Obama Caused High Gas Prices? You're better than this, McCain.
Posted by: Nick Krasney in Technology Policy, Republicans, Political Gaffes, McCain, Energy Policy on
Jul 31, 2008
In apparent desperation, McCain has turned to some pretty disingenuous attack ads against Obama. The first one to startle me, a former McCain fan, was this one, entitled "Pump:"
FactCheck.org, the non-partisan group charged with assessing political ad claims, calls the ad "ridiculous" and "a full tank of nonsense." They go on:
"What's not true, however, is that current opposition to lifting the moratorium has anything to do with today's gas prices. They aren't high because any one individual is against ending the ban. As we have pointed out previously, the Energy Information Administration estimates that if the go-ahead were given right now for such drilling, it would be 2030 before there would be enough oil flowing to have a "significant impact on domestic crude oil and natural gas production or prices." Is there "no end in sight" because of opposition to ending the moratorium? No more so than because of opposition to hastening the development of alternative sources of energy and new kinds of cars. But most experts believe that if we haven't implemented other strategies well before 2030, we're in deep trouble. "
Well, that's no good. This isn't miraculous thinking. Set aside the fact that there are plenty of places to drill in the US that aren't protected. Next, consider the fact that to finance and build the infrastructure to drill for, refine, and distribute this rare substance would take a long time to build, and may even require some companies to hike their gas prices in order to pay for it.
Don't get me wrong--I understand this political move, and why his staff has decided to use it. McCain's the underdog. He needs to act fast to seem competant, solution-oriented, and in control, and to paint Obama is ineffective. But for undecided voters, this low-blow suggests that McCain is struggling to find a weak point in his opponent, assumes that people don't understand Congress (can one senator really destroy the "family budget?"), and displays an ignorance of energy policy that suggests that we could immediately get back to the "good old days" of cheap oil if we just drilled more.
For me, it makes me seriously question McCain's alleged commitment to renewable technologies. McCain is clearly in bed with some new people now, including the people that brought Bush to power. If he's changing the way he conducts his campaign, who says he won't change his content?
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