Top EPA Official Resigns Over ‘Crucify’ Comment Regarding Enforcement
- Posted on April 30, 2012 at 12:34pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — The Obama administration’s top environmental official in the oil-rich South and Southwest region has resigned after Republicans targeted him over remarks made two years ago when he used the word “crucify” to describe his approach to enforcement.
In a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson sent Sunday, Al Armendariz says he regrets his words and stresses that they do not reflect his work as administrator of the five-state region including Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.
“I have come to the conclusion that my continued service will distract you and the agency from its important work,” Armendariz wrote in the letter, which was obtained by The Associated Press.
Republicans in Congress had called for Armendariz’ firing, after Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe highlighted the May 2010 speech last week as proof of what he refers to as EPA’s assault on energy, particularly the technique of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.
Back then, Armendariz said, “I was in a meeting once and I gave an analogy to my staff…the Romans used to conquer little villages in the Mediterranean. They’d go into a little Turkish town somewhere, they’d find the first five guys they saw and they would crucify them. And then you know that town was really easy to manage for the next few years.
“And so you make examples out of people who are in this case not compliant with the law. Find people who are not compliant with the law, and you hit them as hard as you can and you make examples out of them, and there is a deterrent effect there.
“And, companies that are smart see that, they don’t want to play that game, and they decide at that point that it’s time to clean up.”
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Comments (85)
oldeagle101
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:21pmHasta La Vista baby don’t let the door hit you in the butt..
Report Post »johnjamison
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:35pmNow he should be charged with abuise of power,venedictive assertion of federal authority,and discrimination. Then he should be brought to civil courts for thousands of law suits for hundred of millions his abuse of power that cost privates citizens hundereds of millions as well as personal pain and suffering.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 2:02pmNo one counts the fallen on the Battle Field — Just go get more!
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 2:16pmVaya con dios Amendariz…don’t let the door hit you…
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 4:45pmAl was circling the toilet that flushed during Barry’s correspondent dinner warmup. He will be promoted and try and screw another of America’s business sectors. DEMOCRAT’s stink.
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 7:15pmHe’ll never get charged or tried, not while Sweet Old Barack and Eric Holdup are in charge. EPA is just one of the many government agencies that needs to go.
OMG 2012
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 8:41pmCharge his ass!
Report Post »retiredchief800
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:20pm@John I am with you, however this a** clown did not resign he was given the option resign or be fired. He’s probably got a job with papa Sorros doing some booger picking job, making somebody miserable some way. They never go away, just look at Van Jones, the dirty little commie is working behind the scenes, he is probably working with Van the commie Jones. Glenn will find him. Go Blaze!
Report Post »MBA
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:20pmThat’s nice that this guy is gone, but he works for obamy. Crucifiction of conservatives and the US economy is obamy‘s goal and this guy is only working to obamy’s orders. Obamy should be gone as well. Duh!
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:17pmThey sure like that word “Crucify.” Because the thing most of you people aren’t aware of is that the same exact people who crucified Jesus are walking the earth now. And they even like the word “Purple.”
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:26pmAnd they are even hotter this time around because their souls are burning inside, steaming on the sea of fire. It’s exciting times we live in. By the way, the devil is now roaring like a lion, although is still slithering like a snake.
Report Post »bandi9
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 2:44pmdude/dudette, you have some serious issues. you make absolutely no sense. dont like anything about Obama and his ilk here, but you are so nonsensical i dont even know where you stand.
Report Post »teddie888
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:15pmNow find out what other government agency they put him in.
EPA has more power than the people have. They have destroyed many private lives by making things up and after proven lies nothing happens to the EPA…this is so wrong
Report Post »HKS
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:19pmTrue, he will just move across the hall.
Report Post »noleftturn
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 2:48pm…. I’m sure Van Jones is looking for a few good men.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:15pmNow that’s a real laffer, liberals can’t even handle their own truth.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:14pmWe may very well see this guy drop off the edge of the earth as far as government employment. He did after all make another exposure of the inner workings of the EPA and embarrassing the administration. I’m sure that new rules regarding public speaking where cameras and microphones are likely to be have been quietly rewritten. There are plenty more jack booted thug bureaucrats waiting to not only take his place, but to also make their kind of difference. This guy is disposable enough to be thrown under the bus.
Report Post »republic2011
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:12pmKeep putting the pressure on. I want them all to resign.
Report Post »tradexpertbuysell
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:11pmSame old story:
Progressives can never be honest and gain public support put always have to lie and work in the shadows to accomplish their goals. Al Armendariz was being candid with his supporters but unfortunately was caught on video. But not to worry he’ll be recycled until such a time as 10% of us unite and declare these groups tyrranical and legally overthrow them and cut their funding and offer jail time for malimprisonment of our natural rights and God given freedoms.
