Changes

[[File:Dispersants spraying.jpg|right|300px|thumb|President Obama directed the [[United States Coast Guard]] to dump [[toxic]] disperants into the [[Gulf of Mexico]] despite known health hazards to humans and wildlife. [http://www.oilspillupdates.com/oil-spill-videos/obama-oil-spill-bill-on-bp-chem-spray-to-save-nature/http://www.oilspillupdates.com/oil-spill-videos/obama-oil-spill-bill-on-bp-chem-spray-to-save-nature/] ]]The '''Gulf of Mexico oil spill''' began on 20 April 2010 when the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil drilling rig operated by [[BP]] (known as British Petroleum until 2000) exploded and sank.<ref>[http://www.businessinsider.com/gulf-of-mexico-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-2010-4 Here's The Questions You Should Be Asking About The Gulf Of Mexico Oil Spill]</ref> Oil began leaking at a rate eventually estimated at 2.5 million gallons per day, resulting in massive environmental degradation.<ref>[http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hSaoIddZwUtk-BTcIDuy6AjaHwSgD9GBV0GO0 Scientists: Oil leaking up to 2.52M gallons daily]</ref> The federal government reported that 206 million gallons of crude oil leaked before the spill was stopped on July 15.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38557520/ns/disaster_in_the_gulf Disaster in the Gulf]</ref> The blowout killed eleven workers. Despite the known [[toxic]]ity of the dispersant Corexit, the [[Obama administration]] dumped millions of gallons of the hazardous chemical into the [[Gulf of Mexico]] with C-130 aircraft provided by the [[U.S. Coast Guard]]<ref>http://vodpod.com/watch/3962219-confirmed-corexit-being-sprayed-from-coast-guard-planes</ref> and the [[Air Force]].<ref>http://bpoilslick.blogspot.com/2010/07/us-air-force-sprays-corexit-from-plane.html</ref>       

[[File:Dispersants spraying.jpg|right|300px|thumb|President Obama directed the [[United States Coast Guard]] to dump [[toxic]] disperants into the [[Gulf of Mexico]] despite known health hazards to humans and wildlife. [http://www.oilspillupdates.com/oil-spill-videos/obama-oil-spill-bill-on-bp-chem-spray-to-save-nature/http://www.oilspillupdates.com/oil-spill-videos/obama-oil-spill-bill-on-bp-chem-spray-to-save-nature/] ]]The '''Gulf of Mexico oil spill''' began on 20 April 2010 when the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil drilling rig operated by [[BP]] (known as British Petroleum until 2000) exploded and sank.<ref>[http://www.businessinsider.com/gulf-of-mexico-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-2010-4 Here's The Questions You Should Be Asking About The Gulf Of Mexico Oil Spill]</ref> Oil began leaking at a rate eventually estimated at 2.5 million gallons per day, resulting in massive environmental degradation.<ref>[http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hSaoIddZwUtk-BTcIDuy6AjaHwSgD9GBV0GO0 Scientists: Oil leaking up to 2.52M gallons daily]</ref> The federal government reported that 206 million gallons of crude oil leaked before the spill was stopped on July 15.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38557520/ns/disaster_in_the_gulf Disaster in the Gulf]</ref> The blowout killed eleven workers. Despite the known [[toxic]]ity of the dispersant Corexit, the [[Obama administration]] dumped millions of gallons of the hazardous chemical into the [[Gulf of Mexico]] with C-130 aircraft provided by the [[U.S. Coast Guard]]<ref>http://vodpod.com/watch/3962219-confirmed-corexit-being-sprayed-from-coast-guard-planes</ref> and the [[Air Force]].<ref>http://bpoilslick.blogspot.com/2010/07/us-air-force-sprays-corexit-from-plane.html</ref>       

                  

                  

On 31 March 2010 [[President Obama]] announced a plan for exploitation of offshore oil reserves during a speech at Andrews Air Force Base outside [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/user/AssociatedPress#p/u/6/mA7RAfHN-wo  Obama Lifts Ban on Offshore Drilling,] ''[[Associated Press]],'' 31 March 2010. Retrieved from [[Youtube]] 9 May 2010.</ref> The President's actions have been labeled, "a decision to endanger our coastal [[ecosystem]]s with the risk of catastrophic oil spills."<ref>[http://members.greenpeace.org/blog/greenpeaceusa_blog/2010/04/30/president_obama_committed_to_endangering President Obama must reinstate moratorium on offshore drilling,] [[Greenpeace]] USA blogs, 30 Apr 2010.</ref> Defending the decision, the President remarked,

On 31 March 2010 [[President Obama]] announced a plan for exploitation of offshore oil reserves during a speech at Andrews Air Force Base outside [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/user/AssociatedPress#p/u/6/mA7RAfHN-wo  Obama Lifts Ban on Offshore Drilling,] ''[[Associated Press]],'' 31 March 2010. Retrieved from [[Youtube]] 9 May 2010.</ref> The President's actions have been labeled, "a decision to endanger our coastal [[ecosystem]]s with the risk of catastrophic oil spills."<ref>[http://members.greenpeace.org/blog/greenpeaceusa_blog/2010/04/30/president_obama_committed_to_endangering President Obama must reinstate moratorium on offshore drilling,] [[Greenpeace]] USA blogs, 30 Apr 2010.</ref> Defending the decision, the President remarked,

{{cquote|'''oil rigs today generally don’t cause spills. They are technologically very advanced."<ref>White House Press Release, [http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-a-discussion-jobs-and-economy-charlotte-north-carolina Remarks by the President in a Discussion on Jobs and the Economy in Charlotte, North Carolina,] Office of the Press Secretary, April 02, 2010. Retrieved from whitehouse.gov 3 May 2010.</ref><ref>Video: [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/04/29/flashback_obama_says_oil_rigs_today_dont_generally_cause_spills.html Obama Says "Oil Rigs Today Don't Generally Cause Spills"], 2 April 2010. Retrieved from RealClearPolitics.com 12 May 2010.</ref>}}

{{cquote|'''oil rigs today generally don’t cause spills. They are technologically very advanced."<ref>White House Press Release, [http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-a-discussion-jobs-and-economy-charlotte-north-carolina Remarks by the President in a Discussion on Jobs and the Economy in Charlotte, North Carolina,] Office of the Press Secretary, April 02, 2010. Retrieved from whitehouse.gov 3 May 2010.</ref><ref>Video: [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/04/29/flashback_obama_says_oil_rigs_today_dont_generally_cause_spills.html Obama Says "Oil Rigs Today Don't Generally Cause Spills"], 2 April 2010. Retrieved from RealClearPolitics.com 12 May 2010.</ref>}}

Since taking office the [[Obama administration]] approved 346 oil drilling plans without securing permits required by law from the [[federal]] agency that assesses environmental impacts.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/14/us/14agency.html?partner=rss&emc=rss U.S. Said to Allow Drilling Without Needed Permits,] Ian Urbina, ''New York Times'', 13 May 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2010.</ref> [[President Barack Obama]] has been widely criticized for an unprepared and bungled response, most notably from former supporters.

Since taking office the [[Obama administration]] approved 346 oil drilling plans without securing permits required by law from the [[federal]] agency that assesses environmental impacts.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/14/us/14agency.html?partner=rss&emc=rss U.S. Said to Allow Drilling Without Needed Permits,] Ian Urbina, ''New York Times'', 13 May 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2010.</ref> [[President Barack Obama]] has been widely criticized for an unprepared and bungled response, most notably from former supporters.

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Total U.S. offshore [[crude oil]] production in 2009 was 1.7 million barrels a day, of which 1.6 million barrels a day came from the U.S. section of the Gulf of Mexico.<ref>[http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/info_glance/petroleum.html Energy Information Administration.]</ref>

Total U.S. offshore [[crude oil]] production in 2009 was 1.7 million barrels a day, of which 1.6 million barrels a day came from the U.S. section of the Gulf of Mexico.<ref>[http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/info_glance/petroleum.html Energy Information Administration.]</ref>

According to the ''New York Times'', President Obama "said several times during his [[Barack Hussein Obama 2008 Presidential campaign|presidential campaign]] that he supported expanded offshore drilling. He noted in his [[State of the Union]] address<ref>[http://www.c-span.org/Executive/State-of-the-Union.aspx Barack Obama State of the Union Address 2010]. Retrieved from [[C-SPAN]].org 15 May 2010.</ref> in January [2010] that weaning the country from imported oil would require “tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development.”<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/science/earth/31energy.html Obama to Open Offshore Areas to Oil Drilling for First Time,] John M. Broder, ''[[New York Times]]'', March 30, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/03/obama_clears_way_for_oil_drill.html Obama clears way for oil drilling off U.S. coasts], Associated Press, March 31, 2010, Retrieved from nola.com 8 May 2010.</ref>

