MyDD :: Ugh: Obama Flips on the Strategic Oil Reserve

Ugh: Obama Flips on the Strategic Oil Reserve

by rayj, Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 10:46:31 PM EST

According to the LA Times:

Democrat Barack Obama called today for tapping the nation's strategic oil reserves to help drive down gasoline prices, a shift from his previous position on the issue.

The reversal is the second refinement in Obama's energy policy. Last week, he said that he would reluctantly consider accepting some offshore oil drilling. Obama had previously said he opposed such drilling, which is strongly backed by rival John McCain, who has urged that states be allowed to decide whether to drill.

This prompted Kevin Drum over at the Washington Monthly to say:

Every single story I've read about Obama's energy speech today has the exact same lead: it's yet another switcheroo from the Democratic candidate. Flip flop, flip flop.

And we can't blame this one on the media, folks: Obama really is flopping around on energy policy, and he's doing it in the most craven possible way, switching from correct but politically risky stands to dumb panders. In fact, between the two of them, McCain and Obama have now pretty much written the handbook on idiotic energy pimping: a gas tax holiday, offshore drilling, opening up the SPR, a windfall profits tax, and nukes for all. I don't think either one has come out for a massive coal liquification program yet, but since that's about the only thing left that's worse than what they've offered so far, I assume it can't be more than a few days away.

And yes, I know that underneath the BS Obama has a pretty good energy policy and McCain doesn't. Big deal. That energy policy isn't going to see the light of day unless Obama starts building public support for it. So far he isn't even trying.

Tags: Barack Obama (all tags)

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Re: Ugh: Obama Flips on the Strategic Oil Reserve (2.00 / 1)

How long until the Clinton-hating media starts calling Obama a "poll-driven, calculating politician"? The label was used on Clinton every time she opened her mouth.

by kingsbridge77 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 10:54:13 PM EST

Re: Ugh: Obama Flips on the Strategic Oil Reserve (2.00 / 2)

The label was used on Clinton every time she opened her mouth.

I was getting annoyed also by that...they just kept walking up, and putting labels over her mouth, everytime she tied to speak.

Very distracting.

Obama/Adam West or Bruce Campbell or Lucy Lawless '08

by Purple with Green Stipes and Pink Polka Dots Dem on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 10:59:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

That's the media for you (2.00 / 1)

now that they've finished off the Clintons, it's time to take down Obama.

Then they'll take down the next Democrat, and the next one and the next one until our segway into complete fascist corporate dictatorship is complete.

And the American people will sign it in their blood, because, well, anything else would be Socialism and that's what the French do (even though it's not).

The American people; they were for the war before they were against it.

by nrafter530 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 11:03:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

They've already beaten you. (none / 0)

by Glaurung on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 11:05:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I left the country (none / 0)

so I suppose, yeah, they did.

The American people; they were for the war before they were against it.

by nrafter530 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 11:09:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I probably should've mentioned (2.00 / 1)

before I left, I worked for the MSM. The conspiracy theory about the corporate masters controlling the message is NOT a conspiracy theory and many of the reporters and anchors we attack do it against their own will to protect their careers.

The American people; they were for the war before they were against it.

by nrafter530 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 11:10:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ugh: Obama Flips on the Strategic Oil Reserve (2.00 / 1)

Well, I heard it tonight on local news.. Obama is a "flip flopper"... ignoring, of course, that McCain flip flopped on the same issue a couple of months ago...

It profits a PUMA nothing to give their soul for the whole world... but for McCain? --Sir Thomas More (if he were here now)

by LordMike on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 11:23:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

IOKIYAR (2.00 / 2)

he's a war hero you know.

The American people; they were for the war before they were against it.

by nrafter530 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 11:24:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Cite it, McTroll. (2.00 / 2)

Please cite where Obama ever said the Strategic Oil Reserve should never be tapped to ease domestic shortages.

If you're going to cite a McReporter, you have to be prepared to prove his bogus assertions.

You McTrolls are as full of shit as the senile old troll you shill for.

by Glaurung on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 10:56:11 PM EST

Re: Cite it, McTroll. (1.00 / 2)

Actually earlier this morning there was a video posted that showed Obama saying this very thing. It's no longer here, I guess the Obama supporters HR'd it away.

I'm for a timeline on Iraq, public funding of elections, women's reproductive rights, gun restrictions and universal suffrage. So why should I vote for Obama?

by William Cooper on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 05:49:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Cite it, McTroll. (none / 0)

In other words, you CAN'T cite it, McTroll.

by Glaurung on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 01:15:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Cite it, McTroll. (none / 0)

Here is the quote, less than one month ago, when Obama said that he did not support using the strategic oil reserve then or in any situation in which there was not a genuine emergency, such as a huge terrorist act that could threaten entire sections of the country:

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2 008/08/04/1245196.aspx
"I do not believe that we should use the strategic oil reserves at this point," Obama said July 7. "I have said and, in fact, supported a congressional resolution that said that we should suspend putting more oil into the strategic oil reserve, but the strategic oil reserve, I think, has to be reserved for a genuine emergency. You have a situation, let's say, where there was a major oil facility in Saudi Arabia that was destroyed as a consequence of terrorist acts, and you suddenly had huge amounts of oil taken out of the world market, we wouldn't just be seeing $4-a-gallon oil. We could see a situation where entire sectors of the country had no oil to function at all. And that's what the strategic oil reserve has to be for."

