As the head of the company, Hayward became a lightning rod for public and political anger after the drill rig operated by BP exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in April.
When we begin to see our political leaders as little more than powerful men and women working furiously to rig the game in their favor it becomes hard to maintain trust of institutions.
We notably caught it in 2004, but subsequent elections have been marred by either actual or partial efforts to rig the count and electioneering as well as signs of widespread political intimidation and, often times, threats.
An early lifting of the ban gives Obama some political cover to impose even tougher rules and standards on drilling rigs and to place inspectors on every deepwater rig.