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Republicans to Kick Obama's Tires

August 04, 2008 8:54 AM

Last week in Missouri, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, said, "there are things that you can do individually though to save energy. Making sure your tires are properly inflated, simple thing, but we could save all the oil that they're talking about getting off drilling, if everybody was just inflating their tires and getting regular tune-ups. You could actually save just as much."

Seeking to belittle these remarks - and to portray them, falsely, as Obama's sole energy plan - the RNC will be sending reporters tire gauges engraved with “Obama’s Energy Plan” today. Michigan Republicans will be passing out tire gauges at his event today.

ABC News' Natalie Gewargis and I fact-checked Obama's claim last week.

It's not quite accurate to say that tune-ups and inflated tires would save as much energy as drilling in the outer continental shelf is predicted to yield.

That said, if Americans took Obama's advice, they would save about 800,000 barrels of oil a day. Certainly nothing to dismiss out of hand if you actually take this energy crisis seriously.

- jpt

August 4, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (120)

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They will remember that Obama is unwilling to assume reponsbility for his own actions regards the energy crisis and simply says No to the reasonable achievable means

It isn't "reasonably achievable" or "assuming responsibility" to keep your tires inflated? What a country we've become.

Posted by: Chaos | Aug 4, 2008 4:10:03 PM

Belle Star is painting a quite bleak picture of the conditions the ‘unrich’ have to live in these days.

I couldn't agree with you more Belle Star, the situation for everybody not belonging to the top 10% is dismal.


Back in the 90's, under a Democrat President, the income of regular folks increased by $6000,- and businesses were thriving as never before.
Since then, income for regular folks have fallen $1000,-, due to inflation, and businesses are in a real mess.

Posted by: Willem van Oranje | Aug 4, 2008 4:07:44 PM

On a very serious note; does anyone remember "Vote for Micky Mouse?" I do. Not a bad idea. I have never been so concerned for the USA as I am now. We should start all over and find new candidates to run for the Presidency. When Obama speaks I literally hear bla, bla, bla, bla, bla. My ears are hurting from the same chatter over and over. Honestly, I don't know what to think of McCain, is he the lesser of the two evils? Maybe! GOD HELP US!!!!

Posted by: Jeanette Nance | Aug 4, 2008 3:57:49 PM

"Bet those gauges the Republicans are handing out were not made in America."
-----
Citizens of the world, perhaps, like The CHANGEling and his progenitor?

Posted by: Belle Starr | Aug 4, 2008 3:56:41 PM

Bet those gauges the Republicans are handing out were not made in America.

Posted by: Ricky | Aug 4, 2008 3:52:44 PM

McCain: Taking the Straight Talk to America only half full.

Posted by: Ricky | Aug 4, 2008 3:51:34 PM

McCain: "there he goes again, accusing me of making fun of his name."

Posted by: Ricky | Aug 4, 2008 3:49:49 PM

McCain to America: We let the Obama out of Afghansitan, the value out of the dollar, the jobs out of America. Now let us let the air out of your tires.

Posted by: Ricky | Aug 4, 2008 3:48:25 PM

interesting. 800,000 barrels of oil a day? that's how much ANWR is alleged to be able to pump out *at it's peak*.

the right, eager to miss the point, has just demonstrated the great weakness in their idea that we can "drill our way out of this mess"; if we can save the equivilent of one ANWR merely by keeping our tires properly inflated, then domestic drilling isn't exactly gonna do anything at all in the long run, is it?

Posted by: chopper | Aug 4, 2008 3:42:59 PM

Remember, the problem [is] that [Obama] insisted - twice - that doing so would eliminate ANY gains made by domestic drilling. That's just ignorant.
-----
Well, the congregation mustn't cling to "just words": for The CHANGEling's plan to replace actual oil, maybe one ONLY checks the tires, without actually DRIVING anywhere.

Posted by: Belle Starr | Aug 4, 2008 3:35:01 PM

Really mrspeel? The all say that inflating your tires will replace ALL of the oil that could be gotten by domestic drilling? I seriously doubt that; those guys aren't that stupid. Remember, the problem isn't that Obama wants us to inflate our tires; it's that he insisted - twice - that doing so would eliminate ANY gains made by domestic drilling. That's just ignorant.