According to the ''New York Times'', President Obama "said several times during his [[Barack Hussein Obama 2008 Presidential campaign|presidential campaign]] that he supported expanded offshore drilling. He noted in his [[State of the Union]] address<ref>[http://www.c-span.org/Executive/State-of-the-Union.aspx Barack Obama State of the Union Address 2010]. Retrieved from [[C-SPAN]].org 15 May 2010.</ref> in January [2010] that weaning the country from imported oil would require “tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development.”<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/science/earth/31energy.html Obama to Open Offshore Areas to Oil Drilling for First Time,] John M. Broder, ''[[New York Times]]'', March 30, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/03/obama_clears_way_for_oil_drill.html Obama clears way for oil drilling off U.S. coasts], Associated Press, March 31, 2010, Retrieved from nola.com 8 May 2010.</ref>

When questioned about the Obama regulators "cozy relationship" with oil companies the president responded, "absolutely I take responsibility for that."<ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-gulf-oil-spill Remarks by President Obama on the Gulf Oil Spill,] Office of the Press Secretary, 27 May 2010. Retrieved from whitehouse.gov 29 May 2010.</ref>                                                                                           

When questioned about the Obama regulators "cozy relationship" with oil companies the president responded, "absolutely I take responsibility for that."<ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-gulf-oil-spill Remarks by President Obama on the Gulf Oil Spill,] Office of the Press Secretary, 27 May 2010. Retrieved from whitehouse.gov 29 May 2010.</ref>                                                                                           

As Senator, and while running for president, [[Barack Obama]] received a total of $77,051 from BP<ref>http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/BP?view=detail&siteid=nwhwk</ref> and has taken more money from BP's [[Political Action Committee]] and individuals connected with BP over the past 20 years than any other candidate, according to [[FEC]] disclosure records.<ref>[http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0505/obama-biggest-recipient-bp-political-action-money-20-years Obama is biggest recipient of BP’s political action cash in the last 20 years,] John Byrne, 5 May 2010. Retrieved from rawstory.com 9 May 2010.</ref> Likewise, the independent watchdog Center for Responsive Politics noted, "the “top recipient of BP-related donations during the 2008 cycle was President Barack Obama himself.”<ref>Jake Tapper, Political Punch, [[ABC News]], 5 May 2010. [http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/05/white-house-idea-that-bp-given-special-exemption-because-of-campaign-cash-to-obama-silly-and-ridiculous.html?cid=6a00d8341c4df253ef0134807669a3970c]</ref><ref>http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/04/on-thursday-oil-giant-bp.html</ref>  

As Senator, and while running for president, [[Barack Obama]] received a total of $77,051 from BP<ref>http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/BP?view=detail&siteid=nwhwk</ref> and has taken more money from BP's [[Political Action Committee]] and individuals connected with BP over the past 20 years than any other candidate, according to [[FEC]] disclosure records.<ref>[http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0505/obama-biggest-recipient-bp-political-action-money-20-years Obama is biggest recipient of BP’s political action cash in the last 20 years,] John Byrne, 5 May 2010. Retrieved from rawstory.com 9 May 2010.</ref> Likewise, the independent watchdog Center for Responsive Politics noted, "the “top recipient of BP-related donations during the 2008 cycle was President Barack Obama himself.”<ref>Jake Tapper, Political Punch, [[ABC News]], 5 May 2010. [http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/05/white-house-idea-that-bp-given-special-exemption-because-of-campaign-cash-to-obama-silly-and-ridiculous.html?cid=6a00d8341c4df253ef0134807669a3970c]</ref><ref>http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/04/on-thursday-oil-giant-bp.html</ref>  

[[File:Bp-obama-logo.jpg|right|225px|thumb|Obama approved drilling permits for BP without the statutory requirement to file an environmental impact assessment,<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/14/us/14agency.html?partner=rss&emc=rss U.S. Said to Allow Drilling Without Needed Permits,] Ian Urbina, ''New York Times'', 13 May 2010.</ref> the handling of spills in a worst-case scenario,<ref>[http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2010/bp-exempted-05-05-2010.html Interior Department Exempted BP Drilling From Environmental Review]: In Rush to Expand Offshore Oil Drilling, Interior Secretary Salazar Abandoned Pledge to Reform

[[File:Bp-obama-logo.jpg|right|225px|thumb|Obama approved drilling permits for BP without the statutory requirement to file an environmental impact assessment,<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/14/us/14agency.html?partner=rss&emc=rss U.S. Said to Allow Drilling Without Needed Permits,] Ian Urbina, ''New York Times'', 13 May 2010.</ref> the handling of spills in a worst-case scenario,<ref>[http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2010/bp-exempted-05-05-2010.html Interior Department Exempted BP Drilling From Environmental Review]: In Rush to Expand Offshore Oil Drilling, Interior Secretary Salazar Abandoned Pledge to Reform

Industry-dominated Mineral Management Service. Press Release, Center for Biological Diversity, 5 May 2010. Retrieved from www.biologicaldiversity.org, 30 May 2010.</ref> and fostered a cozy relationship between government and the oil industry.<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=10745153 Govt Regulators Hired by Companies, Influence Game: Drilling regulators move from government to industry through revolving door,] Frederic J. Frommer, ''Associated Press'', 26 May 2010. Retrieved from abcnews.go.com 30 May 2010.</ref> No other candidate took more money from BP in the past two decades than Obama received in only six years.<ref>[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/36783.html Obama biggest recipient of BP cash,]  Erika Lovley, 5 May 2010. Retrieved from Politico.com 30 May 2010.</ref>]]

Industry-dominated Mineral Management Service. Press Release, Center for Biological Diversity, 5 May 2010. Retrieved from www.biologicaldiversity.org, 30 May 2010.</ref> and fostered a cozy relationship between government and the oil industry.<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=10745153 Govt Regulators Hired by Companies, Influence Game: Drilling regulators move from government to industry through revolving door,] Frederic J. Frommer, ''Associated Press'', 26 May 2010. Retrieved from abcnews.go.com 30 May 2010.</ref> No other candidate took more money from BP in the past two decades than Obama received in only six years.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/36783.html Obama biggest recipient of BP cash,]  Erika Lovley, 5 May 2010. Retrieved from Politico.com 30 May 2010.</ref>]]

Talk show personality Ed Schultz of [[MSNBC]] reiterated a call for campaign finance reform as a result of Barack Obama's ties to BP and the government's response.<ref>[http://www.mrc.org/biasalert/2010/20100602102656.aspx MSNBC's Schultz Draws Bizarre Connection Between Oil Spill and Campaign Finance Reform.] Alex Fitzsimmons, Media Research Center, 2 June 2010.</ref>

Talk show personality Ed Schultz of [[MSNBC]] reiterated a call for campaign finance reform as a result of Barack Obama's ties to BP and the government's response.<ref>[http://www.mrc.org/biasalert/2010/20100602102656.aspx MSNBC's Schultz Draws Bizarre Connection Between Oil Spill and Campaign Finance Reform.] Alex Fitzsimmons, Media Research Center, 2 June 2010.</ref>

Transocean, owner of the Deepwater Horizons drilling rig leased to BP, was the recipient of the Obama [[Mineral Management Service]]'s, ''Safety Award for Excellence''.<ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=66303 Democratic Leader Hoyer Doesn’t Know Whether Obama Administration was Prepared for Oil Spill,] Matt Cover, CNSNews.com, May 20, 2010.</ref><ref>MMS Thought Deepwater Horizon was Award-Winningly SAFE, The Project on Government Oversight, Exposing Government Corruption, 29 April 2010.</ref> On 30 April 2010 Transocean's stock fell after [[President Obama]]’s chief strategist, [[David Axelrod]], made comments nine days into the disaster and the [[government]] raised estimates to more than fives times of what had previously been reported about how much oil was leaking into the [[Gulf of Mexico]].<ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-30/transocean-drops-after-axelrod-comments-on-drilling-update2-.html Transocean Drops After Axelrod Comments on Drilling,] Edward Klump, ''Bloomberg Business Week'', 30 April 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2010.</ref>  

Transocean, owner of the Deepwater Horizons drilling rig leased to BP, was the recipient of the Obama [[Mineral Management Service]]'s, ''Safety Award for Excellence''.<ref>[https://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=66303 Democratic Leader Hoyer Doesn’t Know Whether Obama Administration was Prepared for Oil Spill,] Matt Cover, CNSNews.com, May 20, 2010.</ref><ref>MMS Thought Deepwater Horizon was Award-Winningly SAFE, The Project on Government Oversight, Exposing Government Corruption, 29 April 2010.</ref> On 30 April 2010 Transocean's stock fell after [[President Obama]]’s chief strategist, [[David Axelrod]], made comments nine days into the disaster and the [[government]] raised estimates to more than fives times of what had previously been reported about how much oil was leaking into the [[Gulf of Mexico]].<ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-30/transocean-drops-after-axelrod-comments-on-drilling-update2-.html Transocean Drops After Axelrod Comments on Drilling,] Edward Klump, ''Bloomberg Business Week'', 30 April 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2010.</ref>  

It has been reported in the [[finance|financial]] press that among owners of BP<ref>[http://www.marketwatch.com/story/obama-aims-at-bp-hits-state-pensions-2010-06-09  President Obama's ramped up rhetoric over the BP oil spill is beginning to have an effect,] ''MarketWatch, 9 June 2010.</ref> are  

It has been reported in the [[finance|financial]] press that among owners of BP<ref>[http://www.marketwatch.com/story/obama-aims-at-bp-hits-state-pensions-2010-06-09  President Obama's ramped up rhetoric over the BP oil spill is beginning to have an effect,] ''MarketWatch, 9 June 2010.</ref> are  

*United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (21.9 million shares).  

