News Commentator Mocks Oil Spill

Keeping perspective of this man-made disaster is going to be a challenge when news commentators start to create confusion. Consider this round-table discussion on Fox News. Brit Hume attempts to muddle up facts.

WILLIAMS: First of all, don’t you think, this spill now is going to be in excess of what happened with Exxon Valdez.

HUME: Let’s see if that happens. There’s a good question today if you are standing on the Gulf, and that is: Where is the oil?

WILLIAMS: “Where is the oil?”

STOP & THINK: The NY Times reported on May 15 that scientists first to explore the damages suggested there are large oil plumes in the Gulf of Mexico.

The plumes were discovered by scientists from several universities working aboard the research vessel Pelican, which sailed from Cocodrie, La., on May 3 and has gathered extensive samples and information about the disaster in the gulf.

HUME: It’s not on — except for little of chunks of it, you’re not even seeing it on the shore yet.

WALLACE: But there are some new reports that there are greater amounts of it on the ocean floor.

HUME: Oh, yes, that’s true. But you know where the greatest source of oil that seeps into the ocean is? It’s from natural seepage from subterreanean deposits. That’s where most of it comes from, not from drilling accidents. So what’s badly needed here is on our energy policy, and also on the realities of what really goes on when it comes to oil spillage.

DEFLECTION: Is this correct? Is more oil from natural seepage from subterranean deposits?

According to Rush, this statement is correct. But more important is May 17 announcement from The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The NOAA stated “the researchers’ announcement of the oil plumes was premature and that further tests are needed to confirm that the plumes detected were indeed caused by the blowout.”

WILLIAMS: But I think it will damage the environment in the gulf and damage tourism and damage fishing. I don’t think there’s any question this is in excess of anything we’ve previously asked the ocean to absorb.

HUME: We’ll see if it is. We’ll see if it is. The ocean absorbs a lot, Juan, an awful lot. The ocean absorbs a lot.

WILLIAMS: I think Rush Limbaugh went down this road, “The ocean can handle it.” I think we have to take some responsibility for the environment and be responsible to people who live in the area, vacation in that area, fish in that area. It’s just wrong to think, “You know what? Dump it on the ocean and let the ocean handle it.”

HUME: Who said that? Who is saying that? No one’s making that argument.

Yes, the ocean can handle problems but misses the point that the Exxon Valdez spill is still not cleared – and continues to cause environmental problems. Worse, consider the oil getting into the current and hitting the Florida coast.

Basically, we should step back from the rhetoric and realize that making light of this man-made disaster may score political points but isn’t the best way to handle the error. Let’s get it cleaned up.