Obama Runs Cover for BP in News Conference

May 28, 2010 (LPAC)—After coming face-to-face with a new level of popular revolt against him in San Francisco on Tuesday, May 25, where he was forced for the first time to confess that he is being hounded by the "mustache," Obama called his first press conference in 309 days to try to regain initiative.

But what he did will only speed his ouster from office. Everything he said only covered over the criminal negligence BP has shown since the spill began, by his repeatedly and falsely claiming that the Federal government has been solely responsible for the response. "The American people should know that from the moment this disaster began, the federal government has been in charge of the response effort.... But make no mistake, BP is operating at our direction. Every key decision and action they take must be approved by us in advance...." And so forth.

Even when a reporter confronted him with BP's lies and asked, "How can you believe anything they say?" Obama refused to criticize his British masters at BP.

Obama repeatedly claimed that he and his administration had been on a total emergency mobilization from the first moment of the spill, even though everyone in the Gulf area, at least, knows quite the opposite. Elements of the give-and-take highlighted Obama's own criminal negligence in the matter, as when he was asked why he had not pursued Louisiana Gov. Jindal's suggestion for coastal sand-bar barriers. Obama's answer indicated that Jindal's proposal was submitted to a lackadaisical two-week feasibility-study, rather than the overnight study and action which a real President would have ordered and enforced.

While repeatedly claiming to have been on top of the response from the first minute, Obama was unable to say whether the top oil-drilling regulator at the Interior Department, Elizabeth Birnbaum, had resigned, or whether his own administration had fired her! He said that he had been unable to ask Secretary Salazar, because Salazar was testifying before Congress. When a NY Times reporter said she just couldn't believe that answer, an exasperated Obama shouted, "Oh, come on!"