Jimmy Buffett, a singer famed for his laid-back island tunes, had some harsh words for the people he claims are responsible for the BP oil spill - the administration of former President George W. Bush.
The Obama-supporting musician told the Associated Press on Tuesday that he believed the Bush administration was responsible for the crisis, due to its alleged ties to oil companies.
"To me it was more about eight years of bad policy before [Obama] got there that let this happen," said Buffett. "It was Dracula running the blood bank in terms of oil and leases."
While celebrities from Larry King to James Cameron have already lined up to offer aid to people impacted by the oil spill, Buffett says he also hopes that his sea-side concert next Sunday in Gulf Shores, Alabama will soothe people's anger over the crisis.
"People were going, 'What are you going to do about things?' I mean, hell, I can't stick my finger in that hole. Everybody wishes they could," Buffett told the Associated Press on Tuesday. "What I'm best at is two hours of escapism for people that have to go back and either live jobs that they don't like or whatever...it's that Mardi Gras mentality."
But Buffett's attempt to cheer up Gulf Coast residents may have backfired. According to Alabama news website Al.com, the Margaritaville-singer's comments sparked anger among some readers who said Buffett should stick to music and stay out of partisan politics.
Al.com is a site owned by The Birmingham News, The Huntsville Times and The Mobile Press-Register. In an article published by the site's staff titled, "What you're saying: Jimmy Buffett should leave out politics," the writers noted that Buffett's comments sent readers "into a frenzy of discussion over the singer-songwriter's political affiliations."
"When is this administration going to grow up and start taking responsibility for anything?" wrote one commenter cited in the article. "I hope the people of Alabama boycott his sister's restuarant in Gulf Shores. I will never eat there again."
"I have tickets for the concert and plan to attend. However, if Jimmy starts with the Bush bashing and Obama praising, I won't boo, but I will yell, "shut up and sing,'" wrote another.
