Republicans say over and over that they’re defending small government and private property, but when the hot air settles the real winner is corporate America, too often at the expense of the people the party purports to protect. Where is their party-loyal consideration for the private property of shrimpers in the Gulf coast? Restaurant owners? The property and livelihoods of so many other people affected by the Gulf spill?

Texas Congressman Joe Barton went so far last week as to apologize to BP for their deal with the Obama administration which will set aside $20 billion to deal with the repercussions of BP’s spill, a deal Barton called a "shakedown." Nation Senior Editor Richard Kim joins Laura Flanders to discuss the corrupt politics that dictate these ironies and hypocrisies.