BP is America’s villain of the moment (take a breather, bankers), which means it’s our duty to chastise its pathetic leak-plugging efforts, mock certain British tone-deaf CEOs, and basically disparage the company in any way possible. But perhaps it’s going just a little bit too far to call on their executives to commit ritualistic suicide. During a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing today with representatives from around the oil industry, that’s basically what Louisiana GOP congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao, who was born in South Vietnam, suggested for Lamar McKay, the chairman and president of BP America.
“[Congressman Cliff] Stearns asked Mr. McKay to resign. Well, in the Asian culture we do things differently. During the Samurai days, we just give you a knife and ask you to commit harakiri.”
Um, well, we do things a bit differently in America. Similar, but different. Instead of disemboweling themselves, our disgraced executives just get paid millions of dollars to find a new job.
Joseph Cao Tells BP Exec: In Samurai Days, You’d Kill Yourself [Political Hotsheet/CBS News]
