Common sense in American politics is rare. The obsession to go against the White House, no matter what, is a bad strategy for the GOP.

The apology of Republican Rep. Joe Barton to BP CEO Tony Hayward confirmed the same old obstructionist mind. Joe Barton may speak for himself, but he belongs to the GOP. The BP oil tragedy is not about Obama, it’s about the people affected by the BP oil spill.

Many in Barton’s own party are asking him to step down. These are the type of statements that hurt the Republican party. As the Bakota of Congo say, “A comb becomes bad when it hurts you.”