The victims are the people of the Gulf

Joel Rector, North Las Vegas

Friday, June 25, 2010 | 2:04 a.m.

Owen Nelson’s Tuesday letter to the editor, headlined “Barton victim of political correctness,” begs the rhetorical question: Who is protecting whom in our government?

Mr. Nelson asked how Democrats would have reacted if the roles were reversed and a Republican president had called BP’s chairman on the carpet. I believe most would have cheered a president, regardless of party, who advocated for those who lost their livelihoods due to the actions (or inactions) of a major corporation. Had a Democratic congressman been critical in the same manner as was Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, he would have been soundly chastised by the leadership, and his constituents would have justly questioned his loyalty. Was he representing the voters or protecting the industry that had consistently funded his campaigns with over a million dollars? Who is the victim: the corporation that was responsible for the catastrophe or the people whose lives have been permanently altered?

Hundreds, if not thousands of people, have lost their livelihoods and face financial ruin. Would it be better to require every injured party to spend years in court — think two decades of litigation for Exxon Valdez cases — at great expense to prove their losses? Or is it more equitable for the responsible party to admit its culpability and do the right thing?

The president’s choice to handle the claims in the $20 billion compensation fund is Ken Feinberg. He had been chosen by the Bush administration to oversee 9/11 compensation claims and did an excellent job. One can expect that he will do the same in this most difficult assignment.

I believe that every elected official has a sacred obligation to represent the voters and citizens of their districts, states and our nation. It is their duty to speak for their constituents regardless of political fallout or the prospect of losing big-dollar campaign contributions.