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Inhofe slams EPA administrator's comments, Obama energy policies

GRETCHEN CARLSON: Joining us from Washington is senator James Inhofe. Good morning to you, sir.

SEN. JIM INHOFE: Good morning, Gretchen.

CARLSON: So, it turns out that the EPA administrator now wishes he would have used different words other than crucify. But what did he exactly mean by that? What's he trying to do?

INHOFE: Well, you know, he apologized for using that word, but he went on to say we want to vigorously enforce. Let's keep in mind, this is all a part of Obama's war on domestic energy. You know, he's the one who said that we had good natural gas and plentiful and all that, but we got to stop hydraulic fracking. This is the war on hydraulic fracking. You can't get one cubic foot of natural gas out of a tight formation without using hydraulic fracturing. Look, this procedure was started in my state of Oklahoma in 1949. There's never been one documented case of groundwater contamination. That is what brings this up to what they're trying to do with the EPA, attacking these people. I use several examples on the floor, but range resources in Texas. They went after them and they actually threatened to send them a letter. They're going to fine them $50,000 a day; then, of course, the courts intervened and found they weren't guilty of anything. Well, that's the tactics that have been used, the enforcement tactics of the EPA

CARLSON: So what is your accusation—that the president is pandering to environmentalists and to the EPA?

INHOFE: Yeah. Well, yeah, what he's doing is saying--trying to make the public believe that he is for domestic energy and specifically natural gas and oil, and coal. But at the same time, he says that he's -- they're going to take over the regulation of process called hydraulic fracturing and that's the only way that you can get into these massive barge-type formations so it's an attack to try to satisfy both sides. He's whispering to the left, we'll stop them from doing this by stopping hydraulic fracturing and saying to the public at the same time, we're for natural gas and all that particularly with the high price of gas coming up and elections coming up, it's a big issue.

CARLSON: here's that apology that we were alluding to at the top of this segment from the administrator in region 6 of the EPA "I apologize to those I have offended and regret my poor choice of words." it's interesting because when you see that video back from 2010, he almost says at the beginning, you know, I probably shouldn't be saying this but I will anyway. Maybe thinking it would never get out there and that somebody like yourself wouldn't be looking into it.

INHOFE: obviously, but keep in mind, he's talking to the people who are in enforcement and he's saying, he's kind of drawing the picture there of the Romans crucifying the people in turkey as they go into these villages. Crucifying the first five people they see, this is how they get their attention, this is how we get – so, read the whole statement and it's pretty revealing. I think when he comes out and apologizes for using the word "crucify," he's still getting his message across there. Intimidation, threats. How would you feel if you received a letter from the EPA saying they're going to fine you $50,000 a day? You'd be counting how many days is it I can stay in business?

CARLSON: Exactly. Not many.

INHOFE: Another thing, how many people never -- just respond and go out of business? We don't know that.

CARLSON: Okay. Sen. James Inhofe launching his own investigation into this. Thanks for explaining this for us today.