Congressman Joe Barton

WTF: Republican Joe Barton Apologizes to BP (VIDEO)

More coverage here: Oil Spill Gulf of Mexico 2010

BP CEO Tony Hayward is on Capitol Hill testifying before a House Committee today. In what has to be the most unexpected moment of the day, Joe Barton (R-Texas) issued a lengthy and heartfelt apology to BP.

Barton, who happens to be the Republican Party's main oil Congressman, told Hayward that he was ashamed of how the Obama Administration basically "shook down" BP by all but ordering that the company give up dividends to shareholders and establish a fund for the people in the Gulf of Mexico whose lives have been ruined by the oil spill disaster.

Excuse me? What is this guy smoking?

Tony Hayward is lucky he isn't in jail right now. Coughing up a few billion dollars in the least his company could do for the people in the Gulf.

How do either of these guys still have a job?

UPDATE: I may have spoken too soon. From the Hill:

Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), whose Pensacola district is among the most-impacted areas in the Gulf by the oil spill, condemned Barton for apologizing to BP CEO Tony Hayward during a committee meeting on Thursday.

"I condemn Mr. Barton’s statement. Mr. Barton's remarks are out of touch with this tragedy and I feel his comments call into question his judgment and ability to serve in a leadership on the Energy and Commerce Committee," Miller said in a statement. "He should step down as Ranking Member of the Committee.”

You can watch the bizarre video below.