Political Fur Is Flying In Washington
The Gulf Oil Spill has been story number one for the past two months and it wasn't looking good for much of that time for the administration.
Last week was the infamous apology to BP CEO Tony Hayward by Texas Representative and the man in line to head the Energy and Commerce Committee if the Republicans can take the House in the midterm elections, Joe Barton. This past weekend, while GOP leadership scrambled to distance themselves from Joe Barton, they also focused on bringing more attention to the President's penchant for playing golf during a time of great distress for Gulf residents. Senate Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell took to the airwaves on Sunday to tell voters that President Obama has received campaign contributions from BP in the past and that he was late to move on the oil spill.
Democrats, in response to Joe Barton's prepared apology to BP think they have a winning formula for the November elections, and as such sent Rahm Emanuel from the White House to kick off election season with simple message for the voters. The White House Chief of Staff pointed out that Rep. Barton's prepared remarks are an indication of how Republicans would govern, compared to how Democrats are currently governing.
The odds are still in favour of the Republicans winning back a lot of seats in the House, perhaps even outright control. However, with Tony Hayward being photographed at a glitzy sailing regatta over the weekend, as well as past gaffs when he said he wanted his life back, and the Swedish Chairman of BP calling the people of the Gulf "small people" several times public opinion has been low for the large corporation. Couple that with the Joe Barton apology and you have a recipe for voter uncertainty at the very least.
For now we'll have to wait and see what future polling will indicate about the politics that the Dems had fall in their lap and the GOP are desperately trying to formulate to retake the initiative. For the ruling Democrats, it's handy when your opponents shoot themselves in the foot in a very public way.
Watch Rahm Emanuel kick off election season for the Democrats:
Last week was the infamous apology to BP CEO Tony Hayward by Texas Representative and the man in line to head the Energy and Commerce Committee if the Republicans can take the House in the midterm elections, Joe Barton. This past weekend, while GOP leadership scrambled to distance themselves from Joe Barton, they also focused on bringing more attention to the President's penchant for playing golf during a time of great distress for Gulf residents. Senate Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell took to the airwaves on Sunday to tell voters that President Obama has received campaign contributions from BP in the past and that he was late to move on the oil spill.
Democrats, in response to Joe Barton's prepared apology to BP think they have a winning formula for the November elections, and as such sent Rahm Emanuel from the White House to kick off election season with simple message for the voters. The White House Chief of Staff pointed out that Rep. Barton's prepared remarks are an indication of how Republicans would govern, compared to how Democrats are currently governing.
The odds are still in favour of the Republicans winning back a lot of seats in the House, perhaps even outright control. However, with Tony Hayward being photographed at a glitzy sailing regatta over the weekend, as well as past gaffs when he said he wanted his life back, and the Swedish Chairman of BP calling the people of the Gulf "small people" several times public opinion has been low for the large corporation. Couple that with the Joe Barton apology and you have a recipe for voter uncertainty at the very least.
For now we'll have to wait and see what future polling will indicate about the politics that the Dems had fall in their lap and the GOP are desperately trying to formulate to retake the initiative. For the ruling Democrats, it's handy when your opponents shoot themselves in the foot in a very public way.
Watch Rahm Emanuel kick off election season for the Democrats:
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