My pleasure, dahlin'!

You are clueless. That comment was taken totally out of context, and since I was there and heard the entire conversation and you were not, I can tell you that is not what he said. What he was explaining is that for the time being, if people want to eat shrimp and not be concerned about contamination that shrimp can be bought from other states. At no point did he downplay the significance of this oil spill and the frustration that BP has along with the tens of thousands of American employed by BP, that this well is not capped yet. It is a disaster for every one. Your comment is ignorant and out of line since you have no idea what you are talking about. Shame on you for spreading this around and for disclosing his phone number. Grow up.

I normally don't respond back to comments, especially if they're from the moronic douche bag variety, but I felt it necessary to correct your foolish propaganda before it goes any further...at LEAST on Salon.

I find it VEWY VEWY INTEWESTING that you say you were there and I was not. Unless you're now claiming to be God (or more likely, Satan), how in the world could you possibly know that?

Secondly, I want to also point out to ALL OTHER READERS of openSalon, if you'll look back at my original post, I made no reference, digitally or otherwise, to a phone number OR an email address. While it is true that I really DID send this letter to the asshole in question via email, I did that using an address that an activist friend sent to me. If I'd gotten a phone number, as you, you darling right-wing turd-blossom implied I did, TRUST ME...I would've used it.

And finally, might I just say... you (BP) and your ilk have been trying for MANY MANY years to make Americans believe that we're inferior. There was a time in my life where I probably would've bought into that bullshit myself. But this is a new century, full of very very angry people, more and more who learned out of necessity at an early age to think FOR THEMSELVES. I don't consider myself one of the angry, but you can damn well be assured that they are OUT THERE and they are just waiting for an excuse to blame American's failures on someone other then America. At one time, I figured it would be France, (it was probably the Freedom Fries & Toast) but since I love France and just half-ass LIKE the UK, having Angry, Army ready America turn its anger on YOU...well, frankly, I don't have a problem with that. Had you not destroyed most of the southern coastal area of my home country, I might take a different stance. But as long as you propagandize, distort, and TOTALLY lie like a Big Dog, I kinda think I know how the colonists felt: I HATE the fucking British.*

* Even tough I'm 1/2...I now always hope and pray that the other 2 1/4s (Irish and French) will be sure and keep you under wraps.

So did you hear the comment in person or not? Just curious, because you haven't said that you were indeed there.

It seems all other media I have read on this comment all reference "The Lens" as the original source. So either you are taking that blogger's word or only you and she thought enough about it to make it news.

And why all the name calling? Just be angry and use a vocabulary worthy of a college graduate -- whether you are one or not. BTW, not a dig. I'm not, but I don't need ugly names to make a point.

Mr. Baldwin,

First off, I should just get out of the way that I am neither employed by any major oil company, nor do I approve of BP's actions to this point.
Secondly, as such, I can understand the frustration that went into your blog post. Many people, including myself, feel along the same lines of disappointment/anger.
But that being said, your response to Mr. Prescott's comments are quite simply an overreaction. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but the fact that you have made no reference or acknowledgment of the context of his comments leads me to believe that you have heard them from second/third-hand sources. (as your reply to a previous comment also seems to indicate)
Mr. Prescott's choice of words (while unfortunate and out-of-context) were never intended to be an insult to Louisiana. He is, in point of fact, a native southerner; contrary to what you assumed. As another poster mentioned, he was in fact merely trying to assuage the fears that the overall production of shrimp would be vastly hampered. True, he used a poor choice of words, but at the same time taking only 8 words from a conversation as an accurate indication of the original intention is not only irrational, but also a poor example of journalism. (amateur or otherwise)
Again, I am in no way defending BP's actions, but the brunt of your anger should not be directed in harassing a single employee who is in no way the face of the company.
You're better than that. We all are.

"I find it VEWY VEWY INTEWESTING that you say you were there and I was not. Unless you're now claiming to be God (or more likely, Satan), how in the world could you possibly know that?" "Of course, assuming that you're British," It's obvious you WERE NOT there because had you been present, you would have known as soon as Mr. Prescott opened his mouth that he is not British. But I know that facts do not matter to people such as yourself as long as you can tear down another person with falsehoods.

1) I am NOT a journalist and have never claimed to be one. My blog posts are OPINION PIECES. Please don't confuse opinion with fact.

2) His context notwithstanding, you can defend Randy Prescott's statements to hell and back, but it does not alter the fact that the company he works for is destroying the Gulf Coast.

3) Prescott is the face of BP by the very fact that he FACED the cameras and made such an idiotic statement. So why you think the brunt of my anger (and everyone else's) should be focused elsewhere is beyond me, and completely irrelevant. And the next BP employee and stands up and says something idiotic will get the same attention as Prescott did. That's how this whole Freedom of Speech thing works.

