., one day earlier than what would have been the case, it will be worth it.

Second, Barton’s fear is not over a shakedown but over the possibility that President Obama may be showing the leadership that is needed at crisis time.

Joe Barton should be ashamed — not of the White House, but of himself.