Michelle Malkin » Obama: Republicans Playing Politics with Spiking Gas Prices

Obama: Republicans Playing Politics with Spiking Gas Prices

By Doug Powers • February 23, 2012 04:25 PM

**Written by Doug Powers

Today in Florida, President Obama addressed gas prices that are getting so high they can almost see the top of Nancy Pelosi’s unfavorable rating. Obama’s speech hit on many of the predictable points, and from what I’ve read so far it boiled down to two things: We can’t drill our way to lower gas prices, and if we try to kick-start enough Solyndras eventually some of them might get off the ground before the country goes bankrupt.

From The Hill:

President Obama railed against Republicans on Thursday for “licking their chops” and using a spike in gas prices as a political opportunity.

Appearing at the University of Miami in a high profile speech on energy, Obama aimed to deflect the criticism his administration has received for failed energy policies and higher gas prices.

Obama sought to telegraph a message that he is doing all he can to improve energy policy while accusing Republicans of politicizing the issue.

“Only in politics do people greet bad news so enthusiastically,” Obama said before a crowd of students, according to his prepared remarks.

“You pay more and they’re licking their chops? And you can bet since it’s an election year, they’re already dusting off their three-point plans for $2 gas. I’ll save you the suspense: step one is drill, step two is drill, and step three is keep drilling.

Playing politics with high gas prices in an election year? Now who would do a thing like that?

Returning to our current gas price spike, Obama Spokesman Jay Carney also reminded everybody this week that it was the GOP who denied the Keystone project. Always against the construction of oil pipelines — that’s how Republicans roll.

Earlier today, DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz offered the same:

“The Republican field, like Mitt Romney, thinks that we just need to remain tethered and dependent on foreign oil because all they would do is more and more drilling, which is a very shortsighted approach and it would do nothing to prevent people who are struggling to put $80 into their gas tanks to be able to make sure that that’s more affordable,” Wasserman Schultz said on MSNBC.

“And that is another example of how they are economically out of touch,” she said.

Keep in mind the statement about who is economically out of touch is coming from someone who thinks that sinking billions of dollars worth of taxpayer subsidies into a “green” car that is only affordable to buyers who earn an average of $170,000 a year (not to mention huge corporations with ties to the administration) is economically in touch.

In the coming weeks and months, as we’re told that the key to energy independence is to “invest” billions more into clean energy projects and assorted “green” sinkholes, remember that our debt per capita has now surpassed that of Greece:

That would have bought a lot of gas.

Don’t worry though… Obama says he’s got five more years to work on a fix. Plenty of time.

**Written by Doug Powers

Twitter @ThePowersThatBe

~ For the latest breaking news, be sure to join Michelle's e-mail list ~

Posted in: 2012 Campaign,Politicians,Politics

Printer Friendly

comments (125)

See what others have said

Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.

Comments

« Older Comments

#101

On February 23rd, 2012 at 10:32 pm, ChapBix said:

#32. On February 23rd, 2012 at 5:18 pm, Hangfire said:

I would like to add a third aspect to the Dems way of thinking.

They actually, really believe that pumping oil from the ground is stealing from Mother Earth. They believe petroleum use robs Gaia of vital fluids.

Would that not constitute an establishment of religion by government?
#102

On February 23rd, 2012 at 10:35 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

OK_Loyalist,
Read a few more sentences of that article:

WASHINGTON — U.S. demand for oil and refined products – including gasoline – is down sharply from last year, so much that United States has actually become a net exporter of gasoline, unable to consume all that it makes.

Yet oil and gasoline prices are surging.

On Tuesday, oil rose past $106 a barrel and gasoline averaged $3.57 a gallon – thanks again in no small part to rampant financial speculation on top of fears of supply disruptions.

If you remove the fears of supply disruptions (by getting and refining all of our oil domestically), prices will drop.

We would no longer be at the mercy of international events.
#103

On February 23rd, 2012 at 10:43 pm, OK_Loyalist said:

On February 23rd, 2012 at 10:35 pm, ITookTheRedPill

I don’t disagree with that, I stated there is no refining bottleneck, read whatever else you want into that.
#104

On February 23rd, 2012 at 10:47 pm, Truesoldier said:

On February 23rd, 2012 at 10:35 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:
If you remove the fears of supply disruptions (by getting and refining all of our oil domestically), prices will drop.

