Melancon Attacks Vitter, Obama On BP Oil Spill In New Ad (VIDEO)

Trying to make a difficult comeback against incumbent Republican David Vitter in Louisiana's Senate race, Democratic Rep. Charlie Melancon plans to launch a new television ad elevating the politics of the BP oil spill to sharper, more partisan heights.

Melancon's latest spot charges Vitter with going easy on BP in terms of the company's liability for the disastrous, months-long spill. It concludes with a bit of intra-party fireworks, attacking President Barack Obama for placing a moratorium on deepwater drilling while noting that Melancon helped pass legislation through the House reversing that decision -- an unpopular one on the Gulf Coast.

"David Vitter introduced a bill capping BP's liability at $150 million," the ad's narrator intones. "Damages could top $30 billion. Vitter was caught bailing out BP. But Charlie Melancon, recovery and cleanup, and the only bill passed ending President Obama's job-killing moratorium."

A Melancon aide said the ad buy is "significant" and will be airing in "every market in the state."

The spot doesn't do nuance. Vitter's bill, for instance, would cap oil spill damages at either $150 million or the company's last four quarters of profits, whichever is larger. In BP's case, the answer does seem likely to be $150 million. As for the moratorium, it remains ongoing. The House passed a measure to lift it, but the Senate, to no comfort of Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), has failed to act.

That said, Melancon's ad is a sharp one, with particular relevance to Louisiana voters. It is also a reminder that despite months of headlines, the massive BP oil spill ended up having little political relevance beyond Gulf Coast states. Few candidates outside the region are running ads referencing the largest oil spill in recorded history.

Comments

[Keren Or Shalom]

06:12 PM on 10/05/2010

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[rain33]

02:27 PM on 10/05/2010

this democrat should blame federal judges who gave more oil drilling for oil companies yet they are being donated by oil companies. melancon shouldn't go against pres. obama therefore he should blame FEDERAL JUDGES! it's all bout politics and money now!

[mmsuki]

01:21 PM on 10/05/2010

The President rightly put a moratorium on deep-water drilling until safety measures could be insured. Only a dope would immediately resume DWD without studying the causes of this year's blowout.

It is not forever.

[hrc04]

01:13 PM on 10/05/2010

All politics is local, I guess what ever works with your constituents.

[awake108]

11:34 AM on 10/05/2010

These guys don't like the government except when they need them. Then it is never enough and always too late. Just like the guy whoses house burned down. Privatise fire department and see what happens. We will burn.

[exaltedroots]

11:31 AM on 10/05/2010

Louisianian policy is so bassackwards it makes no sense. All of the politicians--Democratic and Republican--are in the pocket of Big Oil so much that Huey Long is probably turning in his grave.

[jazabelz]

10:01 AM on 10/05/2010

Next time there is an off-shore oil spill affecting Louisiana -- we'll just let them go it alone and pay for any and all cleanup. If they lose jobs -- that's their problem. They only want the up side and then complain about the Federal Government when the problems occur.

[truth67]

09:41 AM on 10/05/2010

yeah...so Jindal needing funds to give big business what he has and continues to promise; he has decided to try to get rid of tops (college scholarship program) . he promised nucor (steel plant) 30 million. i don't think you need a degree to work there. he's dirty ok, but this is just too much, he's just steady eating away at education and healthcare. even staunch republicans support the tops program. why not,? most people have kids. just cause he's in the elite and can afford to pay for his kids education (not that he will cause it will be a campaign perk or something) does not mean the middle class won't need help. watch closely, this is exactly how the rich get richer and the poor scrub toilets.

[ShanaJuly]

01:17 PM on 10/05/2010

True to his republican roots er values...no moral compass whatsoever.

[jgallery]

09:25 AM on 10/05/2010

Of course Obama stopped drilling -11 were killed.
When 29 coal miners died he stopped coal mining to study safety -
Woops I guess he didn't stop coal mining - wonder why the diff?

[truth67]

09:42 AM on 10/05/2010

green wipes.

[jazabelz]

09:59 AM on 10/05/2010

Partly because there was no imminent threat to the environment. Yes the loss of life is devastating on both counts, but the oil spill(s) jeopardize an entire region. By the way, I am just as against coal mining as I am oil drilling -- but just recognize the short-term difference of the ecological impact of oil spills.

[PedroGonzalez]

10:38 AM on 10/05/2010

You are against coal mining and drilling for oil?.....Get back to us when you run your entire house on wind/solar, ride a bicycle everywhere you go and use absolutely no plastic or rubber products....until then, you are a hypocrite of the first order.

[RetiredArmy04]

11:41 AM on 10/05/2010

Please don't utilize any of these:

