People need to move on, 9/11 is now an important part of US history, its obvious that comparison's will be made, people just can't let themselves be so sensitive on the subject anymore.

This is practically an issue of "Too Soon?", and no, it isn't.

It was a fair, logical comparison and people need to suck it up and stop over reacting IMO.

That's remarkably callous.

Many people's sons died in it. Should they not feel sensitive if it was joked about?

Although, the reaction is a bit over-the-top, people shouldn't stop caring.

Tell that to the face's of the people who lost friends/family and loved ones on 9/11.....

people need to move on?......tell that to the people who are still grieving ..you make me sick

I didn't say they should stop caring, but they shouldn't complain about the president for making a logical comparison. And yes, they should feel sensitive, but then again, there isn't even a hint of it being joked about in this particular inference.

He didn't say anything that should of upset anyone, its a tragic event in US history, so is the oil spill.

What's next, the president can't make comparisons to Pearl Harbor because it was  a tragic event in which many died? Same context.

Probably because more people would be pissed off

What about the families of those who die in the War in Iraq every damn day?

There are comparisons to the war day in and day out, its common.

I'm just sick of people getting singled out for mentioning 9/11, yes people suffered, yes people died, but what, are we supposed to sweep it under the rug and act like it never happened? Thats not the way you deal with things, like I said 9/11 is now an important part of American History, a major one, and it will be referenced, and people shouldn't over-react when it is.

what are we suppose to do? No not sweep it under the rug... but to compare it to an oil rig accident! I think is disrepectful to the victims and familiy, I Think he could have come up with a more appropriate comparison, he is a smart man afterall .

He needed to be seen to be reacting to the disaster is why he said it. At first during this disaster he was pragmatic as he realised the US government does not have the tools to deal with the disaster so they just needed to make sure BP payed compensation (which it always was going to do) and to work on cleaning up while BP fixed it. Then the nation demanded he be angry so he was angry and started making comparisons to 9/11 and saying he wanted to kick peoples arses.

Personally I think it's a silly comparison, while this will make people more sceptical of oil drilling and change energy policy it won't cause a change in the entire nations psyche.

Why would anyone affected by 9/11 be offended by what he said?  People just need a reason to criticize apparently.

I see nothing wrong with what he said but don't think he needed to say it either.