We would no longer be at the mercy of international events.

Exactly. That is why the XL pipeline could have had an immediate effect. If the speculators have reason to believe that the US is getting serious about a supply of oil that does not face disruption form the middle east then the price per barrel goes down. If they were to see new oil refinerary permits be issued and then ground being broken the price per barrel would drop more.

Another example, did you notice how the price per barrel started to shoot upward when the multiple lawsuits to stop the building of the 2 new nuke plants in GA. If those lawsuits were to disappear and the building of the plants were to begin you would see a drop in oil prices as well.
#105

On February 23rd, 2012 at 10:49 pm, ChapBix said:

#60. On February 23rd, 2012 at 6:44 pm, X-Navy-SWO said:

They’re talking about algae on Fox right now. Who wants to bet that fuel from algae will only cost $50.00/gal – when they finally perfect the process?

Maybe it will have an alternative use as a paint and rust stripper. A somewhat expensive paint and rust stripper, though.
#106

On February 23rd, 2012 at 10:54 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

Truesoldier,
Indeed. I agree.
#107

On February 23rd, 2012 at 11:09 pm, ChapBix said:

#73. On February 23rd, 2012 at 7:33 pm, ITookTheRedPill said:

On February 23rd, 2012 at 7:11 pm, Mister P said:

bho has 5 more years just like there are 57 states.

Sorry, I am anal. I always have to correct these statements. He actually implied there were 58 states. He said he went to 57 and had 1 to go.

Actually, he implied that there are 60.

He’d been to 57, 1 left to go,
and Alaska and Hawaii he was “not allowed to go to”.

…uh, because, you know, uh-uh, it is just wonderful to be back in Oregon, and over the last 15 months we’ve travelled, uh, to every corner of the United States. Uh, I’ve now been in fifty – … seven states, I think one left to go. Uh, one left to go. Uh, Alaska and Hawaii I was not allowed to go to, even though I really wanted to visit, but my staff would not, uh, justify it.

“Not allowed to go to“?

Who’s in charge?

Thank you for teeing that one up, ITookTheRedPill!

Who is in charge? George Soros, Chief Monkey, that’s who!
#108

On February 23rd, 2012 at 11:27 pm, sbw999 said:

President Obama railed against Republicans on Thursday for “licking their chops” and using a spike in gas prices as a political opportunity.

Didnt Moabama’s erstwhile pit bull Rahm Em. say “never let a good crisis go to waste”?

Do politicians learn to be full of sh***, or are they just born that way?
#109

On February 23rd, 2012 at 11:59 pm, Hangfire said:

On February 23rd, 2012 at 10:32 pm, ChapBix said:
Would that not constitute an establishment of religion by government?

It’s deniable.

Officially, they are Atheists. Wink, wink. Nod, nod.
#110

On February 24th, 2012 at 12:32 am, AlohaGuy said:

President Obama railed against Republicans on Thursday for “licking their chops” and using a spike in gas prices as a political opportunity.

Did he rail against Soros for licking his chops and using a spike in gas prices as a financial opportunity? Doesn’t Soros own around $300 million in InterOil stock (Papua, New Guinea)?
#111

On February 24th, 2012 at 12:44 am, Terry_Jim said:

Gas prices skyrocket.
Obama’s answer- alternative energy.

America’s answer-alternative President.
#112

On February 24th, 2012 at 1:49 am, DonkeyHoatie said:

On February 23rd, 2012 at 10:30 pm, conservative hispanic said:

DonkeyHoatie:

You’re forgetting minivans. Mrs. CH’s has a 25 gallon gas tank.

Really? Mrs. DH’s Honda Odyssey has about an 18 gallon tank.

