McCain ad hits Obama on energy
As John McCain focuses this week on the domestic economy with Democratic rival Barack Obama abroad on a much ballyhooed foreign tour, the Republican unveiled a hard-hitting TV ad today that blames Obama for standing in the way of a solution to high prices at the pump.
The spot tries to turn Obama's rock-star appeal and his message of hope against him.
"Gas prices -- $4, $5, no end in sight, because some in Washington are still saying no to drilling in America," the announcer says in the ad. "No to independence from foreign oil."
"Who can you thank for rising prices at the pump?" the narrator asks, as chants of "Obama, Obama" can be heard in the background.
"One man knows we must now drill more in America and rescue our family budgets," the announcer concludes. "Don't hope for more energy, vote for it. McCain."
McCain, reversing a stand from the 2000 campaign, is calling for lifting the federal ban on offshore drilling. Obama derides that solution, saying that it won't offer any relief for a decade.
Both candidates are offering plans for reducing reliance on foreign oil, though McCain's plan emphasizes nuclear power far more.
Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor responded to the ad in a statement, "John McCain said recently that ‘our dangerous dependence on foreign oil has been thirty years in the making, and was caused by the failure of politicians in Washington.’ As someone who’s been in Washington for 26 years, Senator McCain is one of those politicians, and he’s consistently opposed investments in renewable energy that would reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Now he’s proposing nearly $4 billion in tax breaks for the oil companies and Washington gimmicks that he admits will only provide ‘psychological relief’ to consumers. Barack Obama has fought for energy independence in the Senate and has a plan to invest $150 billion in renewable sources of energy that will create five million new jobs and provide struggling families with an immediate energy rebate and a $1,000 middle-class tax cut."
The McCain camp has got to be kidding.
How is drilling for oil going to decrease prices at the pump immediately? Last I heard, you actually have to build the rigs first, then find the staff and maybe you might be able to start drilling in a couple of years.
In the meantime, the Saudis still make money.
Smooth move, John: Promise everyone the world and keep smiling when you're short on the details.
Instead of more oil drilling offshore I suggest direct use of solar energy through passive solar heating and cooling which will decrease our carbon loading of the atmosphere by 39%. It has an immediate impact of disengaging from our primitive use of fossil fuels and eliminates the costs of heating and cooling our buildings. Put a simple greenhouse on the south side of your home before the winter and get 50% or more of your heat. No oil wells, no transportation costs, no pollution, no big oil profits, and no additional carbon loading from burning fuel, just clean free energy forever.
Robert Davies
I watched this Mc Same video clip and I am not suprised to see his double face lies on Obama. If I was on the Obama camp I will show the video from the Texas Oil billioner who said over and over again we cannot drill ourself out this mess the Republican Oil White House men had created.
For anyone to say it takes 10 years to get oil from a new field really causes me concern as to what planet they are from. I used to work as a roughneck in the oil fields (summer hire) while going to school in the winter. To say 10 years to me is to scream AL GORE loud and clear. The man who invented the internet. By the way, he may have been right about that, because I know for a fact that Nancy Pelosi invented stupidity.
It's been reported several times that the earliest we could reap the benefits of offshore drilling in the U.S. would be 2030, and we'd be reaping about 1-2% reduced cost at the gas pumps, a whopping 4-8 cents per gallon! With that kind of savings, I could maybe buy a new "God Bless America" Tee-shirt every 3 weeks or so. I'm going to say energy independence is probably more likely to come from alternative fuels than this foolish republican propaganda of "psychological relief". I mean, how many times do the republicans think they can use cheap tricks to placate the American people until even the most uneducated or ignorant citizens will begin to realize that these claims are not benefiting them. Republicans have done nothing but harm this country, especially in the past 8 years.
More drilling will create new supply in future. This changes the forecast for future supply which is also a factor used to determine today's prices. McCain's proposal is valid.
Drilling increases future oil supply. Future supply is one of the factors that is used to determine current prices. So McCain's proposal is valid.
More drilling will increase the oil output in future and future output will have an impact on current prices. When the market sees that there won't be a shortage in future (or if the shortage is less than previously forecasted), the price of oil will adjust downward. That's why more drilling can also help us now.
Drilling increases future oil supply. Future supply is one of the factors that is used to determine current prices. So McCain's proposal is valid.
So much for McCain running a "respectful" campaign. Obama is to blame for higher gas prices?
Hmmm. I guess it isn't tightening supply, spiraling demand from India and China, instability in the Middle East and North Africa, rampant speculation, record oil company profits, or the worthless dollar after all. It's Obama. I get it now. Thanks John.
America.........WAKE UP!!!!! Obama is suppportive of taxing these oil companies on thier profit. Look, these oil companies are in search of a certain profit margin and if that profit drops below that then guess what? They stop drilling. What happens then. People like me, who are employed in the oil field make less money and stop spending. We cant afford to buy the things we used to buy, so in turn other businesses start to suffer as well, their prices go up, and then the money you save at the pump, you are now spending at Wal Mart or somewhere else. Hopefully, it doesn't get bad enough that it actually shuts down other companies. My point is.......there is no easy answer to problem.......but if you work in the oil field and you like making the money you are making, you better vote and start convincing others to vote for McCain.
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