Biden Blasts Barton

As the media's attention continued to be dominated by BP CEO Tony Hayward's testimony on Capitol Hill Thursday, the White House brought out Vice President Joe Biden to tout the Recovery Act. However, the Vice President couldn't resist straying onto the topic of the day, particularly Rep. Joe Barton's (R-Texas) controversial apology to the oil executive.

"I find it incredibly insensitive, incredibly out of touch," Biden said from the podium of the White House briefing room. "The one primary role of government is to protect people."

Barton, who serves as the Ranking Member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, stated during Hayward's appearance before the committee Thursday that the White House's attempt to have BP establish a $20 billion escrow fund to handle the claims filed in the wake of the Gulf Coast oil spill amounted to a "shakedown." Barton then apologized to Hayward for the administration's behavior.

The Vice President rebuked the lawmaker's description of the negotiations.

"There's no shakedown," Biden stated, his voice growing louder. "It's insisting on responsible conduct and a responsible response to something they caused."

Biden's heated response to Barton followed a statement by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, wherein he charged that Barton held more sympathy for the corporation than the Gulf Coast residents affected by the spill. During Thursday's briefing, Gibbs went on to suggest that the Republican party should reevaluate Barton's status as Ranking Member.

As for President Obama, Gibbs told reporters that when told of the remarks the President simply shook his head and said "I can't understand why anyone would say that."

Activist Interrupts BP CEOs Capitol Hill Appearance

By Robert Hune-Kalter-Talk Radio News

BP CEO Tony Hayward’s testimony before the Energy and Finance Committee on the oil spill off the Gulf Coast was interrupted Thursday by a vocal member of the activist group Codepink.

“You need to be charged for this crime,” Diane Wilson, a fourth generation shrimper, shouted.

Capitol police removed Wilson from the Committee room in what appeared to be a struggle. According to an officer, she was charged with disrupting Congress and resisting arrest. Wilson was arrested last week after pouring maple syrup on herself during another hearing on the BP spill.

When Hayward continued, he emphasized the around the clock efforts of BP to stop the leak and help those affected by the ongoing crisis in the Gulf Coast region.

“We are currently drilling two relief wells, which we believe represents the ultimate solution,” Hayward noted.

Protesters' Message To Obama: Get Tough On BP

By Linn Grubbstrom - Talk Radio News Service

While President Barack Obama met with officials from BP Wednesday, a handful of demonstrators gathered outside the White House to urge the President to take stronger action against the oil giant responsible for the massive spill in the Gulf Coast.

"[The White House has] yet to start talking about a criminal prosecution," said Diane Wilson, a shrimper and activist from Texas who last week poured what appeared to be oil on herself during a hearing with BP executives.

Mahdi Bray, the executive director of the Muslim American Society, also participated in the protest and joined the call for a tougher response.

"We want to apply more pressure on the White House and our public officials," Bray told Talk Radio News. "They really need to seize the assets of BP before they find some kind of financial loophole, possibly bankruptcy."

Petraeus Touts Integrated Civil-Military Effort In Kandahar

By Miles Wolf Tamboli-Talk Radio News

General David Petraeus, the U.S. CentCom Commander, told the Senate Armed Services Committee Wednesday that as the military's focus shifts from efforts in the Central Helmand River Valley, where forces have overtaken Taliban sanctuaries in Marjah and Nad-i-Ali to overtaking strongholds in Kandahar Province, strategies are becoming more comprehensive.

"The effort [in Kandahar] features an integrated civil-military approach to security, governance, and development," said Petraeus. The objective of this method is to provide a rising tide of security that will expand incrementally over time and establish the foundation of improved security on which local Afghan governance can be built."

Added the General, "We and our [international] partners have worked hard to get the 'inputs' right in Afghanistan: to build organizations, command and control structures, and relationships needed to carry out a comprehensive civil-military campaign."

Patraeus emphasized the strategy employed by General Stanley McChrystal, Commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan. According to Petraeus, "Central to achieving progress in Afghanistan ... is increasing the size and capability of [the Afghan Army]. General Stan McChrystal has placed a premium on comprehensive partnering with [Afghan forces]."

Wednesday's hearing followed General Petraeus' collapse the day prior. Petraeus quickly recovered Tuesday and made assurances that he was simply dehydrated.

Landmark Legislation Paves Way For Nonprofits

Sarah Mamula - Talk Radio News Service

Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) announced Wednesday that she will introduce new legislation that will help mold a stronger partnership between the federal government and nonprofit organizations, especially those who have direct influences in the healthcare and education sectors.

According to the Democrat, one in ten individuals are employed by nonprofit organizations, however, the nonprofit sector lacks adequate representation and wants their relationship with the government to undergo major improvement.

Among Rep. McCollum’s supporters is the National Council of Nonprofits, whose mission is to force legislators to recognize the involvement of nonprofits in America and its communities. Council president Tim Delaney said that nonprofit organizations nationwide are not receiving the governmental recognition that they deserve.

“We have a government that can tell us with precision how many iceberg lettuce heads were pulled out of the ground last year,” Delaney said. “Yet it cannot tell us how many heads of individuals were employed by nonprofits. Why are iceberg lettuce heads more valuable than the people who take care of America’s communities?”

Rep. McCollum said that she plans to raise awareness of the vital civic, social and economic contributions nonprofit organizations make to the United States. The Nonprofit Sector and Community Solutions Act will improve the relationship between the government and nonprofit organizations by improving the governmental coordination and support of nonprofit organizations. The legislation will also work to increase the influence the organizations have in addressing the domestic challenges their communities face.

“Every community in America is strengthened by the work of nonprofit organizations,” said Rep. McCollum. “Their needs are not being addressed by Congress or the administration, and that must change.”