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ConocoPhillips, one of the world’s largest and most profitable oil companies, yesterday said it’s “un-American” to take away taxpayer subsidies from the oil industry. This wasn’t a verbal slip; the comment was put in a press release.
Congressional Democrats weren’t pleased, and at a Senate Finance Committee hearing featuring executives from all of the major oil companies, Dems sought an apology. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) repeatedly pressed ConocoPhillips CEO Jim Mulva on this point, but there were no regrets from the oil man.
SCHUMER: I want to ask you a specific question, do you think anyone who advocates cutting these subsidies is un-American? Yes or no, sir. That one we deserve a yes or no answer on, it was your release that said “un-American.” Yes or no?
MULVA: Senator, maybe you can hear me out on this because it’s a very important question.
SCHUMER: Do you apologize for it?
MULVA: Make no mistake, were these proposals enacted … they would place U.S. oil companies like our company …
SCHUMER: Sir, I have limited time. I know your view. Do you consider it American to have another view? Yes or no?
MULVA: Senator, I believe policies under consideration are going to have a very adverse impact with respect to energy policy.
SCHUMER: There are many people who disagree with that.
The New York senator ultimately asked the other executives whether opposition to industry subsidies was, in their eyes, un-American. When they declined, Schumer thanked them for “not labeling those who are different from you un-American.”
(For the record, ending the subsidies would not have a adverse impact with respect to energy policy.)
Under questioning from Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Mulva later added that “nothing was intended personally,” but he would not apologize or retract the characterization.
I see. The CEO thinks Democrats are being un-American by asking Big Oil to enjoy its profits without additional taxpayer incentives, but he doesn’t think Democrats should take it “personally.”
Also of interest, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) reminded Mulva of remarks he made in 2005, about the industry not needing subsidies when prices were at $55 a barrel — roughly half the current level. Pressed by Wyden to justify this in 2011, Mulva responded that he doesn’t consider tax incentives to be tax incentives.
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E Stamm on May 12, 2011 2:15 PM:
Menendez to Mulva (I wish): "I think you are a lying piece of human scum douchebag. But don't take that personally."
commie atheist on May 12, 2011 2:16 PM:
Mulva? I thought his name was Delores.
Test / bet on May 12, 2011 2:17 PM:
How many people here would bet that, give a royal straight flush, the Dems will be able to win with this?
c u n d gulag on May 12, 2011 2:23 PM:
First, stop calling them "Tax Incentives," Democrats.
What do they incent?
Nothing.
Call the what they are: HAND-OUTS!!!
Ron Byers on May 12, 2011 2:33 PM:
What Mulva is saying is that big companies get special tax breaks because they are big. My response would be to get rid of all the special tax breaks big companies get because they are big. Give them the same tax breaks they give little companies like mine. Let me compete on a level playing field. What we really need is corporate tax reform. Level the playing field. We might be able to lower the rates in the process. We would surely be able to raise revenues.
SkJL on May 12, 2011 2:35 PM:
I appreciate Senate Dems for calling out the oil companies over its undeserved tax incentives; however at the same time these hearings seem like a complete waste of time since nothing changes after the fact - just back to the status quo.
Jon on May 12, 2011 2:36 PM:
It's always amusing when multinational corporate conglomerates presume to define "American" for us.
I can see now we'll have to change the expression to "As American as apple pie and subsidies for multinational oil companies."
DAY on May 12, 2011 2:37 PM:
this nonsense was once called an "Oil Depletion Allowance", and became an "incentive" when oil was at $10 a BBL and it cost that much to get it out of the ground. Now it has a different name- "A way to get taxpayer money into the pockets of politicians."
On the floor of the House a Republican just said, "The oil doesn't belong to Obama- it belongs to America!"
Only when it is in the ground, Bubba- as soon as it reaches the surface it belongs to the oil company, and they WILL sell it to the highest bidder.
SYSPROG on May 12, 2011 2:39 PM:
And yesterday this same sanctimonious dickhead tried to hold the Senate hostage by reminding them he 'provided' 91,000 jobs in this country. REALLY? Those PEOPLE that work in those jobs don't provide a service to YOU????? I'm sick of these guys. I KNOW we need the jobs but if they really think they are doing us a favor then take your corporation, your tax breaks and your jobs and LEAVE...and leave your citizenship on the desk when you check out because clearly THAT isn't important either.
Gandalf on May 12, 2011 2:43 PM:
Don't you guys get it Mulva is saying he's american and anybody who doesn't see things his way is unamerican. And what he says is best for the country. What an incredible egotistical prick.
CAPTCHA SUCKS!!!!
Down with Captcha!!!
wheresthebeef on May 12, 2011 2:57 PM:
Nationalize 'em.
Jay B. on May 12, 2011 3:01 PM:
Who gives a flying fuck about "UnAmerican"? It's pearl-clutching vapor bullshit.
Schumer had a much BETTER opportunity to call out the shiteating Oil Baron by telling him that if, in fact, asking oil companies to pay their share while they are stealing billions from hard working Americans is UnAmerican than shit, he's UnAmerican. He'd welcome the charge to pit his bona fides, of course, between the rapacious greed of the oil industry and the desperate needs of working America.
