In a June 17 post on RedState.com, CNN contributor Erick Erickson wrote that while BP was not “owe[d]...an apology,” "[t]he White House meeting with British Petroleum was a shakedown."

From Erickson's June 17 Redstate.com post:

Let's be honest. The White House meeting with British Petroleum was a shakedown.

The White House threatened criminal prosecution of BP, the President gave a miserably received speech, then he hauled BP into the White House and put the Attorney General in the room with the CEO to stare at him, then the President demanded $20 billion.

It was a shakedown.

Had British Petroleum affiliated with Al Qaeda and tried to blow up an airplane, it would have gotten due process rights, a court appointed lawyer, and miranda warning while avoiding Henry Waxman.

But let's continue our honesty: Who the heck cares besides Joe Barton? What planet has the man been living on? Has he not seen what BP has done and not done? He thinks we owe BP an apology? I don't think so. [Note: Yeah, I do care that this is probably unconstitutional, but BP is a willing collaborator with Obama. They're made for each other. Barton should be apologizing to the American public, not BP -- this administration continues to operate as a thugocracy.]

Previously:

WSJ: Barton “rightly called” White House “pressure” on BP “a shakedown”