4) Please don't tell me now to write! If I feel the desire to use expletives, I have every right to do so. If that offends you, you should exercise your right not to read my posts. You may disagree with me and what I have to say, and I always allow people to comment back on my posts because what other people are thinking interests me. But HOW I say something is not your call to make. It's mine.

Oh, and one other thing. If you want to read something less caustic and more eloquent on this topic, I suggest you go here:

http://www.facebook.com/l/704f8;butterbeansblues.blogspot.com/2010/05/come-revolution.html

Amen and amen!
~R~

Wait! I just read the comment thread - after I commented the first time. I stand by my first comment because I happen to agree with Mr. Baldwin and I stand by his right to use his VERY OWN WORDS in HIS VERY OWN BLOG.
Secondly, I am shocked and amazed to see people lining up to take Mr. Baldwin to task for bashing BP, given that BP has the most abysmal safety record of any company in the Gulf Coast Region. Just ask anyone who lives around here and they can rattle off any number of BP "accidents" and the response is always the same. 1) First, try to hide it. 2) Deny, deny, deny 3) When actually forced into some type of action, act all high and mighty like everyone in the world is an idiot because this is, after all, BP.
I'm with you all the way, Christopher.
I would rate you again if I could, but I did FB you. :-)

I didn't say you didn't have a right to use whatever words you like in your writing. I just asked why. I don't think people listen when they are being called ugly names and since you are trying to communicate your opinion I would think you would like to actually be heard and taken seriously.

Since you post here on Open Salon, I also assume you want to inform people of things they might not know by another means. Therefore, I would think you would have written to Mr. Prescott and first ask for clarification of his statement, since you did not hear it for yourself. Doing this before smearing someone in a public forum seems like the right thing to do.

Finally, people make mistakes. From what I have read, Mr. Prescott chose his words poorly and regrets them. Not what he was trying to communicate, but the words themselves. The writer from The Lens wrote an otherwise boring almost unreadable piece about jobs that may or may not come to Louisiana. I can't believe more than 2 people made it to the bottom of it to read the quote. Of course, with the internet the way it is, it only takes 2 to create a firestorm like this.

I wish we would all make more of an effort to chose our words more wisely and constructively. I enjoy the exchange of ideas on the internet. I just think we sometimes forget we are talking to real people about real people and we get a little careless.

And BTW, thanks for not calling me a name. Others would have and I really do appreciate it.

To S. Wagner,
Whereas I do appreciate and understand your position on the matter, that our society has become far too angry and civility is probably the better way to get anything communicated or accomplished successfully, it's unfortunate that this kind of civility doesn't work anymore, especially when it comes to political issues this heated and horrific. There was a time when I would've completely agreed with you that a classical style of writing would be more effective. But we do not live in such a time anymore. Also, I don't really have a desire to "inform" here on Salon as much as I do to make people laugh and raise hell. It's been my experience over the last decade or so that people do not wish to be informed anymore, they only wish to be entertained, and until we get real media reform in this country, I'm only expressing my opinions in a manner that people expect...right, wrong, or indifferent. Two of my favorite quotes of all time are from one of the last REAL journalists this country ever had: A. J. Liebling, who said, "Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one", and "People everywhere confuse what they read in newspapers with news." Since Liebling died in 1963, I think it's appropriate to replace the word "newspapers" in this context with the words "TV" and "talk radio." But again, I am no journalist. I'm just a dude with a computer who loves to write, has some free time, and is becoming increasingly tired of being lied to by the press, lied to by corporate enterprise, and sicked by watching our world be destroyed by corporate fat cats who value money over life.

Final thoughts: I don't know what "The Lens" is, but I'm assuming it's just another site on the blogosphere that carried the original quote???

And about not calling you an ugly name...you're welcome! Why would I? You didn't call me one!

But look, civility is alive and well right here on Open Salon.com.

I love the quotes and agree whole-heartily with your take on entertainment journalism. A sad, frustrating state of affairs.

And yes, as far as I can see The Lens is the source of the original quote. Aside that is, from Mr. Prescott himself, who doesn't deny saying it and again, says he regrets it.

Be well and thanks for the quotes.

Can you source this "quote?" Perhaps, you were taken with an internet rumor, much like the chain e-mails of old.

Mr. Baldwin;

I wanted to send you some information about this alleged quote from Mr. Prescott. After reading the quote and being equally infuriated i began reading the vitriolic posts online that followed. However after a while i became curious about the fact that, while many people are angry and are posting the quote, no one is naming its source. So i decided to research the post back to its origin. In doing so i found the article that has caused all the uproar at: http://thelensnola.org/2010/05/24/five-years-after-katrina-the-return-of-disaster-capitalism/. The quote comes from end of the article, but what worried me is that there is no "credit" taken for the quote. The author does not state that they were there when the quote was made, nor do they "source" the quote.

