BP CEO caught on tape ordering media to get away from oil-coated beach

Walking along a Louisiana beach yesterday, the chief operating officer of British Petroleum was caught on tape ordering subordinates multiple times to "get 'em out of here," apparently referencing media personnel who were swarming the scene prior to a press conference.

The clip has since raised the public's level of ire against the company, at a time when all BP's recent press coverage seems to paint a picture darker than oil.

At first, CEO Tony Hayward appeared to motion toward a cameraman who was standing next to a large puddle of toxic sludge. Pointing at the man, he said sternly: "Hey! Get outta there. Get outta there!"

The cameraman moved. After an inaudible exchange with nearby subordinates, the CEO then gestured toward other reporters and said softly, "Get 'em out. Get 'em out. Get 'em out." He was wearing a wireless mic.

"The last time I checked, we don't live in the United States of BP," Americablog commented. "Again, would someone in the White House like to step up and take control of this situation? This pompous ass thinks he owns the place and quite frankly, he does at the moment."



http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/31MLVL/rawstory.com/rs/2010/0525/bp-ceo-media-oilcoated-beach//r:t

from being true.
At a time like this, the worst thing BP and its friends can do is hide what is happening, what they're doing, and what they want.
Tony Hayward, you are a fool of the first order.

the reporters were walking in it without boots. He was right to tell them to get out of the damn oil puddle. Fishermen already are reporting getting sick working with booms in the water. The last thing needed is reporters tracking that oil up the beach. I took the four hour hazmat course a few weeks ago. You need to be properly suited up like the workers were to work with the stuff.

Any more than he is concerned about the health and welfare of the fishermen they have working with the booms.

I think his total concern is trying to keep photos of the devastation out of the news

Did they arrive with him, or did he show up to tell them to leave?

Did they then shut down and leave?

tenor sounded like he was angry. Also, with everyone there, and him having knowledge of what's being said about him, I doubt he would want to sound too commandeering. I think everyone here is upset, including me, and this entire thread is unusual. Still, I think the dude should be tried and sent to jail for an extended vacation. Then he can command the guards for Snickers and Reeses.

his company would have to pay for if a suit was filed if the reporters became ill from the chemicals. I have no idea what his motivation was, but it was the right thing to get them out of the oil. The stuff is toxic.
I just did a four hour hazmat class on it.

From this site
Health Effects of Exposure to Oil and Oil Constituents

Crude oil is a complex mixture containing thousands of different chemicals. Depending on the source, crude oil contains various portions of straight and branched chain paraffins, cycloparaffins, and naphthenic, aromatic, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. In addition, crude oil contains trace amounts of sulfur containing chemicals such as sulfides, mercaptans, thiophenes, and other more complex sulfur compounds. Although the chemical composition of crude oil varies by source, crude oils and petroleum products share certain toxic characteristics.

snip

Prolonged dermal contact with crude oil and petroleum products can cause skin erythema (reddening), edema, and burning. The skin effects can be exacerbated by subsequent exposure to ultraviolet light from sunlight. This enhanced toxicity is due to the phototoxicity of trace contaminants in the oil, such as the PAHs.

Human epidemiological studies have shown that high-dose, chronic, occupational exposure to mineral oils can cause skin cancer. An increased risk of skin cancer, sinonasal cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and bladder cancer have been reported in metal workers and other occupations with prolonged contact with mineral oils. These carcinogenic effects may be related to the PAHs in the mineral oils. As discussed above, short-term or long-term exposures to the reported concentrations of PAHs in sediment samples are unlikely to cause a significant
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/katrina/murphyoil/consultation_120905.asp

That was not his concern I can assure you.. He didn't order his flunkies out of the area as well and they were not in suits....

actually pointing at a cameraman who was lateral to the oil puddle and moving away from it. His anger may have been directed toward the media.

Him and his entourage were "tracking oil around", too.

If the beaches need to be quarantined, then local or national authorities should be doing it, NOT corporate bigwigs.

if you watch the video the cameraman almost steps into a large puddle of it.

was but after he left either that area or the beach his shoes were checked for oil. I'd think he didn't want them stepping in the oil, and bringing it with them as they followed him, and as many of them were trying to photograph him, and were not paying attention to where they were.

It was hardly a coverup where there was one or two journalists and a gaggle of BP 'officials' chasing them away.

He appears to have a boom mic over his head being held by a sound man.

Did the camera and sound people then leave?

...but where were the reporters? Were they getting into the oil, thus making it harder to clean up?

We cannot, if we're intellectually honest, just assume right away that he was just wanting media to stop filming oil. With all the oil around, that seems a bit beyond belief.

