Barton (R) going after Citgo for helping the poor; twisted priorities!

[babylonsister]

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/02/24/1513213

In Washington, Republican Congressman Joe Barton of Texas has launched an investigation into one of the world’s major oil companies. But he is not investigating whether any of the oil giants are engaging in price gouging at a time when gasoline and heating oil casts are skyrocketing. Instead Barton has set his sights on the only oil company that actually dared to lower its prices last year - at least for the poorest Americans. Last week Barton demanded the Venezuelan-owned company Citgo produce all records, minutes, logs, e-mails and even desk calendars related to the company’s novel program of supplying discounted heating oil to low-income communities in the United States. The Citgo program, which began late last year in Massachusetts and the South Bronx, provides oil at discounts as high as 60% off market price. We hear an excerpt of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. He first announced the discounted gas program during an interview with Democracy Now! on September 16, 2005.
more...

Gee, look at the company he's going after. Forget about all the huge repug companies reaping so many financial rewards w/o a thought to poor people. How ironic and disgusting!

[bluestateguy]

1. Well, we always wanted the Republicans to investigate the oil companies

We just didn't specify how.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. He's got to make sure those evil poor people aren't helped in any way

because he thinks they are evil because they are poor.

[Mel]

3. Let's tell Joe what we think of him

http://joebarton.house.gov/Contact.asp

[flamin lib]

4. I'm in Barton's district. He receives more than a $ million in

contributions from domestic oil and gas providers. I can't imagine why he might want to stop a low cost program from Venezuela, can you?

[babylonsister]

5. I figured he got his marching orders to do this, but am

disgusted that he's not exhibiting a shred of compassion in doing so.

[ThomCat]

6. Two strikes

Citgo is helping poor people. We certainly can't allow that to happen.

And they are owned by Venezuela, a country we failed to take over with a coup.

OF COURSE somebody in the GOP would target them. I'm surprised this took so long. I expected full media and political condemnations when the discount program first started.

They'll make us some fake evidence of corruption and use that as one of the reasons to invade Venezuela. You know it's coming within a few years if the GOP somehow maintains power.