So i took it upon myself to email both the author and the editors at this site. Their reply? They offer NO PROOF that the quote is authentic - none. So after hearing that, and finding NO OTHER EVIDENCE of proof of this quote, i think we may have a case of "internet gone wild" here.

If you do have further proof of this quote and its accuracy please post it so we can rest assured that we are NOT, in fact, lambasting an innocent man. I have so far found no video, audio, or ANY reporter willing to verify the authenticity of the quote. Please HELP!

kerouac999,
Now YOU are someone with true journalistic skills! I certainly will try and find time to research this further, including going back to the original source who notified me of the quote. It was NOT The Lens. However, based on the URL of where you found it, it's clear to me that some group in New Orleans is EXTREMELY angry, and I certainly can't blame them. But if I've attacked someone at BP who didn't actually say what was quoted, I'd want to correct that. But no matter the outcome of this, though Randy Prescott may not have actually said what was quoted, it really doesn't alter the fact that the company he works for (or does he even exist at all???) is evil. If you read the reply from Unbreakable, "Just ask anyone who lives around here and they can rattle off any number of BP 'accidents' and the response is always the same. 1) First, try to hide it. 2) Deny, deny, deny 3) When actually forced into some type of action, act all high and mighty like everyone in the world is an idiot because this is, after all, BP. " I couldn't have said it any better.

Update to my last comment: SNOPES is now investigating this. Let's see what they come up with. I can't wait!

In context, out of context; doesn't matter.
British, Native Southern; doesn't matter.

His comments are an insult to hardworking Americans who've spent generations on the Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama Gulf Coast. These people; though benefiting from the resources the area have; are stewards of these resources, not destroyers as BP is. He's an ass who is more concerned with his job and towing the company line than he is with the people, animals, and environment that is being destroyed in the name of the almighty dollar.

Thank you Mr. Baldwin; don't let anyone tell you you're wrong.

Sincerely
ANOTHER Pissed off American

I don't mind disclosing information, especially when that information matters. Shame on me.

Randy Prescott:
713-323-4093

Well said!! I can't believe that anyone would defend anything BP has to say. They are quick to gouge you at the pumps, but it's a "oh well, we can't help it" attitude when they are destroying a precious, irreplaceable resource. Boohoo to anyone who doesn't like anyone giving out his information. We don't like BP destroying our ocean. Taken out of context or not, BP doesn't need to say anything but "We are sorry" and they need to focus on fixing the problem, not making stupid comments in the press. I doubt you'll ever find me buying gas from any BP station ever again. Feeling it financially will be the only thing that gets them off their butts and fixing their mistake!!

Prescott works for BP and speaks for BP, therefore he's just as fair game for attack as any of the rest of these creeps when they make their glib and arrogant comments. These bastards are nothing more than sociopaths and any punishment they receive will be just a drop in the bucket compared to the misery they are causing our state. If it was up to me, they'd get their heads held under a puddle of their own crude for at least five minutes (the impact to their respiratory system would only be very, very slight) and the video uploaded to youtube. They are environmental terrorists who've wilfully destroyed the Gulf and everything in it, and do not deserve any kind of consideration. There is NO defense for what they've done to us. None.

I want to suggest that the naysayers who have denied the validity of the Randy Prescott quote, which incidentally DID originate from The Lens, check out the following URL. The Lens is not some goof-ball site full of nuts, it's a valid news site, as evidenced by the following:
http://www.fox8live.com/news/local/story/FOX-8-and-The-Lens-announce-partnership/P4v_kOnFTkOC4y8bUAneDw.cspx

I find your anti-British comments insulting. As I said in my email, I suspect you drive car, and a big car at that. Bare that in mind the next time you but gas!

How many oil spills is America responsible for around the world? Get off your high horse and remember that people who live in glass houses should not throw stones!!!

RESPONSE TO BRITISHANDPROUD, who said:

"I find your anti-British comments insulting. As I said in my email, I suspect you drive car, and a big car at that. Bare that in mind the next time you but gas!

How many oil spills is America responsible for around the world? Get off your high horse and remember that people who live in glass houses should not throw stones!!!
=======================================

1) I don't give a fuck whether you find my anti-British statements of truth insulting or not. It doesn't deny their validity. I've visited your country on several occasions, and for the most part, I find Brits to be delightful people. They're usually better educated than Americans***, and they have wonderful department stores, even if they are owned by Mohamed Al-Fayed. British literature has, over the centuries, offered us some of the world's best writing, and except for the multi-national corporations that are polluting your country as badly as those in America are, your country is quite beautiful. The weather on your bloody island sucks donkey dicks, and your native food tastes like donkey ass, but other than that, until your corporatists decided to destroy 40% of the United States' marshlands in Louisiana, I never had an issue with you or your country.