*United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (21.9 million shares).  

BP was found [[Negligence|wilfully negligent]] during the [[Bush administration]] in a [[Texas]] refinery explosion incident, and was assessed $108 million in fines - the highest workplace safety fines in U.S. history.<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/16/60minutes/main6490197_page5.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody Blowout: The Deepwater Horizon Disaster,] ''[[60 Minutes]]'', 16 May 2010. Retrieved from cbsnews.com, 2 June 2010.</ref>

BP was found [[Negligence|wilfully negligent]] during the [[Bush administration]] in a [[Texas]] refinery explosion incident, and was assessed $108 million in fines - the highest workplace safety fines in U.S. history.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/16/60minutes/main6490197_page5.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody Blowout: The Deepwater Horizon Disaster,] ''[[60 Minutes]]'', 16 May 2010. Retrieved from cbsnews.com, 2 June 2010.</ref>

=== Nalco and Corexit ===

=== Nalco and Corexit ===

Nalco of Naperville, Illinois formed a joint venture with Exxon Chemical in 1994 and the company's current leadership includes several executives from BP. Nalco reported it sold in excess of $40 million to BP of its dispersant, Corexit, shortly after the [[Gulf of Mexico]] oil spill disaster.

Nalco of Naperville, Illinois formed a joint venture with Exxon Chemical in 1994 and the company's current leadership includes several executives from BP. Nalco reported it sold in excess of $40 million to BP of its dispersant, Corexit, shortly after the [[Gulf of Mexico]] oil spill disaster.

Of 18 dispersants approved by the [[Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA), 12 were found to be more effective on southern [[Louisiana]] crude than Corexit, EPA data show.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/business/energy-environment/13greenwire-less-toxic-dispersants-lose-out-in-bp-oil-spil-81183.html Less Toxic Dispersants Lose Out in BP Oil Spill Cleanup,]  

Of 18 dispersants approved by the [[Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA), 12 were found to be more effective on southern [[Louisiana]] crude than Corexit, EPA data show.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/business/energy-environment/13greenwire-less-toxic-dispersants-lose-out-in-bp-oil-spil-81183.html Less Toxic Dispersants Lose Out in BP Oil Spill Cleanup,]  

Paul Quinlan, ''Greenwire'', May 13, 2010. Retrieved from nytimes.com 25 May 2010.</ref> Two of the 12 were found to be 100 percent effective on [[Gulf of Mexico]] crude, whereas two Corexit products rated only 56 percent and 63 percent effective.<ref>Ibid.</ref> The [[toxic]]ity of the other 12 was shown to be in some cases 10 or 20 times less than Corexit, according to the EPA.<ref>Ibid.</ref> "It's a chemical that the oil industry makes to sell to itself, basically," said Richard Charter, a senior policy adviser for Defenders of Wildlife.<ref>Ibid.</ref>

Paul Quinlan, ''Greenwire'', May 13, 2010. Retrieved from nytimes.com 25 May 2010.</ref> Two of the 12 were found to be 100 percent effective on [[Gulf of Mexico]] crude, whereas two Corexit products rated only 56 percent and 63 percent effective.<ref>Ibid.</ref> The [[toxic]]ity of the other 12 was shown to be in some cases 10 or 20 times less than Corexit, according to the EPA.<ref>Ibid.</ref> "It's a chemical that the oil industry makes to sell to itself, basically," said Richard Charter, a senior policy adviser for Defenders of Wildlife.<ref>Ibid.</ref>

Corexit was found to be one of the most toxic dispersal agents ever developed.<ref>''Acute Aquatic Toxicity of Three Corexit Products: An Overview'', Anita George-Ares and James R. Clark. Report prepared for Exxon Biomedical Sciences.</ref> With seasonal warming of water temperature the toxicity grows.  Corexit is banned in the [[United Kingdom]] due to [[environment]]al concerns.<ref>[http://motherjones.com/politics/2010/05/epa-bp-dispersants Why Is the EPA Letting BP Use Dirty Dispersants?], Kate Sheppard, ''Mother Jones'', 19 May 19, 2010.</ref> The Obama EPA gave BP the green light to apply Corexit to the spill.<ref>Ibid.</ref>  At the Congressional hearing investigating the Gulf oil spill disaster, [[Democratic]] Representative Jerrold Nadler of [[New York]] raised the prospect of "thousands and thousands of people getting sick or dying" as a result of the administration's sanctioned use of the dispersant.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/science/earth/28workers.html Worry About Dispersant Rises as Men in Work Crew Complain of Health Problems,] Leslie Kaufman and Elizabeth Rosenthal, ''New York Times'', 27 May 2010.</ref> Critics allege use of dispersants like Corexit are largely for cosmetic purposes. Nalco has been a frequent contributor to the campaign of Sen. [[Mary Landrieu]]<ref>http://saveourwetlands.org/index-landrieu.html/</ref> of Louisiana.<ref>http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/fec/?id=273&cycle=2007-2008</ref>

Corexit was found to be one of the most toxic dispersal agents ever developed.<ref>''Acute Aquatic Toxicity of Three Corexit Products: An Overview'', Anita George-Ares and James R. Clark. Report prepared for Exxon Biomedical Sciences.</ref> With seasonal warming of water temperature the toxicity grows.  Corexit is banned in the [[United Kingdom]] due to [[environment]]al concerns.<ref>[http://motherjones.com/politics/2010/05/epa-bp-dispersants Why Is the EPA Letting BP Use Dirty Dispersants?], Kate Sheppard, ''Mother Jones'', 19 May 19, 2010.</ref> The Obama EPA gave BP the green light to apply Corexit to the spill.<ref>Ibid.</ref>  At the Congressional hearing investigating the Gulf oil spill disaster, [[Democratic]] Representative Jerrold Nadler of [[New York]] raised the prospect of "thousands and thousands of people getting sick or dying" as a result of the administration's sanctioned use of the dispersant.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/science/earth/28workers.html Worry About Dispersant Rises as Men in Work Crew Complain of Health Problems,] Leslie Kaufman and Elizabeth Rosenthal, ''New York Times'', 27 May 2010.</ref> Critics allege use of dispersants like Corexit are largely for cosmetic purposes. Nalco has been a frequent contributor to the campaign of Sen. [[Mary Landrieu]]<ref>http://saveourwetlands.org/index-landrieu.html/</ref> of Louisiana.<ref>http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/fec/?id=273&cycle=2007-2008</ref>

== Deepwater Horizon ==

== Deepwater Horizon ==

Congressional investigators think they have identified the rigs blowout preventer as the cause of the explosion.<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703339304575240323493707434.html Congress Homes In on Rig's Blowout Preventer,] Ben Casselman and Jennifer Levitz, ''Wall Street Journal Online,'' 13 May 2010.</ref> The blowout preventer was leaking hydraulic fluid, had a dead battery,<ref>Ibid.</ref> and was inspected by the Obama [[Minerals Management Service]] (MMS) only two weeks before to the explosion<ref>White House Press Office, [http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/press-briefing-bp-oil-spill-gulf-coast Press Briefing on the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf Coast,] 29 April 2010. Retrieved from whitehouse.gov 12 May 2010.</ref> which killed 11 people. [[Amy Goodman]], a [[leftist]] radio talk show host, has suggested those responsible should be [[prosecute]]d for [[manslaughter]].<ref>[http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/law_order_corporate_crime_unit_20100518/ Law & Order,] Amy Goodman, 18 May 2010. Retrieved from truthdigg.com 30 May 2010.</ref>

Congressional investigators think they have identified the rigs blowout preventer as the cause of the explosion.<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703339304575240323493707434.html Congress Homes In on Rig's Blowout Preventer,] Ben Casselman and Jennifer Levitz, ''Wall Street Journal Online,'' 13 May 2010.</ref> The blowout preventer was leaking hydraulic fluid, had a dead battery,<ref>Ibid.</ref> and was inspected by the Obama [[Minerals Management Service]] (MMS) only two weeks before to the explosion<ref>White House Press Office, [http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/press-briefing-bp-oil-spill-gulf-coast Press Briefing on the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf Coast,] 29 April 2010. Retrieved from whitehouse.gov 12 May 2010.</ref> which killed 11 people. [[Amy Goodman]], a [[leftist]] radio talk show host, has suggested those responsible should be [[prosecute]]d for [[manslaughter]].<ref>[http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/law_order_corporate_crime_unit_20100518/ Law & Order,] Amy Goodman, 18 May 2010. Retrieved from truthdigg.com 30 May 2010.</ref>

