I heard this live within the hour, so please forgive me for not having a more detailed on-line citation. But Congressman John Mica of Florida has to win a new prize for the biggest balls of hypocrisy, ever, for blaming the Oil Spill on...the Obama administration for...wait for it...NOT REGULATING THE OIL INDUSTRY ENOUGH. More on the flip.
At a hearing today,
John Mica said the administration didn't listen to warnings about the need for more regulation. The panel's Democratic chairman responded that decisions were made by career officials, not by political appointees.
He further presented what he called the [sic] [sick, sick!] "Obama Oil Spill Time Line".
And what is this clown's record?
He opposed Cap and Trade. He promotes "domestic energy production" and opposes "penalizing" fossil fuels.
According to his OWN PRESS RELEASE against Cap and Trade, he opposes regulations because:
"This bill also further expands the role of government by imposing new restrictions and requirements on everything from light bulbs to water dispensers."
Right...they're called...regulations.
Worst person in the world nominee -- I'm looking at you.
UPDATE: This is now hitting the wires:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republicans at a House hearing say the Obama administration deserves much of the blame for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
John Mica says the administration issued "basically a carte blanche recipe for disaster" in approving the Deepwater Horizon and other wells. The Florida congressman says "it's government's responsibility to set the standards."
He pointed to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's acknowledgment yesterday that his agency could have more aggressively monitored the offshore drilling industry.
Mica also said the spill could have been contained more quickly if the Coast Guard and other agencies had a better plan.
The chairman of the committee holding this morning's hearing took issue with the criticism. Minnesota Democrat James Oberstar said the drilling was approved early in the Obama administration and that decisions were made by career officials.
At other hearings yesterday, the interior secretary said blame rests with both industry and the government, and promised an overhaul of federal regulations.
Mr. Mica, was Deepwater drilled before or after Obama took office? Did you even check?