Report Post »retired_one
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:10pmHe only left because its an election year and im sure Obama will pay him to take another job. He is not gone, just moved. Its the Obama way.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:19pmRight on target
Report Post »AmazingGrace8
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 2:37pmHe has become “limburger-cheese” for the regime. Wrap him tight with aluminum foil/freezer bag and place in the “Obama-freezer”. Regime will skip back to “women’s rights”. When the time is right, limburger will be taken out of the freezer (Sibera?) & thawed out to work another day for the regime! LOL
Report Post »MAMMY_NUNN
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:09pmHe resigned because he was caught on tape committing a crime called extortion now if the coal and oil companies would wise up they have Obama himself on tape doing the same thing to them.
Report Post »MAMMY_NUNN
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:12pmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extortion
Report Post »MAMMY_NUNN
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:28pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAUzM46BTTo
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:08pmThis is great news an A hole resigns resigns only to be replaced with another A hole.
Report Post »johnnylingo
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:08pmThe whol,e EPA organization has to go. They are not the peoples friends, top to bottom. Between false scince advocates to extreemests at every turn, I have not witnessed a fair decision by this destructive organization. Romney/Rubio 2012 Likewise for the NEA.
Report Post »poster
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:07pmThey’ll just assign him to another cushy government job, just so he can collect a pension. He meant every word he said, by the way. So why apologize?
Report Post »Madmilo
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:07pmAs Troy would say “SHOOT EM SHOOT EM”
Report Post »Roros
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:01pmIf we could only have this type of enforcement on our borders.
Report Post »Jackie Rogers, Jr.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:08pmUh oh, this guy actually makes sense to me. I mean his analogy may have been inappropriate, but there is logic to his strategy. I’m going to try it out with energy regulations in my own house. The next time one of my kids leave a light on in an empty room, it’s up on the crucifix with him. We’ll see if the rest of them learn by example.
Report Post »Duey2000
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:21pmI was just thinking of that actually. This is how the justice system is supposed to work. You commit a crime and you go to prison and it is a horrible experience. Other people see it and they don’t want to commit the crime. Unfortunately, we have libraries, workout rooms, and cable tv in prison thanks to the liberals. Isn‘t it interesting that they don’t see the irony?
Report Post »psadie
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:00pmThe EPA needs to be neutered in order to put this country back on track. This agency has done the most damage when it comes to control and growth. They have stopped everything for the sake of the environment. They portray our world as uninhabitable and we must pay for that. The next administration has to limit their powers and then this nation will soar.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:20pmI’d say that the EPA has more or less stopped everything for the sake of destroying businesses, farms, and people for their own power grab, and as a tool of the left wing merely disguised “as for the environment.” Nobody wants DIRTY AIR, DIRTY WATER, CONTAMINATED GROUNDS, but the left will play this up as often as the race card. There was a time when mankind did not know better, and there was all sorts of pollution. Now, we do know better and improvements have been and are still being made in great strides.
Report Post »zoro51
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 12:58pmthis SOCIALSIT agenda has gotten them all in the cross fire eyes of the news public n GREATER IS OUR VOICE than your SOCIALIST AGENDA GRABING OBAMITES IMPEACH OBAMA
Report Post »cassandra
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 12:55pmthey will just move him someplace else like they did van jones, like the teachers union when a teacher is caught red handed acting like a maxist pig they just move that teacher to another school they never get fired ( watch the other hand )
Report Post »DrFinch
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 12:52pmDon’t celebrate. He’ll be recycled and made Green Czar of the New American Muslim Brotherhood for Space Exploration and Diversity Awareness.
Report Post »wyldibrouse
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 12:50pmGibson guitar company comes to mind.
Report Post »Free2speakRN
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:11pmwyldibrouse
That’s a very good point.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 12:46pmEnvironmentalists are nothing more than Marxist, who don’t give a ratsass about the environment… It’s how they make a living, as they fly around in corporate jets, eating filet mignon, in 7000 sq ft mansions….. It’s a way to slow America down , to make us into third world turds……and it ain’t gonna work!!! Our founders gave us the tools to remedy this BS
Report Post »MittensKittens
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 12:45pmOpen mouth insert foot…Hopefully we’ll catch Obuma saying something that stupid and we can fire his a$$ too!
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 12:55pmLike “Energy prices will necessarily have to skyrocket”
Report Post »momrules
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:01pmOr my Muslim faith or 57 states or America isn’t a Christian country?
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:44pmor….his latest joke..”Whats more delicious, a Hockey mom or a pitbull?”…..off mic, when he is off script and unplugged…he is a monster.
Report Post »aChameleon
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 12:44pmOne piece of down, how many to go?
Report Post »circleDwagons
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:07pmAll need to go!!! romney and congress need to keep the pressure up
Report Post »wyldibrouse
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 12:42pmDon’t know why they bothered. They’ll only put him someplace out of sight to ensure he is out of mind and use him to crucify in another sector.
Report Post »Cavallo
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 12:39pmEvery so often they let the truth slip out of their mouths.. and that is unacceptable. He had to go, lest he embarass or hinder the agenda of the Obamessiah.
Report Post »Welcome Black Carter
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:47pmNo sweeter sight than to see a dangerous damaging liberal forced to fall on his own sword.
Report Post »Oh, I know he’ll still be on the public payroll somewhere…
For now, rejoice.
Wait for big flushing sound on election day.