Blowout preventers are meant to shut off the well, and the last line of defense is a set of shear rams which cut the pipe and seal off the well.<ref>Congress Homes In on Rig's Blowout Preventer, Ben Casselman and Jennifer Levitz, ''WSJ Online,'' 13 May 2010.</ref> The MMS, the [[Obama administration]] agency that regulates offshore drilling along with the Coast Guard, is supposed to require  proof that shear rams are powerful enough to shut the well. Michael Saucier, MMS's regional supervisor testified before Congress that the MMS did not require BP to file a "scenario for potential blowout."<ref>Ibid.</ref> The MMS certified that BP "has the capacity to respond, to the maximum extent practicable, to a worst-case discharge, or a substantial threat of such a discharge."<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/29/gulf-oil-spill-exceeds-bp_n_556798.html</ref>

Blowout preventers are meant to shut off the well, and the last line of defense is a set of shear rams which cut the pipe and seal off the well.<ref>Congress Homes In on Rig's Blowout Preventer, Ben Casselman and Jennifer Levitz, ''WSJ Online,'' 13 May 2010.</ref> The MMS, the [[Obama administration]] agency that regulates offshore drilling along with the Coast Guard, is supposed to require  proof that shear rams are powerful enough to shut the well. Michael Saucier, MMS's regional supervisor testified before Congress that the MMS did not require BP to file a "scenario for potential blowout."<ref>Ibid.</ref> The MMS certified that BP "has the capacity to respond, to the maximum extent practicable, to a worst-case discharge, or a substantial threat of such a discharge."<ref>https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/29/gulf-oil-spill-exceeds-bp_n_556798.html</ref>

A May 2010 Inspector General's report revealed at least two MMS regulatory inspectors admitted to being under the influence of the [[illegal drug]] [[methamphetamine]] while on the job.<ref>[http://www.wusf.usf.edu/news/2010/05/25/drugs_free_football_tickets_and_porn_at_minerals_management_service Drugs, Free Football Tickets and Porn at Minerals Management Service,] 25 May 2010. Retrieved from wusf.usf.edu 26 May 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.tgdaily.com/business-and-law-features/49932-us-bureaucrats-smoked-crystal-meth-watched-porn-as-bp-oil-rig-blew US bureaucrats smoked crystal meth, watched porn as BP oil rig blew,] Starr Keshet, 25 May 2010. Retrieved from  tgdaily.com 26 May 2010.</ref>

A May 2010 Inspector General's report revealed at least two MMS regulatory inspectors admitted to being under the influence of the [[illegal drug]] [[methamphetamine]] while on the job.<ref>[http://www.wusf.usf.edu/news/2010/05/25/drugs_free_football_tickets_and_porn_at_minerals_management_service Drugs, Free Football Tickets and Porn at Minerals Management Service,] 25 May 2010. Retrieved from wusf.usf.edu 26 May 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.tgdaily.com/business-and-law-features/49932-us-bureaucrats-smoked-crystal-meth-watched-porn-as-bp-oil-rig-blew US bureaucrats smoked crystal meth, watched porn as BP oil rig blew,] Starr Keshet, 25 May 2010. Retrieved from  tgdaily.com 26 May 2010.</ref>

==Environmental disaster ==

==Environmental disaster ==

[[File:Oil slick map.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Projections of the flow of the spill over the summer of 2010. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37497578/ns/local_news-new_york_ny/] ]]

[[File:Oil slick map.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Projections of the flow of the spill over the summer of 2010. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37497578/ns/local_news-new_york_ny/] ]]

On 29 April 2010 oil began washing ashore in Plaquemines Parish, [[Louisiana]]; four weeks later local leaders still were begging [[President Obama]] for federal assistance in responding to the disaster which was overtaking hundreds of miles of shoreline.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/26/gulf.oil.spill.plaquemines/index.html Plaquemines Parish president blasts federal response to oil spill,] CNN, 26 May 2010.</ref>

On 29 April 2010 oil began washing ashore in Plaquemines Parish, [[Louisiana]]; four weeks later local leaders still were begging [[President Obama]] for federal assistance in responding to the disaster which was overtaking hundreds of miles of shoreline.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/26/gulf.oil.spill.plaquemines/index.html Plaquemines Parish president blasts federal response to oil spill,] CNN, 26 May 2010.</ref>

Crude oil has washed into marshes, estuaries and onto beaches in [[Mississippi]] and [[Alabama]]. Wildlife has been killed and efforts are underway to save oil-coated

Crude oil has washed into marshes, estuaries and onto beaches in [[Mississippi]] and [[Alabama]]. Wildlife has been killed and efforts are underway to save oil-coated

=== Silverfish ===

=== Silverfish ===

Most scientists agree that Corexit 9500 will have a much larger biological effect when it reaches coastal areas teeming with wildlife.<ref>Toxic Oil Dispersant Used in Gulf Despite Better Alternative, Brandon Keim, ''Wired Science,'' 5 May 2010.</ref>  Many species are being threatened at a crucial time in their life cycle.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2818588720100428 FACTBOX-Possible environmental impact of Gulf oil spill,] ''[[Reuters]]'', 28 April 2010.</ref> In testing done by the U.S. [[Environmental Protection Agency]] the dispersant Corexit 9500 was found to be extremely lethal to silverfish, a benchmark [[organism]] in [[toxic]]ity testing.<ref>Toxic Oil Dispersant Used in Gulf Despite Better Alternative, Brandon Keim, ''Wired Science,'' 5 May 2010.</ref>

Most scientists agree that Corexit 9500 will have a much larger biological effect when it reaches coastal areas teeming with wildlife.<ref>Toxic Oil Dispersant Used in Gulf Despite Better Alternative, Brandon Keim, ''Wired Science,'' 5 May 2010.</ref>  Many species are being threatened at a crucial time in their life cycle.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2818588720100428 FACTBOX-Possible environmental impact of Gulf oil spill,] ''[[Reuters]]'', 28 April 2010.</ref> In testing done by the U.S. [[Environmental Protection Agency]] the dispersant Corexit 9500 was found to be extremely lethal to silverfish, a benchmark [[organism]] in [[toxic]]ity testing.<ref>Toxic Oil Dispersant Used in Gulf Despite Better Alternative, Brandon Keim, ''Wired Science,'' 5 May 2010.</ref>

=== Gulf menhaden ===

=== Gulf menhaden ===

== The response ==

== The response ==

Initially [[Department of Homeland Security]] and the [[U.S. Coast Guard]] reported on 23 April 2010 there was no leak from the sunken oil rig.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-04-23-deepwater-horizon_N.htm Coast Guard: No oil leaking from sunken rig,] Rick Jervis, ''[[USA TODAY]]'', 23 April 2010.</ref> The next day the [[Obama administration]] officially estimated a leak from the sunken well at 1000 barrels per day.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/24/oil-rig-deepwater-horizon_0_n_550849.html Oil Rig, Deepwater Horizon, Leaking Into Gulf Of Mexico,] Cain Burdeau, 4 April 2010. Retrieved from the ''[[Huffington Post]],'' 15 May 2010.</ref> The ''[[Associated Press]]'' reported it took nine days after the explosion and the tragic loss of 11 workers lives before Obama made public commenta and acknowledged the disaster<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100509/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_gulf_oil_spill_obama_s_response Obama oil response: aggressive as crisis unfolded,] ,H. Josef Hebert and Erica Werner, ''Associated Press'', 9  May 2010. Retrieved from news.yahoo.com 2 June 2010.</ref> and appointed a national incident commander.<ref>http://wallstcheatsheet.com/breaking-news/a-timeline-of-the-bp-oil-spill-crisis-pics/?p=10743/</ref>

Initially [[Department of Homeland Security]] and the [[U.S. Coast Guard]] reported on 23 April 2010 there was no leak from the sunken oil rig.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-04-23-deepwater-horizon_N.htm Coast Guard: No oil leaking from sunken rig,] Rick Jervis, ''[[USA TODAY]]'', 23 April 2010.</ref> The next day the [[Obama administration]] officially estimated a leak from the sunken well at 1000 barrels per day.<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/24/oil-rig-deepwater-horizon_0_n_550849.html Oil Rig, Deepwater Horizon, Leaking Into Gulf Of Mexico,] Cain Burdeau, 4 April 2010. Retrieved from the ''[[Huffington Post]],'' 15 May 2010.</ref> The ''[[Associated Press]]'' reported it took nine days after the explosion and the tragic loss of 11 workers lives before Obama made public commenta and acknowledged the disaster<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100509/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_gulf_oil_spill_obama_s_response Obama oil response: aggressive as crisis unfolded,] ,H. Josef Hebert and Erica Werner, ''Associated Press'', 9  May 2010. Retrieved from news.yahoo.com 2 June 2010.</ref> and appointed a national incident commander.<ref>http://wallstcheatsheet.com/breaking-news/a-timeline-of-the-bp-oil-spill-crisis-pics/?p=10743/</ref>

