In the wingnut Republic that America is fast becoming, NPR can survive without a government subsidy, but Exxon-Mobil can’t.
Check out this interview of Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX)—he of apologizing to BP fame—by ABC on Wednesday. Pressed repeatedly by Jon Karl to stake out a position on tax credits enjoyed by offshore oil companies, Barton argued that the subsidies represent equal treatment, and are required to keep the companies like Exxon-Mobil from going out of business.
“Over time if you put so many disincentives against any U.S. manufacturing or production company, or oil and gas exploration company, they’ll go out of business,” Barton said.