BP CEO's ads apologizing for the Gulf oil spill earn more criticism than sympathy

MIAMI – MIAMI (AP) — A new BP ad campaign that apologizes for causing the biggest oil spill in U.S. history is earning the company more criticism than sympathy.

The new radio, TV, online and print ads feature CEO Tony Hayward pledging to fix the damage caused by the spill unleashed by an April 20 drilling rig explosion. He says the company will "do everything we can so this never happens again."

The ads have been criticized by President Barack Obama, who says the money should be spent on cleanup efforts and to compensate fishermen and others who've lost their jobs because of the spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

BP PLC spokesman Robert Wine says that "not a cent" has been diverted from the oil spill response to pay for the ad. He says he doesn't know how much it cost.