Axelrod On CBS Early Show: BP Cannot 'Slow-Walk' Damage Payments

WASHINGTON — A leading presidential adviser says a critical goal of a White House showdown with BP executives is to make sure victims of the Gulf oil spill won't be "slow-walked by the company" to their compensation payments.

Senior adviser David Axelrod tells CBS's "The Early Show," that "it's not a matter of trust. It's a matter of holding them accountable." He said that when President Barack Obama meets the BP executives later Wednesday, he's "going to insist" on an independently administered claims processing system with billions of dollars in assets.

Axelrod says Obama is determined to ensure that businesses and individuals in the stricken region get their payments "in a timely fashion." He said he thought the president got that point across clearly in Tuesday night's Oval Office address.

Comments

[mutton]

12:01 PM on 06/16/2010

Axelrod reminds me of Mr. Mooney from The Lucy Show.

[liberty23]

11:28 AM on 06/16/2010

I am sorry, but to hear this from ANYONE in government is hilarious. Telling them not to pay slow? aahahahaahaha

[Fez]

11:04 AM on 06/16/2010

And how, pray tell, does the President expect to force BP to do anything? As far as I know, there are no laws that allow a President or Congress to force a corporation to make payments for damages that won't be quantified for years. BP will argue that Trans Ocean or Halliburton bear some, if not all, responsibility for any damages. This is one more idle threat from a President who has made one idle threat after another in Iraq and Afghanistan, where we are getting our clocks cleaned by people who may lose every battle but will win the war, just like the Viet Cong did 40 years ago.

[alwaysaskwhy]

10:55 AM on 06/16/2010

this slimy PR man is trying to sell snake oil again. oh brother.

[Switchman]

10:45 AM on 06/16/2010

Some of the posters here are correct regarding BPs assets. I'm with Robert Reich, put them in temporary receivership. Threats on the part of Obama will only cause those assets that really available now to disappear as those who can get out with do them get out with them.

[Switchman]

10:43 AM on 06/16/2010

Axelrod needs to go. He may have been an effective campaigner, but he is simply not equipped to hold anyone accountable, much less a major corporation/pseudo-city state like BP. It appears his only remaining role is to repeatedly excuse and explain away the president's lack of any real action on any front. Obama needs to show he's competent by restaffing with competent apolitical staff. Axelrod and Emanuel need to go.

[KeysDan]

10:32 AM on 06/16/2010

BP for all the talk of its billions in assets, Obama had better be careful. My hunch is that BP is Bernie Madoff inspired operation. They give inordinately high returns to keep the investment coming in, but watch the real books.

[boscobear]

10:27 AM on 06/16/2010

The need to assign IRS agents to these BP Offices. Then they can look up the income records and tell BP what the person should received based on past income tax forms. BP will have reps authorized to write checks and the person walks out of the Office with a check.

[grn1]

10:25 AM on 06/16/2010

Senior adviser David Axelrod tells CBS's "The Early Show," that "it's not a matter of trust. It's a matter of holding them accountable.

Great advice and not just for BP but for those initiating wars that cost more life, more environmental destruction, more money, and any respect for american government

[Nana Red]

10:24 AM on 06/16/2010

Anybody that's ever worked for a oil company knows at best they pay every 90 days. If the government gets involved the fraud and corruption will be unbelievable. I think this administration ought to keep destroying the companies so we can be a 3rd world country. Doesn't that sound like fun?

[Conk]

10:23 AM on 06/16/2010

Sure they can and they will. They're likely taking lessons from Exxon right now.

[RobHunt]

10:20 AM on 06/16/2010

But it's perefctly OK for California to "slow-walk" tax refunds or payments to vendors. Perhaps if you followed the California example nationally we could dig ourselves out of the hole we're in. Simply delay every outgoing federal payment a few months while imposing massive penalties on anyone who is late paying IN.

[thewho77]

09:54 AM on 06/16/2010

Alexrod is Baghdad Bob. There are no American Troops in Baghdad. That tank right there coming at us is not an American tank. That's an Iraq tank. They are already slow-walking payments

[Countess]

09:34 AM on 06/16/2010

So the government will slow-walk payments instead of BP which will change nothing. I am positive that after all is said and done the politicians including Obama will go right on accepting bribes from oil companies and start weakening any new regulations or laws passed during this time. Nothing will change.

[JustinCredible1]

09:25 AM on 06/16/2010

Axelrod's a windbag that has made his living cutting backroom deals for corrupt politicians..