BP's stock fell<ref>[http://in.reuters.com/article/idINLDE63S0HR20100429 European shares turn negative; BP falls,] ''Reuters'' 29 April 2010.</ref> on news of the "the worsening oil spill. " Administration estimates were raised to 5000 barrels per day.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/us/29spill.html Size of Spill in Gulf of Mexico Is Larger Than Thought,] Campbell Robertson and Leslie Kaufman, ''New York Times,'' 28 April 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.</ref>

BP's stock fell<ref>[http://in.reuters.com/article/idINLDE63S0HR20100429 European shares turn negative; BP falls,] ''Reuters'' 29 April 2010.</ref> on news of the "the worsening oil spill. " Administration estimates were raised to 5000 barrels per day.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/us/29spill.html Size of Spill in Gulf of Mexico Is Larger Than Thought,] Campbell Robertson and Leslie Kaufman, ''New York Times,'' 28 April 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.</ref>

=== U.S. Government dumps toxic dispersants into the Gulf of Mexico ===

=== U.S. Government dumps toxic dispersants into the Gulf of Mexico ===

[[File:Bp-oil-spill-cam234234.jpg|left|275px|thumb|After President Obama's approval of the Deepwater Horizon's drilling rig permit and regulatory failures costing 11 workers their lives, the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico continued unabated for 86 days.]]

[[File:Bp-oil-spill-cam234234.jpg|left|275px|thumb|After President Obama's approval of the Deepwater Horizon's drilling rig permit and regulatory failures costing 11 workers their lives, the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico continued unabated for 86 days.]]

''Wired Science'' reports the [[Obama administration]] disaster-relief agencies are using a toxic chemical to disperse oil in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster. Use of dispersants are said to be a public relations strategy.<ref>[http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/05/gulf-dispersants/ Toxic Oil Dispersant Used in Gulf Despite Better Alternative,] Brandon Keim, 5 May 2010. Retrieved from ''Wired Science'' 15 May 2010.</ref> Secretary [[Janet Napolitano]] of the [[Department of Homeland Security]] acknowledged<ref>[http://www.oilspillupdates.com/oil-spill-videos/obama-oil-spill-bill-on-bp-chem-spray-to-save-nature/ Obama: Oil spill bill on BP, Chem spray to save nature,] Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Updates, 04th May 2010. Retrieved from oilspillupdates.com 29 May 2010.</ref> the U.S government was dumping toxic chemicals from [[C-130]] cargo aircraft onto the spill.<ref>[http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-05-02/news/os-oil-disaster-chemical-cleanup-20100502_1_dispersant-spill-crude Oil-spill disaster: Chemicals used in cleanup add to toxic mix,] Kevin Spear, ''Orlando Sentinel,'' 2 May 2010.</ref> Jackie Savitz of the ocean-conservation group Oceana stated the use of dispersants is only slightly less horrendous than the Gulf oil spill itself. "You're basically pouring chemicals into the ocean, which is never a good thing."<ref>Ibid.</ref> According to a 2009 [[Environmental Protection Agency]] report dispersants have not been used in the United State prior to the Obama administration's approval at BP'S request "because of possible long-term environmental effects, difficulties with timely and effective application, disagreement among [[scientist]]s and research data about their environmental effects, effectiveness, and [[toxic]]ity concerns" and the effects "are still unknown."<ref>Ibid.</ref> Residents in areas close to the oil spill have reported odors and symptoms such as [[headache]]s, dizziness, [[nausea]], eye irritation, and respiratory problems.<ref>[http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/gsolomon/gulf_oil_spill_air_quality_upd.html Gulf Oil Spill Air Quality,] Gina Solomon, 24 May 2010. Retrieved from Natural Resources Defense Council Staff Blog, 3 June 2010.</ref>

''Wired Science'' reports the [[Obama administration]] disaster-relief agencies are using a toxic chemical to disperse oil in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster. Use of dispersants are said to be a public relations strategy.<ref>[https://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/05/gulf-dispersants/ Toxic Oil Dispersant Used in Gulf Despite Better Alternative,] Brandon Keim, 5 May 2010. Retrieved from ''Wired Science'' 15 May 2010.</ref> Secretary [[Janet Napolitano]] of the [[Department of Homeland Security]] acknowledged<ref>[http://www.oilspillupdates.com/oil-spill-videos/obama-oil-spill-bill-on-bp-chem-spray-to-save-nature/ Obama: Oil spill bill on BP, Chem spray to save nature,] Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Updates, 04th May 2010. Retrieved from oilspillupdates.com 29 May 2010.</ref> the U.S government was dumping toxic chemicals from [[C-130]] cargo aircraft onto the spill.<ref>[http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-05-02/news/os-oil-disaster-chemical-cleanup-20100502_1_dispersant-spill-crude Oil-spill disaster: Chemicals used in cleanup add to toxic mix,] Kevin Spear, ''Orlando Sentinel,'' 2 May 2010.</ref> Jackie Savitz of the ocean-conservation group Oceana stated the use of dispersants is only slightly less horrendous than the Gulf oil spill itself. "You're basically pouring chemicals into the ocean, which is never a good thing."<ref>Ibid.</ref> According to a 2009 [[Environmental Protection Agency]] report dispersants have not been used in the United State prior to the Obama administration's approval at BP'S request "because of possible long-term environmental effects, difficulties with timely and effective application, disagreement among [[scientist]]s and research data about their environmental effects, effectiveness, and [[toxic]]ity concerns" and the effects "are still unknown."<ref>Ibid.</ref> Residents in areas close to the oil spill have reported odors and symptoms such as [[headache]]s, dizziness, [[nausea]], eye irritation, and respiratory problems.<ref>[http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/gsolomon/gulf_oil_spill_air_quality_upd.html Gulf Oil Spill Air Quality,] Gina Solomon, 24 May 2010. Retrieved from Natural Resources Defense Council Staff Blog, 3 June 2010.</ref>

=== Disregard for worker safety ===

=== Disregard for worker safety ===

=== Government mismanagement of relief efforts ===

=== Government mismanagement of relief efforts ===

Three weeks into the disaster [[National Public Radio]] reported the [[Obama administration]]'s official figures were still grossly underestimated<ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126809525 Gulf Spill May Far Exceed Official Estimates,] Richard Harris, ''National Public Radio,'' 14 May 2010.</ref> and after the first month it was finally admitted the spill was nearly three times larger than earlier thought.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/us/28flow.html Estimates Suggest Spill Is Biggest in U.S. History,] Tom Zeller, Jr., ''New York Times'', 27 May 2010.</ref>

Three weeks into the disaster [[National Public Radio]] reported the [[Obama administration]]'s official figures were still grossly underestimated<ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126809525 Gulf Spill May Far Exceed Official Estimates,] Richard Harris, ''National Public Radio,'' 14 May 2010.</ref> and after the first month it was finally admitted the spill was nearly three times larger than earlier thought.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/us/28flow.html Estimates Suggest Spill Is Biggest in U.S. History,] Tom Zeller, Jr., ''New York Times'', 27 May 2010.</ref>

Federal officials did not begin burning the leaking oil off the surface of the water until one full week after the rig collapsed.<ref>[http://blog.al.com/live/2010/04/burning_should_have_started_a.html Burning should have started a week ago, former NOAA official says,] Ben Raines, ''Mobile Press-Register'', 29 April 2010.</ref> Louisiana Governor [[Bobby Jindal]] criticized [[President Obama]] for his slow response.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzEntQPr9OA</ref>  ''The New York Times'' castigated the [[White House]] for delays and not moving quick enough, calling the evidence "damning" and declaring the Gulf oil spill a "huge disaster whose consequences might have been minimized with swifter action" from the [[Obama administration]].<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/01/opinion/01sat1.html Unanswered Questions on the Spill,] ''New York Times'' Editorial, 30 April 2010.</ref> One month into the spill, [[Democrat]]ic stalwarts [[James Carville]],<ref>[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2521614/posts Is James Carville racist?], 26 May 2010. Retrieved from freerepublic.com 30 May 2010.</ref> [[Chris Matthews]],<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37632.html#ixzz0om46RhGH</ref> and [[Donna Brazile]]<ref>http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/99375-donna-brazile-calls-obamas-oil-spill-response-not-tough-enough</ref> criticized the inept and bungled response to the spreading catastrophe.

