I think the more apt and important questions would involve gaining an understanding of precisely what Brady believes this "demonizing" to consist of. For the most part what I have seen is politicians criticizing oil executives for irresponsible behavior. Where they have acted immorally, responsible politicians have pointed that out. What, in more precise terms, would Brady like to criticize about the political response to big oil's screwups?

Leave Big Oil allloooooooone!

The fossil fuel corporations are, in fact, quite literally, demonic. So, to "demonize" them is merely to tell the truth.

"demonizing" depends upon whose ox is gored.

-and whose paycheck is affected. . .

So the Republicans' stated goals are:

Gut Social Security (Thanks, Paul R) and Medicare
More tax cuts for the rich, higher taxes for the rest
Defending big biz.

And the Dems will get trounced by them. Well done!

C'mon, Steve, be nice. Stinkin' rich oil company executives are people too.

This is even more amazing as it was just revealed to the public that a BP refinery in Texas was dumping tons of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) into the air because they didn't want to shut down production to make a repair. Thousands of people living near the refinery have had their health impacted.

Maybe the industry should be demonized because they act like demons. Of course, the GOP wants to shield BP and others from frivolous lawsuits too.

I'm encouraged by the 'still' in "I sure hope so, because energy's still a huge part of our economy," Brady said.

They know it's on the way out.

Demonization = not giving the oil industry everything they want, immediately, without question.

ad hominem?

a better argument would boil down to WHY the oil industry should be demonized.

Interesting accusation. My memory is that Republicans demonized Hugo Chavez and Venezuela, a huge oil provider, and it led to..nothing other than cheap fuel oil in New England. Venezuela (and Iran) still provide oil to the US. My guess is that the Republicans think the oil companies have Repug-style thin skins and will have hurt feelings if criticized for numerous transgressions. Poor babies.

Oh come now, nobody could have anticipated an oil well drilled 1 mile underwater could have self destructed and take 3-4 months to fix.

Can anyone point to examples of Obama actually "demonizing" the oil industry? Criticism on specifics is not necessarily the same thing as demonization.

Also okay to demonize if you're a Republican:

The unemployed
San Francisco
Pacifists
Al Gore
Chicago
Civil servants (government bureaucrats)
MSNBC
The entire state of Massachusetts
People who believe in evolution
Prius drivers
Unions
France
Volvo drivers
Michael Moore
Scientists who actually understand global warming
Ferret owners
Hollywood

Hey, without BP running their daily, full-page "Making This Right" ads, where would the newspaper industry be?

Sam Zell and his barely-alive Chicago Tribune must be grateful. But would it affect their coverage of the issue?

Naaaaaaah, what am I thinking, of course not. They're journalists first and foremost.

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