Did you know that John McCain agreed that keeping our tires properly inflated is something we can all do to conserve gas? But he went on to say that of course we still need to apply the three-prong approach of "Conserve More, Produce More, Invent More" to tackle our energy problems.

McCain - Right for America!

Posted by: marylou | Aug 4, 2008 3:25:35 PM

Mary,
Why can't you check your tire pressure now?

Posted by: SCG | Aug 4, 2008 3:24:40 PM

Bring back the good ole days. I could fill up Ford Fairlane with $2.00 worth of gas and an attendant would check under the hood of all fluids, clean my windshield and check my tire pressure and wave me off with a smile. Now--well, it certainly is different. And since it has been a few years since a tank of gas cost $2.00, I can not check my tires with a gauge now. And I ain't fat or lazy.

Posted by: Mary | Aug 4, 2008 3:22:53 PM

So the RNC is handing out tire guages emblazoned with the words "Obama's Energy Plan". Here's the brilliance: the joke is on them. Should anyone use the tire guage to keep their tires properly inflated, that person will come realize that Obama has a point and that it is McCain who is full of hot air.
The RNC and McCain: where the low road turns to a muddy, dirt track, your tires get stuck, and you just can't find a way back to the highway.

Posted by: SCG | Aug 4, 2008 3:21:28 PM

Why don't you point out that Arnold Schwarzenegger, Charlie Crist, Joe Lieberman (check his website!) and Nascar happen to agree with Obama?

Posted by: mrspeel2 | Aug 4, 2008 3:17:45 PM

"Belle Star wrote:
Checking tire pressure isn't a particularly pleasant procedure, and requires getting down on the ground -- something of which the hothouse politicians are probably quite unaware.
*********
OMG! How lazy can you be? Seriously, no wonder so many Americans so fat, it's this type of thinking!"
-----
This response is kind of a cheap shot, presumably informed by some kind of seriously-sheltered situation.

For many people, it's not a matter of "lazy" -- or of fatness, much of which is caused by the combination of cheap food and the increasing unavailability of places where people, especially children, can safely go without being wrapped in a car -- but of an inability to get down on the ground, work the gadget, etc.

(If you notice, very few really rich people are fat. There's a reason for that, and it ain't self-denial, but leisure and lack of unrelieved stress, along with access to good diet, physical activity, medical care. As the unrich become MORE pressed, the kids will stay plump, while the adults waste away. Then the kids will waste away, and everybody who's left will live on the golf course.)


Posted by: Belle Starr | Aug 4, 2008 2:50:25 PM

My goodness but McCain is turning this election into a freakin' circus side show full of lies...so much for a respectful campaign, huh

Posted by: tinat | Aug 4, 2008 2:45:37 PM

"Forget that he has very liitle experience, spins everything, and won't take a stand, vote for him out of pity."

MIKE-----

Did you forget to remember to mention that Rily said in regard to Obama:

"Forget that he has very little experience, spins everything, and won't take a stand, vote for him out of pity."


Don't you feel that the negatives he pointed out are important

Or is that a "spin" you'd rather ignore.. until it's too late?

______________________
and BH Randon:

How come it was OK for B O to presumptuously place his face and big ears on his re-engineered presidential seal.... but it's not OK for McCain to carry that a step further and position his head on a hundred dollar bill?

Frankly, I think it was very nice of John to opt for a century bill.....


What sauce for the Gander should be equally saucy for the Goose.


Posted by: just thinking: | Aug 4, 2008 2:41:53 PM

Belle Star wrote:
Checking tire pressure isn't a particularly pleasant procedure, and requires getting down on the ground -- something of which the hothouse politicians are probably quite unaware.
*********

OMG! How lazy can you be? Seriously, no wonder so many Americans so fat, it's this type of thinking!

Posted by: MI VOTER | Aug 4, 2008 2:33:59 PM

The problem with both nuclear and fossil fuels is that they both are so heavily subsidized that you cant compare their real costs to other sources.

Posted by: Mike | Aug 4, 2008 2:29:21 PM

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