Federal officials did not begin burning the leaking oil off the surface of the water until one full week after the rig collapsed.<ref>[http://blog.al.com/live/2010/04/burning_should_have_started_a.html Burning should have started a week ago, former NOAA official says,] Ben Raines, ''Mobile Press-Register'', 29 April 2010.</ref> Louisiana Governor [[Bobby Jindal]] criticized [[President Obama]] for his slow response.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzEntQPr9OA</ref>  ''The New York Times'' castigated the [[White House]] for delays and not moving quick enough, calling the evidence "damning" and declaring the Gulf oil spill a "huge disaster whose consequences might have been minimized with swifter action" from the [[Obama administration]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/01/opinion/01sat1.html Unanswered Questions on the Spill,] ''New York Times'' Editorial, 30 April 2010.</ref> One month into the spill, [[Democrat]]ic stalwarts [[James Carville]],<ref>[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2521614/posts Is James Carville racist?], 26 May 2010. Retrieved from freerepublic.com 30 May 2010.</ref> [[Chris Matthews]],<ref>https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37632.html#ixzz0om46RhGH</ref> and [[Donna Brazile]]<ref>https://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/99375-donna-brazile-calls-obamas-oil-spill-response-not-tough-enough</ref> criticized the inept and bungled response to the spreading catastrophe.

[[File:Finalisttransoce.jpeg|left|250px|thumb|Chris Oynes (left) of the Mineral Management Service presents Keelan Adamson (right) of Transocean the MMS's,<br> ''Safety Award for Excellence'' (SAFE),<ref>http://www.mms.gov/awards/SAFEcriteria.htm</ref> at the MMS National Award luncheon, 7 May 2009.<ref>http://www.beaconmag.com/gomrigteamswinmm.html</ref><br>''Source: Beacon magazine'']]

[[File:Finalisttransoce.jpeg|left|250px|thumb|Chris Oynes (left) of the Mineral Management Service presents Keelan Adamson (right) of Transocean the MMS's,<br> ''Safety Award for Excellence'' (SAFE),<ref>http://www.mms.gov/awards/SAFEcriteria.htm</ref> at the MMS National Award luncheon, 7 May 2009.<ref>http://www.beaconmag.com/gomrigteamswinmm.html</ref><br>''Source: Beacon magazine'']]

The [[White House]] lacked any type of plan to combat the disaster. [[U.S. House of Representatives|House]] Democratic Majority Leader [[Steny Hoyer]] publicly admitted that the [[Obama Administration]] was ill-prepared to deal with the situation.<ref>[http://pogoblog.typepad.com/pogo/2010/04/mms-thought-deepwater-horizon-was-awardwinningly-safe.html MMS Thought Deepwater Horizon was Award-Winningly SAFE,] The Project on Government Oversight, Exposing Government Corruption, 29 April 2010.</ref>  While the disaster steadily grew, Obama did not discuss the crisis at length until he appeared at a photo op at Venice, Louisiana on 3 May 2010.<ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126467960 Obama Says Oil Spill Damage Could Be Unprecedented,] Scott Horsley, [[NPR]], 3 May 2010.</ref>  He would order a moratorium on all future deep sea oil platforms until they determine the problems associated with the current situation. As to be expected, Obama tries to remove himself from blame saying "the system failed", this despite the fact the he heads the system. Then he pointed fingers of blame at oil companies while taking an indirect jab at the Bush administration.<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20005039-503544.html Angry Obama Seeks to Deflect Blame for Gulf Oil Spill Crisis, CBS, May 14, 2010]</ref>

The [[White House]] lacked any type of plan to combat the disaster. [[U.S. House of Representatives|House]] Democratic Majority Leader [[Steny Hoyer]] publicly admitted that the [[Obama Administration]] was ill-prepared to deal with the situation.<ref>[http://pogoblog.typepad.com/pogo/2010/04/mms-thought-deepwater-horizon-was-awardwinningly-safe.html MMS Thought Deepwater Horizon was Award-Winningly SAFE,] The Project on Government Oversight, Exposing Government Corruption, 29 April 2010.</ref>  While the disaster steadily grew, Obama did not discuss the crisis at length until he appeared at a photo op at Venice, Louisiana on 3 May 2010.<ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126467960 Obama Says Oil Spill Damage Could Be Unprecedented,] Scott Horsley, [[NPR]], 3 May 2010.</ref>  He would order a moratorium on all future deep sea oil platforms until they determine the problems associated with the current situation. As to be expected, Obama tries to remove himself from blame saying "the system failed", this despite the fact the he heads the system. Then he pointed fingers of blame at oil companies while taking an indirect jab at the Bush administration.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20005039-503544.html Angry Obama Seeks to Deflect Blame for Gulf Oil Spill Crisis, CBS, May 14, 2010]</ref>

{{cquote|For too long, for a decade or more, there has been a cozy relationship between the oil companies and the federal agency that permits them to drill. It seems as if permits were too often issued based on little more than assurances of safety from the oil companies. That cannot and will not happen anymore.}}

{{cquote|For too long, for a decade or more, there has been a cozy relationship between the oil companies and the federal agency that permits them to drill. It seems as if permits were too often issued based on little more than assurances of safety from the oil companies. That cannot and will not happen anymore.}}

White House spokesman [[Robert Gibbs]] did his best to put a good spin on the disaster claiming the response was "comprehensive and fast."  Meanwhile, the [[Democrat]]-led Congress ordered public hearings from oil executives. President Obama blamed others saying the answers from oil executives were a "ridiculous spectacle," "You had executives of BP and Transocean and Halliburton falling over each other to point the finger of blame at somebody else." <ref>[http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/burning_rig_of_fire_VkeuMCffwTUd9IBS7gUV7K?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=#ixzz0oWm4u9zQ New look at Gulf oil spill as cleanup continues, NYPost, May 15, 2010]</ref> As the disaster progressed and questions arose over the government's misreporting and withholding<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/bp-feds-withheld-videos-showing-massive-scope-oil/story?id=10819367 BP and Feds Withheld Videos Showing Massive Scope of Oil Spill:] Coast Guard Told Public Not to 'Fixate' On Rate of Spill While Sitting On Video, Brian Ross, Matthew York, and Avni Patel, ABC News, 3 June 2010.</ref> of information from the [[public]] about the true dimensions of the calamity, the ''[[Associated Press]]'' noted,  

White House spokesman [[Robert Gibbs]] did his best to put a good spin on the disaster claiming the response was "comprehensive and fast."  Meanwhile, the [[Democrat]]-led Congress ordered public hearings from oil executives. President Obama blamed others saying the answers from oil executives were a "ridiculous spectacle," "You had executives of BP and Transocean and Halliburton falling over each other to point the finger of blame at somebody else." <ref>[http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/burning_rig_of_fire_VkeuMCffwTUd9IBS7gUV7K?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=#ixzz0oWm4u9zQ New look at Gulf oil spill as cleanup continues, NYPost, May 15, 2010]</ref> As the disaster progressed and questions arose over the government's misreporting and withholding<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/bp-feds-withheld-videos-showing-massive-scope-oil/story?id=10819367 BP and Feds Withheld Videos Showing Massive Scope of Oil Spill:] Coast Guard Told Public Not to 'Fixate' On Rate of Spill While Sitting On Video, Brian Ross, Matthew York, and Avni Patel, ABC News, 3 June 2010.</ref> of information from the [[public]] about the true dimensions of the calamity, the ''[[Associated Press]]'' noted,  

===Public relations offensive===

===Public relations offensive===

Faced with declining poll numbers and a public relations calamity, [[President Obama]] took to the airwaves nearly 60 days into the spill. A ''New York Times'' Op-ed commented,

Faced with declining poll numbers and a public relations calamity, [[President Obama]] took to the airwaves nearly 60 days into the spill. A ''New York Times'' Op-ed commented,

{{cquote|All we got from President Obama was a vague call for some sort of new energy policy. Plus a Gulf Coast Restoration Plan, an oil spill study commission, a reminder that the secretary of energy won a Nobel Prize in physics and 17 references to God, prayer, blessings or faith.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/opinion/17collins.html The Boring Speech Policy,]  Gail Collins, ''New York Times'' Op-ed, 16 June 2010.</ref><ref>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brad-wilmouth/2010/06/17/behar-laments-shocking-bush-obama-garofalo-slams-anti-intellectual-pr Behar Panel Sees '[[Bush]]-Like' and '[[Corporatist]]' [[Obama]], [[Janeane Garofalo|Garofalo]] Slams 'Anti-Intellectual' [[Prayer]],] Joy Behar Show, [[CNN]]. Retrieved from newsbusters.org, 20 June 2010.</ref>}}

{{cquote|All we got from President Obama was a vague call for some sort of new energy policy. Plus a Gulf Coast Restoration Plan, an oil spill study commission, a reminder that the secretary of energy won a Nobel Prize in physics and 17 references to God, prayer, blessings or faith.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/opinion/17collins.html The Boring Speech Policy,]  Gail Collins, ''New York Times'' Op-ed, 16 June 2010.</ref><ref>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brad-wilmouth/2010/06/17/behar-laments-shocking-bush-obama-garofalo-slams-anti-intellectual-pr Behar Panel Sees '[[Bush]]-Like' and '[[Corporatist]]' [[Obama]], [[Janeane Garofalo|Garofalo]] Slams 'Anti-Intellectual' [[Prayer]],] Joy Behar Show, [[CNN]]. Retrieved from newsbusters.org, 20 June 2010.</ref>}}