Not to mention that nobody leaves in response to this "order".

orders.

It's entirely possible Mr. CEO was just looking to protect his PR. I haven't listened to the tape yet, will admit and will do that now.

But it's also possible that he was thinking about the cleanup, and sounded testy. I can see him being testy. He personally has taken a beating for his lame-ass video updates.

The beach oil can be cleaned up easily of nobody walks in it.

you're asking a lot there, fella!

Your lack of appreciation for journalism and your need to defend BP are curious.

...to ignore the obvious is curious.

If you want to say something in response, link it or quote it. I don't chase down refences to "post 18" or any other post.

I have read your posts on this thread, however, and nothing you have said alters my point of view. You don't know the first thing about journalism, you're an apologist for BP, and if you've posted anything remotely progressive, I haven't seen it yet.

do you bother to look at the video that the post is about before adopting a knee-jerk misinformed and incorrect assessment of a situation?

The knee-jerking appears to be from you with your misinformed and incorrect assessment of this situation. See ya later dude (as in ignore) you are not worth reading on DU.

and when blatantly false assessments fuel outrage and anger, making the board look silly.

Oh please, don't ignore me. Please NO!

Are you just upset because you realize your wrong on this?

but "It's BP's oil." And apparently BP's local martial law.

Why Is BP Controlling Louisiana’s Cops? (Washington Independent 5/25)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x538116

:shrug:

freaking OIL. I don't see how it can be interpreted any other way. Unless you just WANT to interpret another way.

And yeah, I support charges and fines and jailtime against BP. But this? This is trying to make something out of nothing.

...I can't believe how dumb Rick Sanchez (sp?) was there.

Think about it...he's walking along the beach with about 20 cameras in tow...close to the oil. He stops at a particularily nasty spot where a cleanup effort is happening.
Stops. When does he react? When a cameraman gets close to the oil.

Good god. The guy is a dweeb, there's no denying that. His communications have been Monty Pythonish. And he should have said "get outta there, YOU'RE ALMOST STEPPING IN THE OIL AND THEY'RE TRYING TO CLEAN IT!" But no, he's not smart enough to say that. Still, it's clear that's what sparked him off.

This video thread is on the GP already a couple times. I'll just post the link from one of them to a little more "context" about BP's "concern."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=468366&mesg_id=468423

With all the heartbreaking truth happening, these non-stories looking to stoke outrage based on foolish interpretations are really disheartening.

We've got enough to be outraged and saddened by without this bullshit. CNN should be absolutely ashamed for that.

Get outta here.

or

Get 'em out of there.

Your post says both of those things. The video tape does not.

Who is being honest?

...between "here" and "there".

But certainly, his initial words to the cameraman was "get outta there...get outta there." And that cameraman was not pointing his camera at the oil.

...that CNN dude, who I have lost some respect for over this, should have seen the obvious. But WOW what a story it would be if the CEO was ordering cameramen away from the oil because he didn't want them to see the oil! WOW! Could that have been it?!?! Obviously not, but they made a poor decision to infer that may have been what was happening....ask us IF that MAY have been what was happening, in the context of previous questions about BP transparency, of course.

Your lame rationalizations for the BP CEO trying to quell media coverage are ridiculous.

Don't give up though. And stick to the truth when you see it....journalism creed.

Anyone should feel free to tell an idiot like that what to do.

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

got on him.

this is a NON STORY and example of how moronic CNN can be

WHY diminish LEGITIMATE complaints with false ones????

It's pretty clear from the video that he wanted the reports not getting in the way of the clean up crew and stomping about in the oil. There's more than plenty of shit BP is hiding and trying to hide but this instance isn't one of them.

:nopity:

they were ordered to leave the actual beach. In fact, the video suggests there was going to be press briefing following, wherever they were being herded to.

People commenting are responding to his demeanor. You are free to assign whatever humanitarian motives you may have in your mind for his performance. Others are free to react with whatever disgust they may feel. All your shouting in all caps and prior name calling (deleted upthread) doesn't change that. Get over yourself.

PS. And fuck him for not practicing and extending his same "concern" in the rest of his fucking criminal enterprise.

that this is part and parcel of the BP transparency issue.

They haven't been transparent about the flow amount. Trying to keep media from filming the oil? Bullshit. Total bullshit, and a sad distraction in all this horrible mess.

He should be allowed to go from his office to his home only. He should not be allowed to do photo ops or give press conferences. And once the well is shut down he should go directly to jail.

:eyes:

right here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8425060

What a guy!

for what he's going to need to tell his fellow 'roommates' some day after he's convicted of crimes against the earth.