A partial list of products made from Petroleum (a partial list from 6000 items)
Clothing
Ink
Heart Valves
Crayons
Parachutes
Telephones
Enamel
Transparent tape
Antiseptics
Vacuum bottles
Deodorant
Pantyhose
Rubbing Alcohol
Carpets
Epoxy paint
Oil filters
Upholstery
Hearing Aids
Car sound insulation
Cassettes
Motorcycle helmets
Pillows
Shower doors
Shoes
Refrigerator linings
Electrical tape
Safety glass
Awnings
Salad bowl
Rubber cement
Nylon rope
Ice buckets
Fertilizers
Hair coloring
Toilet seats
Denture adhesive
Loudspeakers
Movie film
Fishing boots
Candles
Water pipes
Car enamel
Shower curtains
Credit cards
Aspirin
Golf balls
Detergents
Sunglasses
Glue
Fishing rods
Linoleum
Plastic wood
Soft contact lenses
Trash bags
Hand lotion
Shampoo
Shaving cream
Footballs
Paint brushes
Balloons
Fan belts
Umbrellas
Paint Rollers
Luggage
Antifreeze
Model cars
Floor wax
Sports car bodies
Tires
Dish washing liquids
Unbreakable dishes
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Combs
Tents
Hair curlers
Lipstick
Ice cube trays
Electric blankets
Tennis rackets
Drinking cups
House paint
Rollerskates wheels
Guitar strings
Ammonia
Eyeglasses
Ice chests
Life jackets
TV cabinets
Car battery cases
Insect repellent
Refrigerants
Typewriter ribbons
Cold cream
Glycerin
Plywood adhesive
Cameras
Anesthetics
Artificial turf
Artificial Limbs
Bandages
Dentures
Mops
Beach Umbrellas
Ballpoint pens
Boats
Nail polish
Golf bags
Caulking
Tape recorders
Curtains
Vitamin capsules
Dashboards
Putty
Percolators
Skis
Insecticides
Fishing lures
Perfumes
Shoe polish
Petroleum jelly
Faucet washers
Food preservatives
Antihistamines
Cortisone
Dyes
LP records
Solvents
Roofing

[softvoice]

09:18 AM on 10/05/2010

Melancon should stop trying to win based on BP anger and just go to the heart of who Vitter really is. That would be so much more successful.

[ShanaJuly]

08:41 AM on 10/05/2010

Blue dog...

[nana4g]

08:11 AM on 10/05/2010

I am not impressed with Louisiana politicos, state or federal. They do nothing for Louisiana except scream, rant, rave, and blame everyone else. They do not protect the interests of Louisiana, from all of the known and potential risks....weather and oil. They just want the money and do not even use it to invest in Louisiana. They do not care about imposing protections on the oil industry who pillages their shore; they just want the revenue. And the collective response of all of them following this oil disaster is appalling. They should blame themselves. And the people? The voters keep re-electing them and putting in office nothing different. There is something to say for personal responsibility.

[truth67]

09:43 AM on 10/05/2010

skip getting gas or using any 1 of more than 500 products that come from our oil

[ActualAmerican]

09:53 AM on 10/05/2010

Not to mention the products that would not get made if they did not have fuel at the factory or shipper etc.

[MJinCanada]

12:23 PM on 10/05/2010

Don't get your knickers in a twist, dear. It's not about stopping oil drilling altogether -- it's about responsibility, safety and not using tax dollars to subsidize companies that are already making billions. Don't let the sobs scare you into thinking the oil companies will go away if they have to play by stricter rules. If the oil is there to profit from, they won't go away.

[Bill Carson]

08:00 AM on 10/05/2010

Mitt Romney made some remarks about the way President Obama handled the gulf oil spill! We need Mitt Romney to step up to the plate and explain how the oil spill litigation is still going on eight years after he was governor of Massachusetts !

Mitt Romney was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from Jan 2,2003 to Jan 4,2007. During his one term the Buzzards Bay oil spill happened during April 2003 .

On April 27, 2003, eight years ago the Bouchard Barge B-120 hit an obstacle in Buzzards Bay, creating a 12-foot rupture in its hull and discharging an estimated 100,000 gallons of No. 6 oil. The oil is known to have affected an estimated 90 miles of shoreline, killed 450 numerous bird species, and recreational use of the bay, such as shell fishing and boating.


Since the 2003 oil spill the US Coast Guard has appealed the 2004 Massachusetts Oil Spill Prevention Act and one Mattapoisett ,Massachusetts property damage lawsuit has dragged on for eight years. Republican Mitt Romney is laying the groundwork for a possible White House campaign in 2012, hiring a team of staff members and consultants.

[iam7545 r]

06:56 AM on 10/05/2010

Obama was worse than Bush - We better pray we dont have a real disaster

[vgirl1]

08:11 AM on 10/05/2010

To Teabagger Repugnants, delusion runs rampant and FACTS (still) DON'T MATTER!

[iam7545 r]

09:59 AM on 10/05/2010

Oh Really - everyone in the media and USA knows that his lack of leadership when the oil spill occurred was abysmal. He is not a leader.

[ShanaJuly]

08:41 AM on 10/05/2010

Oh really? Here is a glimpse of the epic failure named George W. Bush that the republican party unleashed upon this country:

** PAST WORK EXPERIENCE:

Republican Bush ran for congress and lost.

Republican Bush produced a Hollywood slasher B movie.

Republican Bush bought an oil company, but couldn't find any oil in Texas; company went bankrupt shortly after he sold all his stock.

Republican Bush bought the Texas Rangers baseball team in a sweetheart deal that took land using taxpayer money. Biggest move: Traded Sammy Sosa to the Chicago White Sox.

With his father's help (and his name) Republican Bush was elected Governor of Texas.

I've got more where that came from. Even if President Obama was born again and started over he would still never, ever be worse than Bush.

[Gneirre]

09:31 AM on 10/05/2010

Bravo!!!

[iam7545 r]

09:57 AM on 10/05/2010

shana - if you could read and comprhend all at the same time you could have saved your manicure - My comments was regarding his failed performance when the oil spill occurred.

Unfortunately Obama has no resume. No published papers in law school. No transcripts. No law cases of record. No Legislation as a state delegate. No Legislation in the Senate.

Dude is like a ghost - empty suit.

[donbrown]

05:39 AM on 10/05/2010

Wow...he looks so FRIGHTENED.