Former speechwriter for President [[Jimmy Carter]], [[Chris Matthews]], chided the President after his address to the nation,

Former speechwriter for President [[Jimmy Carter]], [[Chris Matthews]], chided the President after his address to the nation,

{{cquote|Ludicrous that he keeps saying [Secretary of Energy] [[Steven Chu|Chu]] has a [[Nobel prize]]. I'll barf if he does it one more time.<ref>[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/06/15/msnbc_trashes_obamas_address_compared_to_carter_i_dont_sense_executive_command.html MSNBC Trashes Obama's Address: Compared To Carter, "I Don't Sense Executive Command,"]. Retrieved from RealClearPolitics.com, 20 June 2010.</ref>}}

{{cquote|Ludicrous that he keeps saying [Secretary of Energy] [[Steven Chu|Chu]] has a [[Nobel prize]]. I'll barf if he does it one more time.<ref>[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/06/15/msnbc_trashes_obamas_address_compared_to_carter_i_dont_sense_executive_command.html MSNBC Trashes Obama's Address: Compared To Carter, "I Don't Sense Executive Command,"]. Retrieved from RealClearPolitics.com, 20 June 2010.</ref>}}

The ''Washington Post'' reported in November 2010 the oil spill that damaged the Gulf of Mexico's reefs and wetlands also threatens to stain the [[Obama administration]]'s reputation for relying on [[science]] to guide policy. The [[Department of Interior]]'s concluded that the White House edited a drilling safety report in a way that made it [[false]]ly appear that scientists and experts backed the administration's six-month moratorium on new deep-water drilling. The editing changes by the [[White House]] resulted "in the implication that the moratorium recommendation had been peer reviewed." But it hadn't been. Outside scientists were asked only to review new safety measures for offshore drilling.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/10/AR2010111007479.html Critics say White House misconstrued spill data,] Dina Cappiello, ''Washington Post'', November 11, 2010.</ref>

The ''Washington Post'' reported in November 2010 the oil spill that damaged the Gulf of Mexico's reefs and wetlands also threatens to stain the [[Obama administration]]'s reputation for relying on [[science]] to guide policy. The [[Department of Interior]]'s concluded that the White House edited a drilling safety report in a way that made it [[false]]ly appear that scientists and experts backed the administration's six-month moratorium on new deep-water drilling. The editing changes by the [[White House]] resulted "in the implication that the moratorium recommendation had been peer reviewed." But it hadn't been. Outside scientists were asked only to review new safety measures for offshore drilling.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/10/AR2010111007479.html Critics say White House misconstrued spill data,] Dina Cappiello, ''Washington Post'', November 11, 2010.</ref>

In October 2010 the Presidential Oil Spill Commission said that the White House [[Office of Management and Budget]] delayed publication of a scientific report that forecast how much oil could reach the gulf's shores. The report said that [[President Obama]]'s energy adviser and [[Socialist International]] operative [[Carol Browner]],<ref>http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/12/obama-climate-czar-has-socialist-ties/</ref> mischaracterized on national TV a government analysis about where the oil went, saying it showed most of the oil was "gone." It also said Browner and the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Jane Lubchenco, contributed to the public's perception that the report was more exact than it was.

In October 2010 the Presidential Oil Spill Commission said that the White House [[Office of Management and Budget]] delayed publication of a scientific report that forecast how much oil could reach the gulf's shores. The report said that [[President Obama]]'s energy adviser and [[Socialist International]] operative [[Carol Browner]],<ref>https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/12/obama-climate-czar-has-socialist-ties/</ref> mischaracterized on national TV a government analysis about where the oil went, saying it showed most of the oil was "gone." It also said Browner and the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Jane Lubchenco, contributed to the public's perception that the report was more exact than it was.

Academics, environmentalists and federal investigators have accused the administration since the April 2010 spill of downplaying scientific findings, misrepresenting data and misconstruing the opinions of experts it solicited.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/04/AR2010080407082.html Scientists question government team's report of shrinking gulf oil spill,] David A. Fahrenthold, ''Washington Post,'' August 5, 2010.</ref>

Academics, environmentalists and federal investigators have accused the administration since the April 2010 spill of downplaying scientific findings, misrepresenting data and misconstruing the opinions of experts it solicited.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/04/AR2010080407082.html Scientists question government team's report of shrinking gulf oil spill,] David A. Fahrenthold, ''Washington Post,'' August 5, 2010.</ref>

{{Cquote|Where I was wrong was in my belief that the oil companies had their act together when it came to worst-case scenarios.<ref>Remarks by President Obama on the Gulf Oil Spill, Office of the Press Secretary, 27 May 2010. Retrieved from whitehouse.gov 29 May 2010.</ref>}}

{{Cquote|Where I was wrong was in my belief that the oil companies had their act together when it came to worst-case scenarios.<ref>Remarks by President Obama on the Gulf Oil Spill, Office of the Press Secretary, 27 May 2010. Retrieved from whitehouse.gov 29 May 2010.</ref>}}

[[File:Day12 comedyskit1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Day 12 of the Disaster: Obama enjoys an evening of levity and banter with the Washington Press Corps at the White House Correspondent's Dinner.]]  

[[File:Day12 comedyskit1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Day 12 of the Disaster: Obama enjoys an evening of levity and banter with the Washington Press Corps at the White House Correspondent's Dinner.]]  

[[MSNBC]] talk show host [[Chris Matthews]]<ref>Matthews said of Obama during the Potomac Primaries, "it's part of reporting this case, this election, the feeling most people get when they hear Barack Obama's speech. My, I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don't have that too often." [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/13/chris-matthews-i-felt-thi_n_86449.html]</ref> said on [[Jay Leno]]'s ''Tonight Show'',

[[MSNBC]] talk show host [[Chris Matthews]]<ref>Matthews said of Obama during the Potomac Primaries, "it's part of reporting this case, this election, the feeling most people get when they hear Barack Obama's speech. My, I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don't have that too often." [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/13/chris-matthews-i-felt-thi_n_86449.html]</ref> said on [[Jay Leno]]'s ''Tonight Show'',

{{Cquote|The president scares me. He's been acting a little like a Vatican Observer here. When is he actually going to do something? And I worry. I know he doesn't want to take ownership of it. I know politics. He said the minute he says, 'I'm in charge,' he takes the blame.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100524/pl_ynews/ynews_pl2219 White House seeks to fend off growing chorus of critics on handling of Gulf spill,] ''Yahoo News'', 24 May 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2010.</ref>}}  

{{Cquote|The president scares me. He's been acting a little like a Vatican Observer here. When is he actually going to do something? And I worry. I know he doesn't want to take ownership of it. I know politics. He said the minute he says, 'I'm in charge,' he takes the blame.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100524/pl_ynews/ynews_pl2219 White House seeks to fend off growing chorus of critics on handling of Gulf spill,] ''Yahoo News'', 24 May 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2010.</ref>}}  

Donna Brazile, who managed the presidential campaign of Democratic [[candidate]] [[Al Gore]] in 2000 said on [[ABC]]'s ''[[This Week]]'',

Donna Brazile, who managed the presidential campaign of Democratic [[candidate]] [[Al Gore]] in 2000 said on [[ABC]]'s ''[[This Week]]'',

{{Cquote|One of the problems I have with the administration is that they're not tough enough. They are waiting for BP to say, ‘oh, we've got a new plan to stop the oil leak.’ They need to stop it, contain it, clean it up, and try to help us conserve our coastal wetlands.<ref>[http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/99375-donna-brazile-calls-obamas-oil-spill-response-not-tough-enough Donna Brazile calls Obama’s oil spill response ‘not tough enough’,] Ben Geman, ''The Hill'',  23 May 2010.</ref>}}

{{Cquote|One of the problems I have with the administration is that they're not tough enough. They are waiting for BP to say, ‘oh, we've got a new plan to stop the oil leak.’ They need to stop it, contain it, clean it up, and try to help us conserve our coastal wetlands.<ref>[https://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/99375-donna-brazile-calls-obamas-oil-spill-response-not-tough-enough Donna Brazile calls Obama’s oil spill response ‘not tough enough’,] Ben Geman, ''The Hill'',  23 May 2010.</ref>}}

[[Dick Morris]], an intimate adviser to President [[Bill Clinton]] observed,

[[Dick Morris]], an intimate adviser to President [[Bill Clinton]] observed,

''[[New York Times]]'' columnist [[Liberal hate speech#Against the disabled|Maureen Dowd]] wrote,

''[[New York Times]]'' columnist [[Liberal hate speech#Against the disabled|Maureen Dowd]] wrote,

