Louisiana Democrat wants BP CEO fired

Louisiana Rep. Charlie Melancon (D) on Wednesday called for the
firing of BP CEO Tony Hayward in the wake of the massive Gulf oil spill.

BP leases the rig on which an explosion occurred more than a month ago,
causing the spill that the company and the government have
failed to stop.

{mosads}Melancon – who is challenging Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) in
the fall – said Hayward’s job performance throughout the spill
cleanup has not been up to par. He specifically cited
comments Hayward made this weekend that he “wants [his] life back.”

“I was watching this week as the CEO of BP said he wants his life
back. I’m to the point where I wish the board would call him back,” he
said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

Asked if he was calling for his firing, the congressman said “If I
perform the way this company has performed, and of course look at the
stocks and what has happened in this incident, usually the buck stops
there.”

Hayward has been a lightning rod for criticism from the public as oil
continues to spill into the Gulf. Some have accused the company of
being unprepared for the spill.

Melancon is among the first lawmakers to call for Hayward’s ouster.
Both Vitter and the congressman
have been outspoken during the spill, which is threatening the
Louisiana coastline and has impacted the commercial fishing industry
there. 

The Obama administration has said it is imposing final approval
on all of BP’s actions during the spill, stressing it is in control
of the situation.

The chief executive has said the company is trying to contain oil
offshore. “As far
as I’m concerned, a cup of oil on the beach is a failure,” he said last
weekend.

“What
we’re not faced with is a complete line of oil coming at us. It’s
more like guerrilla insurgency, if I can use military jargon,” Hayward
said.
“And what we need to do is have a rapid response capability to get it
as we identify it, rather than have it come onto the shore or onto the
marsh.”

A senior BP official on Sunday rejected the
idea that Hayward should be forced out. “I think Tony’s doing a
fantastic job,” said BP Managing Director Robert Dudley on NBC’s “Meet
the Press.”

Cross-posted from the Briefing Room