But even minivan drivers are scorned by true libs. They are the darn “breeders” who are guilty of contributing to overpopulation by having children…
#113

On February 24th, 2012 at 2:37 am, rocketman said:

***
HI PASADEND_PHIL–#92. I don’t understand most of your comment. Supply and demand operates on a global basis–not just on the U.S. market. And producers of goods always sell to those willing to pay the most for the product. Increasing the world crude oil supply should reduce the cost per barrel–pesky Econ. 101 again. Notice what happens every time the international oil producer cartel cuts back on supply or increases it? Prices rise or fall in step with their actions–as predicted by Econ. 101.
***
The difference in pricing of oil from one place or another is often due to the higher costs in refining some types of oil. More refining costs equals less profit–which implies paying less for the less profitable sources.
***
The good news is that nobody in their right mind thinks that Comrade Obama will ever try to increase our domestic oil supplies. His actions are always against doing this–only the lying speeches have any “increases”. And opening the Strategic Petroleum Reserve will not help much–it’s only a few weeks supply at most–a real drop in the bucket.
***
And when Israel hits the Iranian nuke sites–Katy–bar the door! Jimmy Carter’s 1973 gas lines will look like a walk in the park by comparison. I rather hope that they strike in early October 2012. Should put the final nail in The Messiah’s political coffin. They need to do a little “payback” to President Obama.
***
John Bibb
***
#114

On February 24th, 2012 at 6:27 am, Mach1Duck said:

But, but, did not Obama play politics with the Bush gasoline price at $1.65?
#115

On February 24th, 2012 at 8:52 am, RedDog said:

“Only in politics do people greet bad news so enthusiastically,” Obama said

Waddaya mean putz? This is your M.O.. Take your own medicine and quit yer whining. Chase it with one of your appletinis or some other gay drink.
#116

On February 24th, 2012 at 8:53 am, RedDog said:

….. bad news? Really? After all, four years ago you thought $5 gasoline was just a grand idea. Changed your mind?
#117

On February 24th, 2012 at 8:57 am, RedDog said:

On February 23rd, 2012 at 10:32 pm, ChapBix said:

#32. On February 23rd, 2012 at 5:18 pm, Hangfire said:

I would like to add a third aspect to the Dems way of thinking. They actually, really believe that pumping oil from the ground is stealing from Mother Earth. They believe petroleum use robs Gaia of vital fluids.

Would that not constitute an establishment of religion by government?

Fluids? Raping Gaia? Maybe we should just practice safe sex? Come to daddy. Oh my.
#118

On February 24th, 2012 at 9:11 am, Rogue Cheddar said:

Don’t forget to wear your glacier hugging body condom!
#119

On February 24th, 2012 at 9:44 am, MarkD said:

Noticing Obama’s massive failures is obviously playing politics and probably racist.

What a loser!
#120

On February 24th, 2012 at 9:59 am, ITookTheRedPill said:

Recovery? What recovery? This graph says it all.
#121

On February 24th, 2012 at 11:13 am, maddmatt3131 said:

It occurred to me why Obama did this speech, it’s a set up. This summer the argument will be,

I had/have no control over gas prices; the economy has taken a downturn again;
the downturn is due to gas prices;
hence the downturn in the economy is not my fault because I have no control over gas prices.
#122

On February 24th, 2012 at 1:44 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

Errah, What a Gasshole! This dope has inserted himself between me and my personal oil company and is the reason why my wallet is screaming “ENOUGH ALREADY”
#123

On February 24th, 2012 at 1:45 pm, FirstSkirt said:

Where’s the blame Bush mantra? Let’s face it…this is all about ObiteMe’s horrible lack of leadership and knowledge about how free markets work…and he loves the fact that this hurts Americans. He hates this country.
#124

On February 24th, 2012 at 2:31 pm, Collateral Damage said:

No, Mr. Jackass-In-Chief. You and your enviro-terrorist buds, known as the Jackass Party, have been playing politics with the global warming LIE for decades now!?! If your Jackass eco-terrorist party would have gotten OUT OFTHE WAY back in the ’90s, we wouldn’t be suffering these prices!?! IT’S YOUR FAULT, JACKASS PARTY!?!
#125

On February 24th, 2012 at 4:08 pm, mondamay said:

Petroleum oil saved whales from extinction. Feel free to share with your local progressive, and watch their heads explode.