Schieffer, it's not just Joe Barton who called creation of the $20 billion relief fund a 'shakedown'

[flpoljunkie]

(CBS's Bob Schieffer aims to lay the blame for this 'shakedown' accusation solely with Barton, rather than his entire party--and then takes Obama to task for spending so much time on tv that what he says isn't taken very seriously like say, JRK was. Time to think about retirement, Bob.)

Dems mount effort to label conservative GOPs as 'The BP 114'

By Michael O'Brien
06/20/10 06:30 AM ET

Democrats sought to bunch together House Republican members of a committee critical of a $20 billion oil spill relief account funded by BP, labeling them "The BP 114."

Democrats are trying to explicitly tie the 114-member Republican Study Committee (RSC) to a top Republican's apology to BP this week for the government's actions to compel BP to create the $20 billion fund to pay out claims to victims of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) took steps this weekend to cast RSC members as in agreement with Rep. Joe Barton's (R-Texas) apology to BP CEO Tony Hayward during a hearing this past week through its extensive email list and an online ad buy.

At issue are remarks similar in tone by Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), the chairman of the group of House conservatives, along some other members of the group, that were critical of the fund. Price said the creation of the fund was a result of "Chicago-style shakedown politics" by President Barack Obama and his administration, which pressured BP into creating the relief fund.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/104317-dems-mout-effort-to-label-members-of-gop-study-commitee-as-the-bp-114