*** You must be the exception, as your grammar and spelling are atrocious, ESPECIALLY for an Englishman. You should be embarrassed. It's "Bear that in mind...", not "Bare that in mind..."
You make it sound like something involving nudity, and we all know the English don't have sex.

2) I drive a Mercedes Benz E320, which I bought used in 2000. Because of the area in which I live and the work that I do, I don't have to drive much. I just filled the car up with petrol at the end of May. The last time I had to fill it was in February. And by the way, going back to *** above, one doesn't but gas, one buys it. Were you knee deep in your port when you wrote this, or are you just an uneducated Brit, the likes of whom I'm not familiar?

3) How many oil spills is America responsible for? I have NO FREAKING IDEA. But I'm sure it's more than have been reported. And I'm also sure that BP has a similar record. I never said we were better than you. In fact, for most of my youth, I thought you were better than us. It's not my fault that Tony Hayward has proved me wrong and made your country out to look like a fascist piece of doggie doo.

So instead of YOU turning your goddamn fake stiff upper lip in the direction of America and those who are VERY REASONABLY PISSED OFF AT YOU RIGHT NOW, why don't you take your fake outrage AND your glass house and turn them somewhere useful...as in fighting Big Oil and advocating for alternative, renewable sources of fuel. Until you do that, you're no better than the dumbest trailer trash redneck American living in the back woods of Appalachia.

Oh, and by the way, a Renewable Fuels gas station is opening up 2 blocks from my house in July. What's YOUR story?

To anyone who was wondering, I already informed Chris of this, SNOPES has reported the shrimp comment from Randy Prescott to be true. They even quoted the source from "The Lens." They said that although Randy Prescott said it, he denies saying it in the context from which everyone took it. To read for yourself, head to SNOPES.com and do a search for Randy Prescott. For those of you who are unfamiliar with SNOPES, they are very credible. They do a lot of research before they post their information.

Dear Mr. Baldwin-

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your response to the post made by British & Proud on June 5th. That individual is an idiot. "How many oil spills is America responsible for around the world?" Well, we aren't looking at a colossal disaster caused by America right now, are we? Nice way for this person to say, "Well, yeah, so there's a sh!tload of oil spewing into the Gulf right now- but America isn't perfect either." Nice accountability, there. And further more- when other countries have suffered from disasters such as this - AMERICA is the first to come to their aid...so please, let's not talk about glass houses! Why wouldn't you, Mr. Baldwin, and every other American lash out at Mr. Prescott for making such a completely insensitive and flat out stupid comment? He represents BP therefore- he's accountable on some level especially if he chooses to make such remarks. Taken out of context? Well, shall Americans apologize for Mr. Prescott opening his mouth and inserting his foot? BP has caused the biggest oil spill in history- this is a fact. British & Proud? What exactly are you proud of right now? I would just zip my lip if I were you...if and when our coasts and marshes recover (along with the sea and wildlife), you may then get back on your soap box.

Anyway, I truly enjoyed your response to this particular post, Mr. Baldwin...good reading!!

Hey now... What, in the process of insulting some dumb Brit wanker, made you pick on the dumbest trailer trash redneck Americans living in the back woods of Appalachia?

Thanks for the original post and may we thumb our collective noses at anyone who objects to having one's own opinion.

The sad part isn't watching BP expose their incredibly unprepared asses. The sad part is knowing that the leaders of this country will do nothing to ensure this doesn't happen again.

To gregonweb,
Oh Hayle, yeah! You're absolutely right. But don't you find it unusual that, as we go through this battle of nothing but Right and Wrong, We The People find ourselves pointed fingers at each other? WE didn't do this. A goddamn lowlife piece of shit multinational corporation did this to us. And you DO know WHY they did it, right? Because they only care about profits, and people, birds, various forms of ocean wildlife...may they be damned. That little piss-ant Tony Soprano Hayward...he should be held totally responsible for this unbelievable world catastrophe. But no, instead, he gets to say shit like "I want my life back." To unholy Hell with his life! It's not worth a half an ounce of oil he's spilled onto a beautiful pelican off the coast of Cameron. All these fuckers need to be put under a jail somewhere WAY FAR AWAY from the rest of humankind.

Hey John Co! Yeah, you! The one at the bottom of the page. Take your unsolicited ads and shove 'em up your ass, just get them off of MY SALON page. You represent what's WRONG with this country in the first place, so shut the fuck up and leave my posts ad-free of your corporatist bullshit.

Thank you, and have a blessed day.