And here is the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JklRAVIK jk

Jim Martin for Senate!

by markjay on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 02:50:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Hate to tell you this.... (none / 0)

but you McTrolls are still barking up a tree of lies.....

Obama Proposes to Swap Oil from Strategic Oil Reserve

ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: While unveiling his "New Energy for America" plan today, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama will propose swapping light oil for heavy oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a stance the Illinois senator has not previously held.

"What he will be calling for in speech today is a swap out of light crude for heavy crude," Obama's Energy Policy Director Heather Zichal told reporters on a conference call today, "The heavy crude will be replaced in the reserve at a later date so that we can get oil into the market."

It's a just another McLie that Obama wants to "tap" or "draw down" the reserve.

by Glaurung on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 03:29:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hate to tell you this.... (none / 0)

You specifically asked for a citation where Obama said the strategic reserve shouldn't be tapped to address domestic shortages. I provided, at your request, the citation. And for that you consider me a "McTroll"? I don't know how old or young you are, but I have a feeling I've been consistently supporting the Democratic Party since well before you were born.

Jim Martin for Senate!

by markjay on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 03:59:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

You must be older than McSenile. (none / 0)

by Glaurung on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 05:53:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I said "Cite it, McTroll," (none / 0)

-- and you cited it.
But as I pointed out out, there is no contradiction in Obama's position which is the real point.

by Glaurung on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 05:56:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Not like Bill would have done, no sir (2.00 / 2)

In 2000, President Clinton used a similar "swap" of government oil as proposed by Obama, making available 30 million barrels because of concern over rising prices and supply worries in advance of that year's winter heating season. The move at the time was criticized by Republicans as an attempt to help then Vice President Al Gore's presidential bid.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/04 /obama-proposes-tapping-na_n_116718.html

Man, people see compromise and reassessment of a complex problem and just start screaming "flip flopper!" like there's no tomorrow.

by upstate girl on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 10:58:33 PM EST

people see compromise and reassessment (2.00 / 2)

People? Are McTrolls people? Or just the buckets that lies are carried from place to place in?

by Glaurung on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 11:03:10 PM EST

Re: Ugh: Obama Flips on the Strategic Oil Reserve (2.00 / 4)

Am I the only one who could care less about whether he modifies his position on points like this? If I spent every election searching for the holy god/goddess of purity I'd end up voting for my oldest bulldog Bowser each time.

by Xris on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 11:05:44 PM EST

But DID Obama modify his position? (2.00 / 1)

"Am I the only one who could care less about whether he modifies his position on points like this?"

To accept unproven allegations at face value is to do half of the liars work for them.

by Glaurung on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 11:09:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: But DID Obama modify his position? (2.00 / 1)

Good point. This site goes through phases of hard core trolls/rabble rowsers and then it calms back down again. After those lulls I have a tendency to lose my ninjitsu powers.

by Xris on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 11:12:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: But DID Obama modify his position? (2.00 / 1)

All I KNOW is that I looked for a quote of Obama saying that the reserve shouldn't be tapped and couldn't find it.

If you read the MSNBC/AP story on the sidebar of this page, Obama about-face: tap nation's oil reserve, you'll notice that the same allegation is made and without any quote from Obama to back it up that story/lie as well.

The narrative that McDesperate's operatives are trying to develope is just the same old retread lie that was used against Gore and Kerry.

It's up to us to defend our little corner of the political world from letting it take root here.

by Glaurung on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 11:42:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ugh: Obama Flips on the Strategic Oil Reserve (2.00 / 1)

Considering that (a.) a large majority of voters favor offshore drilling, and (b.) Obama being "open to the possibility" basically means nothing, I agree with you. He could very well "consider" it and rule it out once he's elected. It's about as much a non-issue for me as accepting public financing.

by Johnny Gentle Famous Crooner on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 11:25:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

the LA Times AND Kevin Drum?!?! (2.00 / 1)

Fuck man, it must be true!

by JJE on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 11:33:40 PM EST

People are desperate (2.00 / 2)

I'm convinced that on energy issues, principle will not win out. Voters are desperate for any lower prices. They don't care if pundits and experts say it's a bad idea, or if politicians flip-flop. They want lower prices, whatever the cost. That's why McCain benefited from the offshore drilling reversal. The pundits said it was pandering and it wouldn't produce oil for years. Yet, the public saw it as "something."

The criticism against Obama was that he had no plan of action - just rejection of offshore drilling and support for some distant future alternative energy world. Though I don't support the petroleum reserve plan or offshore drilling, I see how somebody who cites gas prices as the number one issue will view it positively.

by elrod on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 11:41:08 PM EST

Re: Ugh: Obama Flips on the Strategic Oil Reserve (1.00 / 4)

July 7, lmao.

Ask and ye shall receive.

http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics /2008/08/obama_vs_obama_on_strategic_oi. html

If you want Unity, nominate a Democrat

by rankles on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 01:08:16 AM EST

Re: Ugh: Obama Flips on the Strategic Oil Reserve (none / 0)

Uprated due to trollrating abuse.

Jim Martin for Senate!

by markjay on Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 02:52:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Does Obama believe in anything (1.00 / 2)