Rand Paul: Let Joe Barton Explain Himself

Limbaugh, others say 'shakedown' is accurate term
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 19, 2010 10:29 AM CDT
Rand Paul: Let Joe Barton Explain Himself
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, questions BP CEO Tony Hayward.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Rand Paul's been in enough hot water lately, so he stops short of endorsing Joe Barton's infamous apology to BP. But he feels his pain, notes Think Progress. "I don't know about that," he said when asked about the statement. "I don't want to pile on him (because) I know what that feels like." He reiterated that he doesn't like to hear the White House talking about how it will "put the boot on the throat of BP" and suggested Barton's critics should settle down. "I do know that people sometimes can go over the top and I think he should be given the chance to explain himself."

The Daily Caller, meanwhile, rounds up a host of conservative voices who think Barton's criticism of the administration's "shakedown" of BP is right on the money. Among those cited are Rush Limbaugh, who called Obama's strategy "outrageous" and "unconstitutional," and blogger Conn Carroll of the Heritage Foundation: "Barton should have been apologizing to the American people, not BP, but other than that, he is 100% correct." (More Rand Paul stories.)

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