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Shep Smith challenged his Fox News colleague Judge Andrew Napolitano Thursday over Napolitano's apparent defense of BP (h/t Mediaite).

Appearing on Smith's "Studio B," Napolitano argued that because BP relied on inaccurate government models to draw up its contingency plans, the government is at fault, and not the oil company.

"The oil companies have no choice, Shep, but to rely on what the government tells them," Napolitano — a libertarian who recently launched a tea party show on Fox Business Network — said. "So on the basis of this erroneous information, the government says: 'Don't dig at 500 feet, where Gov. Jindal says you can dig, where you want to dig, where we know you can easily control a spill, dig at 5,000 feet where our environmentalist folks think you should dig."

"I'm getting kinda grossed out, Judge," Smith shot back. "You're blaming the government for this?'

"I'm blaming the government for this," Napolitano affirmed.

Smith then went off on BP's record of safety violations and mistakes, asking Napolitano, "And now you're going to turn around and blame the government for these bumbling, fumbling, crazy people?"

"How does it feel to be standing up for BP?" he asked.

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Comments

[MyOpine]

Is Shepard Smith's contract at Fox up soon? He seems to be sending barely subliminal messages that he disagrees with the spin that Faux Noise wants him to take and is clearly sending a message to other networks that he is not a Faux moron. I hope some other channel picks him up.

[Nelson Penaherrera]

We need him to stay put.

Sort of I.A.

[Hillbilly49]

What does it take to be an expert on “Faux News?” Just show up!

[Wesley Richardson]

I like him. Sucks that i get nauseous when i turn that channel on.

[tercio]

So, BP has a plan B. In case everything goes wrong, we can always blame it on the Gov Hey, People!!! Wake Up!! They gave us the wrong data, we are free to run. Napolutano, watches our back and Smith is a sissy.

[steph81]

Scary to admit this, but both Faux hosts are partially correct. Mega corporations have the clout to lobby government to relax regulations that had been put in place as a result of these exact same disasters. And thus the cycle repeats itself.

[steph81]

Poor Shep, he only realizes now that everything is about politics. This after working for Fox news for how long?

[78Thomas]

Its a simple philosophy really. One that conservatives, liberals and independents can surely agree on.

"You spill it, you clean it up."

Taking responsibility for ones actions.

[steph81]

The problem is that most corporations do not take responsibility and requires the rule of law to enforce responsibility. Even with this, these corporations can still get out of responsibility through settlements and/or bankruptcies. Ultimately, the American people are responsible for most government and private sector failures.

[mixpiklix]

I briefly watched the judges show on fbn and even when this guys guests disagree with him he pretends that they do and just keeps talking as though they are on his side fair and balanced no way informitive only to teabaggers an i'm not sure if he can hold their attention for long

[demomntgirl]

So the judge has publicly said
GEORGE BUSH is to blame???
2008-2009 permits...
based on 2004 computer findings...
Bush, Bush, bush!!
HA HA HA!!

FAUX news "judge" BLAMES BUSH!!!!
and then says...we need LESS government intervention.
BIG LONG STRETCH THERE!
This is the NEW GOBP talking points...
less government regulations...
b/c Bush....ummmm....screwed up!!!

[westreal]

Wow. Shep Smith Smackdown

[quillerm]

I am not surprised that the Huffington Post would spin this story but it is necessary to inform the public regarding BP's position and the US legal system. Judge Nepolitano provided Shep the facts from a legal perspective then Shep gave his emotional response but targeted Judge Nepolitano not the legal system. Shep is very entertaining because he get emotional over issues but for any News outlet to target Judge Nepolitano as a BP supporter is just an attempt to misinform the public.

[Steve Marinucci]

This has been the spiel that Limbaugh has been throwing out, too. Of course, Napolitano only goes back to 2008 in his examples, not to the Bush era. This is typical Fox.

[marylandtravelinman]

This drum beat that the government is at fault for everything and business is the savior is as old as the people in the GOP. They starve the giant and then act surprised when it stubbles around and can't function. Shame on them!

[quillerm]

Lets look at the facts, now we know that Obama never suspended the Jones Act for foreign countries to assist in the Oil spill cleanup it compounded the problem. Massive Oil containment ships from 17 countries could have been her within a few days of the spill. Millions of gallons of oil could have been cleaned up before it reached shore. Obama still hasn't suspended the Jones Act because his political supporters in the Unions don't want foreign ships or crews cutting in on the BP cash. Trying to blame Republicans who have no majority in the house, senate or Executive Branch is just propaganda.

[gabemill]

"Lets look at the facts?"
Ok, let's try the real ones.....not the ones slammed down your throat by the seditious wingnut media:

http://www.factcheck.org/2010/06/oil-spill-foreign-help-and-the-jones-act/

You feign knowledge, but merely advance disinformation...how truly sad.

[CanterburyTale]

Shep should have asked this hypocritical fool why he used to love to hang around Condado Beach in Puerto Rico years ago and then watch his turn bright red.

[Beck rocks]

The primary responsibility, of course, is with BP. But there is NO DOUBT that bad government policies contributed to this mess. And the federal government has no business telling Louisiana where they can and can't drill within their own state.

[cindyw]

When a drilling accident has the potential to affect states other than Louisiana, then yes, it is the federal government's business.

[Mikeatle]

This is not just about Louisiana.

[StPeteDave]

Your states worship at the alter of the free market is going to destroy my states economy, not to mention our beautiful beaches. Your state could have based it's economy on tourism like we did and you wouldn't be a slave to big oil, but now that YOU have WE are all $screwed. Thanks so much.

[calmerheads]

The bad government policies that contributed to this mess are ONLY that the regulations that were in place were not enforced.

And, tell all of the other states whose beaches are filling up with oil, the people who have lost their lively hood, the dead sea life, that is it Louisiana's prerogative to drill where it wants.

You live in a bubble.

[Ricardo01]

More like Louisiana and the oil workers can't tell the United States and its citizens how to deal with the Gulf of Mexico.