Congressman Tells BP Exec That Other Cultures Would Demand His Suicide

During a hearing before a subpanel of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Cliff Stearns told BP America President Lamar McKay, "Well, in the Asian culture we do things differently. During the Samurai days, we just give you a knife and ask you to commit harakiri." I'm sure Mr. McKay expected to get his fair share of grief at the hearing, but I bet he never thought it would be suggested that he commit ritual suicide.

Summary wrong

[stomv]

that was Joseph Cao, a GOP rep from LA who's unlikely to win re-election.

At least he didn't apologize to BP like that other Republican Joe from the Gulf Coast.

Re:

[julian-lam]

Yeah... I was wondering about that - seeing as I find it a little offensive to hear a white dude saying "we do things differently"...

Re:

[flaming error]

> unlikely to win re-election
Ooh, that would be unfortunate. After failing his supporters, he would no doubt dispatch himself as befits a Samurai.

Likewise to the congressman

[FragHARD]

To the congressman: I say there are several other cultures that would have them(congressmen) beheaded among other things for their lack of allegiance to the people which they supposedly represent!!!!

Impotent ranting of politicians

[Anonymous Coward]

It's always endlessly entertaining to me when I see politicians getting angry at executives in hearings after major screwups. Especially because they themselves created a system in which politicians are hilariously impotent when it comes to regulating big corporations. You can see the executives smiling and I imagine them thinking "Let's get this over with. Throw your hissy fit. Put up a good show for your constituents and I'm out of here, back to business as usual.".

target to eliminate the oil disaster

[Erhy]

Most are blinded by rage. Only open eyes can minimize the disaster. Where are the technical data? Where the analyses for the vain endeavors are? Where are the computer simulations, for predicting the success of possible trials? Where is a forum to target solutions?

In different cultures there'd be no government.

[thegarbz]

Can we demand the entire US government to fall on their sword? After all BP's little environmental digression doesn't compare to fighting a pointless war killing hundreds of solders abroad while at home running an entire nation into bankruptcy. The government makes the BP America execs look like saints.

Diversity in action

[jdimpson]

Nice to see that America’s elected officials can be culturally aware while remaining ignorant and ironic at the same time.

Well Hey...

[sonicmerlin]

If showing near homicidal anger is what the teeth-gnashing American public wants, than that is what it will get. While I'm glad that Obama extracted a $20 billion escrow account out of BP, it's unfortunate that it requires the entire country to become this passionate and angry before any real progress occurs.