{{Cquote|Obama and top aides who believe in his [[divinity]] make a mistake to dismiss complaints of his aloofness as Washington white noise. He treats the press as a nuisance rather than examining his own inability to encapsulate Americans’ feelings.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/opinion/30dowd.html Once More, With Feeling,] Maureen Dowd, ''New York Time'' Op Ed, 29 mMay 2010.l</ref>}}

{{Cquote|Obama and top aides who believe in his [[divinity]] make a mistake to dismiss complaints of his aloofness as Washington white noise. He treats the press as a nuisance rather than examining his own inability to encapsulate Americans’ feelings.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/opinion/30dowd.html Once More, With Feeling,] Maureen Dowd, ''New York Time'' Op Ed, 29 mMay 2010.l</ref>}}

Actor Robert Redford demanded action from the [[Obama administration]]. The liberal special interest group [[Natural Resources Defense Council]] has Redford in a new ad decrying the lackluster response.<ref>[http://biggovernment.com/jmeath/2010/05/25/obamas-katrina-in-the-gulf/ Obama’s ‘Katrina’ in the Gulf, BigGovernment.com, May 25, 2010]</ref> Redford made an appearance on MSNBC and said there is no one manning this ship,

Actor Robert Redford demanded action from the [[Obama administration]]. The liberal special interest group [[Natural Resources Defense Council]] has Redford in a new ad decrying the lackluster response.<ref>[http://biggovernment.com/jmeath/2010/05/25/obamas-katrina-in-the-gulf/ Obama’s ‘Katrina’ in the Gulf, BigGovernment.com, May 25, 2010]</ref> Redford made an appearance on MSNBC and said there is no one manning this ship,

[[Hollywood values|Liberal Hollywood]] director [[James Cameron]] says;

[[Hollywood values|Liberal Hollywood]] director [[James Cameron]] says;

{{cquote|Over the last few weeks I've watched, as we all have, with growing horror and heartache, watching what's happening in the Gulf and thinking those morons don't know what they're doing.<ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/cameron-titanic-spill-morons/2010/06/03/id/361007 'Titanic' Director Cameron: 'Morons' Directing Spill Efforts, NewsMax, June, 2010]</ref>}}

{{cquote|Over the last few weeks I've watched, as we all have, with growing horror and heartache, watching what's happening in the Gulf and thinking those morons don't know what they're doing.<ref>[https://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/cameron-titanic-spill-morons/2010/06/03/id/361007 'Titanic' Director Cameron: 'Morons' Directing Spill Efforts, NewsMax, June, 2010]</ref>}}

Obnoxious Hollywood liberal [[Rosie O'Donnell]] said, "We broke the womb of freaking mother Earth."  <ref>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2010/06/08/rosie-odonnell-wants-bps-assets-seized-we-broke-freakin-womb-mother-eart Rosie O'Donnell Wants BP's Assets Seized, NewsBusters.org, June 8, 2010]</ref> In addition, O'Donnell accused BP of

Obnoxious Hollywood liberal [[Rosie O'Donnell]] said, "We broke the womb of freaking mother Earth."  <ref>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2010/06/08/rosie-odonnell-wants-bps-assets-seized-we-broke-freakin-womb-mother-eart Rosie O'Donnell Wants BP's Assets Seized, NewsBusters.org, June 8, 2010]</ref> In addition, O'Donnell accused BP of

{{cquote|willful homicide, willful mass murder" and demanded BP be nationalized immediately: "I say seize their assets. Right now. Seize their assets today. Take over the company.}}

{{cquote|willful homicide, willful mass murder" and demanded BP be nationalized immediately: "I say seize their assets. Right now. Seize their assets today. Take over the company.}}

[[Brad Pitt]], appears in a Spike Lee film denouncing the oil spill and his desire to see BP executives get the death penalty.<ref>[http://www.politico.com/click/stories/1008/pitt_death_penalty_for_bp.html Brad Pitt: Death Penalty For BP, Politico, August 23, 2010]</ref>  

[[Brad Pitt]], appears in a Spike Lee film denouncing the oil spill and his desire to see BP executives get the death penalty.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/click/stories/1008/pitt_death_penalty_for_bp.html Brad Pitt: Death Penalty For BP, Politico, August 23, 2010]</ref>  

===Foreign reaction===

===Foreign reaction===

Relations between allies the [[U.K.]] and U.S. are now at historic lows thanks to Barack Obama's mishandling of the oil spill. Britain had been repeatedly mocked by Obama prior to the spill<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/mar/06/obama-dvd-brown Obama's DVD gift to Brown - it's the thought that counts,] ''Guardian UK,'' March 6, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4623148/Barack-Obama-sends-bust-of-Winston-Churchill-on-its-way-back-to-Britain.html Barack Obama sends bust of Winston Churchill on its way back to Britain,] ''Telegraph UK,'' February 14, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/03/obama_disses_brit_pm.html Obama disses Brit PM, American Thinker,] March 5, 2009.</ref> but now find themselves subjected to endless [[propaganda]]. Prominent foreign dignitaries have expressed the public's growing frustration with the administration's posturing and hunt for scapegoats. The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who supported Obama in 2008, decried "anti-British rhetoric, buck-passing and name-calling" while Lord Tebbit branded Mr Obama's conduct “despicable” and the president's rhetoric  

Relations between allies the [[U.K.]] and U.S. are now at historic lows thanks to Barack Obama's mishandling of the oil spill. Britain had been repeatedly mocked by Obama prior to the spill<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/mar/06/obama-dvd-brown Obama's DVD gift to Brown - it's the thought that counts,] ''Guardian UK,'' March 6, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4623148/Barack-Obama-sends-bust-of-Winston-Churchill-on-its-way-back-to-Britain.html Barack Obama sends bust of Winston Churchill on its way back to Britain,] ''Telegraph UK,'' February 14, 2009.</ref><ref>[https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/03/obama_disses_brit_pm.html Obama disses Brit PM, American Thinker,] March 5, 2009.</ref> but now find themselves subjected to endless [[propaganda]]. Prominent foreign dignitaries have expressed the public's growing frustration with the administration's posturing and hunt for scapegoats. The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who supported Obama in 2008, decried "anti-British rhetoric, buck-passing and name-calling" while Lord Tebbit branded Mr Obama's conduct “despicable” and the president's rhetoric  

{{cquote|a crude, [[bigot]]ed, [[xenophobic]] display of [[partisan]] political Presidential petulance."<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1285467/BP-OIL-SPILL-Lord-Tebbit-Boris-Johnson-attack-Obamas-anti-British-rhetoric.html#ixzz0rK7zthtN</ref><ref>[http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23843524-boris-johnson-tells-barack-obama-stop-bashing-britain.do Boris Johnson tells Barack Obama: Stop bashing Britain,] London Evening Standard, June 6, 2010.</ref>}}

{{cquote|a crude, [[bigot]]ed, [[xenophobic]] display of [[partisan]] political Presidential petulance."<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1285467/BP-OIL-SPILL-Lord-Tebbit-Boris-Johnson-attack-Obamas-anti-British-rhetoric.html#ixzz0rK7zthtN</ref><ref>[http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23843524-boris-johnson-tells-barack-obama-stop-bashing-britain.do Boris Johnson tells Barack Obama: Stop bashing Britain,] London Evening Standard, June 6, 2010.</ref>}}

The atmosphere Obama created in Britain is so toxic that the British press has labelled Barack Obama the most unpopular man in England.<ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/06/17/2010-06-17_president_barack_obama_is_the_most_hated_man_in_england_says_british_reporter.html Barack Obama: the most unpopular man in Britain?,] Telegraph UK, June 17, 2010.</ref>

The atmosphere Obama created in Britain is so toxic that the British press has labelled Barack Obama the most unpopular man in England.<ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/06/17/2010-06-17_president_barack_obama_is_the_most_hated_man_in_england_says_british_reporter.html Barack Obama: the most unpopular man in Britain?,] Telegraph UK, June 17, 2010.</ref>

==External links==

==External links==

* [http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23oilspill Twitter Feed: #Oilspill (warning vulgar comments left)]

* [https://twitter.com/#search?q=%23oilspill Twitter Feed: #Oilspill (warning vulgar comments left)]

* [http://www.bp.com/bodycopyarticle.do?categoryId=1&contentId=7052055&nicam=USCSBaselineCrisis&nisrc=Google&nigrp=Non_Branded Official BP Global Oil Spill News Website]

* [http://www.bp.com/bodycopyarticle.do?categoryId=1&contentId=7052055&nicam=USCSBaselineCrisis&nisrc=Google&nigrp=Non_Branded Official BP Global Oil Spill News Website]

* [http://dailybail.com/slideshows/bp-disaster-dying-birds/5613601 Photos of Gulf birds covered in oil]

* [http://dailybail.com/slideshows/bp-disaster-dying-birds/5613601 Photos of Gulf birds covered in oil]