But no. Why be populist or correct, when you can argue a wholly inconsequential point?
John J Emerson on May 12, 2011 3:08 PM:
Mulva? Seinfeld's girlfriend?
SirLurksAlot on May 12, 2011 3:32 PM:
Gipple?
T2 on May 12, 2011 3:33 PM:
Seinfeld's EX girlfriend. I mean, how can a congressman sit there with a straight face and question a guy named Mulva. I know I sure couldn't.
TooManyJens on May 12, 2011 3:34 PM:
Mulva? Seinfeld's girlfriend?
Oh thank God, I'm not the only shallow one here.
Bob on May 12, 2011 3:40 PM:
mulva?
brian on May 12, 2011 3:53 PM:
I can't that I'm very surprised to see that Benen can't tell taxes from subsidies.
ManOutOfTime on May 12, 2011 3:54 PM:
Mulva? ... Aretha? ... Celeste? ... Bovary ... ? Dolores!
"Uffizo, gersofp" - Captcha
John R AKA Mr. Serf Man on May 12, 2011 3:55 PM:
John J Emerson Beat me to it
Mulva was the girl he was dating and he couldn't remember her name except it rhymed with a female body part . Vulva? Mulava? (The crap I have clogging my brain)
He is in fact a male body part
Gridlock on May 12, 2011 3:56 PM:
Wow. The balls on this guy. I hope he realizes based on his definition that Medicare, Medicaid and welfare payments are tax incentives too.
st john on May 12, 2011 4:50 PM:
I'd like to see the list of Congresspeople present who have accepted Big Oil "incentives/subsidies" and the amount of those "incentives/subsidies." Anyone on the list should either have to recuse themselves from the hearings or hold up a card with the amount they've accepted as they are questioning their benefactors.
Yea, that's what I thought.
lliesit fluid,
SW on May 12, 2011 7:57 PM:
Since we keep hearing about the virtues of the small independent producers in the U.S. That they are the ones responsible for keeping these old, over the hill wells producing past their peak, with the exception of the deep water stuff, and the polar stuff, why don't we reward them, by taking the leases away from the big greedy UnAmerican multi-national oil companies, and giving them to the American small business entremprenures who create jobs for Americans here at home instead of shipping their profits overseas and dodging taxes? I'm just askin'.
Goldilocks on May 12, 2011 10:50 PM:
In theist-speak one might say "God gave us the cuckoo to understand oil companies, corporate culture and conservative extremism". Probably because of its silly-sounding song, 'cuckoo' is used to call someone stupid or crazy. But that is to be sorely misled.
The cuckoo is the wiliest of all birds. Far be it from its elevated status to stoop to the toil and trouble of building its own home. No - it flits around its pretty woodlands innocently singing its silly song all the while checking out the hard-working couples struggling to create a nest for their family. When a minion in their territory has finally got a nice little house all neat and ready for its first batch of eggs the big fat parasite comes closer. It watches, and when the parent birds are not paying attention, it plants its own cleverly disguised egg (think: corporate-funded TV propaganda) in the cozy little nest.
The unsuspecting parents, so happy in their spring-time achievement, proudly await the promised joy of parenthood. When the time comes, however, and they are working double-time to feed their new family, the sly interloper callously heaves, one by one, his troublesome foster siblings over the edge to certain death.
Being good dedicated parents - though no doubt curious about their depleting household - they continue to serve the needs of their rapidly growing surrogate. When the plutocratic presence has grown to many times their size, it flies away to enjoy a life of freedom, profligacy and further propagation leaving, without a second thought, its bereft erstwhile parents to ponder their cruel deception.
smartalek on May 12, 2011 11:30 PM:
SW, I don't think I ever knew that before (or if I did, it certainly was never to that level of detail).
Thank you.
(This also means I finally understand why the John Wyndham syfy novel that was eventually made into the flick "Village of the Damned" was originally entitled "The Midwich Cuckoos.")
Preview: medical peccmb
Post: eroffi Gallie
mdh on May 13, 2011 1:20 AM:
Accusing their opponents of their own sins.
It's like an alcoholic telling you -you're- the one with a drinking problem.
They believe it. I really think this creates a blind spot in a lot of people, especially enabler types and other lovers of dissonance.
Rhymes With Right on May 13, 2011 7:09 AM:
I'll say it -- raising taxes on business during Obama's Great Dem-Pression is un-American. It will raise prices on consumers as the costs get passed along, and will also slow job creation (or result in job losses). We Americans cannot afford any of those outcomes.
tec619 on May 13, 2011 8:28 AM:
"Mulva responded that he doesn�t consider tax incentives to be tax incentives."
That's because Mulva considers tax incentives to be corporate welfare, er corporate rights. But that's exactly the kind of Louis XVI style thinking that threatens capitalism.
bandit on May 13, 2011 8:46 AM:
Everyone needs to refrain from calling anyone or anything in America 'un-American'.