GOP presidential candidate John McCain released a new television ad today, "Pump," which puts the blame for rising gas prices on Democrat Barack Obama.
"Who can you thank for rising prices at the pump?" the ad asks, as a photo of Obama appears on screen, and a crowd shouts, "Obama, Obama!"
"One man knows we must now drill more in America and rescue our family budgets," the ad continues. "Don't hope for more energy, vote for it. McCain."
McCain, President Bush, and Republicans in Congress have touted drilling as the short-term solution to rising energy prices, despite the fact that energy experts and economists widely agree that opening offshore areas to production won't actually lower oil prices until about 2030 -- and maybe not even then. Guy Caruso, the Bush-appointed head of the Energy Information Administration, says that offshore drilling wouldn't affect the price at the pump very much.
But McCain's ad creates the impression that more drilling is the solution to today's high gas prices. Watch it:
UPDATE: Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor just put out a response to the new McCain ad. "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," writes Vietor. "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," he continues.
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Comments
View as Flat
racc Posted 2:13 am
21 Jul 2008
Meandering Talk Milk Run
Its McCain that has been in Washington for the last couple of eons and hasn't done anything to get America off oil or give people reasonable transportation choices. Just pathetic.
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alphaniner Posted 3:21 am
21 Jul 2008
Stupid
On a factual basis, that was probably one of the most worthless political ads that I've ever seen. Shame on Mr. McCain.
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acschwim Posted 3:55 am
21 Jul 2008
Contradiction
As McCain continues to remind us, Obama is relatively new to Washington, which makes it even more ridiculous for him to place the blame for the rise in gas prices on Obama's shoulders!
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Colin Wright Posted 7:40 am
21 Jul 2008
The swiftboating has begun!
And already McCain is scraping the bottom of the barrel. But this ad seems so over the top you have to ask where is the "truth-in-advertising" regulation (FCC?)?
What if Obama launches an ad with dead and dying troops and Iraqi's with a voice-over chanting John McCain? Would that be kosher too?
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GonzoDon Posted 2:31 am
22 Jul 2008
When in doubt
Well, at least the Repubs have stopped blaming all of this country's problems on Bill Clinton. I guess that got a little bit old, for even them, after 8 years of mind-numbing repetition.
Man, I can hardly wait to find what politician should be blamed for the Colorado Rockies losing the World Series last year. It's surely a Democrat, though. I count on Faux News to let me know.
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redwing Posted 12:04 am
23 Jul 2008
Obama stole my gas!
I just thought my oversized SUV got bad gas mileage and I was to blame for buying it, but the truth is it is not my fault at all! McCain has shown me the Light! Obama is to blame! Obama has been siphoning gas from my tank! How are we going to afford another SUV!!!
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mtvyfan Posted 3:05 am
24 Jul 2008
I think Obama should use this manure on his garden
Just goes to show you the Republicans are so desperate they are using the gas crisis !!REPUBLICANS CREATED!! to smear a very reputable, honest candidate who will try to positively change the US' impact on the world environment, not make it worse. What can I say, I'm not surprised.
"For as long as space endures, and for as long as living beings remain, until then may I too abide, to dispel the misery of the world." - Shantideva
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