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McCain Calls for Offshore Drilling While Searching for Alternative Energy
June 17, 2008 7:44 PM
ABC News's Bret Hovell Reports: John McCain came to Houston, Texas, Tuesday to talk about expanding drilling for oil off the coasts of the United States as a short term solution to the nation's looming energy crisis – a shift in position for him in the face of growing concern over rising energy prices.
"As for offshore drilling, it's safe enough these days that not even Hurricanes Katrina and Rita could cause significant spillage from the battered rigs off the coasts of New Orleans and Houston," McCain said, announcing that he will call for a lifting of the federal moratorium on off-shore drilling and suggest financial incentives to states to are willing to pump oil off of their coasts.
McCain had previously supported keeping the moratorium in place, including in his 2000 run for President.
Tuesday's speech was the first of five speeches the Arizona Senator and soon-to-be Republican nominee will deliver on his energy policy, and he cast the need for energy independence in term of national and economic security.
"The jobs, family budgets, and futures of the American people should not depend on the whims of foreign powers," McCain said, noting that approximately two thirds of America's oil comes from overseas. "Oil and gasoline are the most vital of all commodities in a modern economy…America's dependence on foreign oil is a matter of large and far-reaching consequences – none of them good."
Speaking in a city known for its ties to the oil industry, McCain criticized rival Sen. Barack Obama for supporting a tax on the windfall profits of oil companies, but that too marked a shift in position from just weeks ago.
In early May, McCain told the Charlotte, North Carolina, chamber of commerce that he was open to the idea of a windfall profits tax.
Tuesday in Houston, he elicited jeers from his audience when he mentioned Obama's proposal of the same thing.
"[Obama] wants a windfall profits tax on oil, to go along with the new taxes he also plans for coal and natural gas," McCain said. "If the plan sounds familiar, it's because that was President Jimmy Carter’s big idea too. And a lot of good it did us."
The White House told ABC News President Bush will call on Congress tomorrow to lift the ban on offshore oil drilling.
Said White House press secretary Dana Perino, "With gasoline now over $4 a gallon, tomorrow he [President Bush] will explicitly call on Congress to also pass legislation lifting the congressional ban on safe, environmentally-friendly offshore oil drilling."
Critics say McCain's energy plans have been tried and have failed, and represent the policies of the Bush administration.
"From expanding offshore oil drilling to protecting his friends in big oil from windfall profits taxes, McCain's energy policies are another example of how the new John McCain is all about the failed policies of the past," wrote Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Karen Finney in an statement e-mailed to reporters.
McCain also tied the energy crisis – as he often does – to the growing concern over global climate change.
"In the face of climate change and other serious challenges, energy conservation is no longer just a moral luxury or a personal virtue," McCain said. "Conservation serves a critical national goal."
McCain said he was confident in the prospect of alternatives to oil as a long term goal, but that for a short term fix, traditional energy sources would be needed.
"We should set the highest goals for ourselves for the years and decades to come, and I am a believer in the technologies that one day will free us from oil entirely…" McCain said. "In the short term, we must take the world as it is and our resources where they are -- even as we press on with new and cleaner sources of energy."
ABC News' Jennifer Duck contributed to this report
June 17, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan | Permalink | User Comments (124)
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If we drill now in 5-10 years when gas is$10 per gallon, maybe the oil that will come in then will prevent gas from going $20 per gallon. And by then if the Democrats ever allow rules to be made for oil shale processors, the 1.7 trillion barrels in 3 western states locked in rock may be processed. Democrats have stalled drilling for 20 years.
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Posted by: papillion | Jun 17, 2008 10:07:12 PM
Headline: Obama's Secret Alternative Energy Plan!
Gee what is it?
What are you guys smoking!
Posted by: jschm | Jun 17, 2008 10:11:43 PM
The truth is we all have some doubt about Obama having Muslim connections. Reverend Wright may be Christian but they shared some of the same views as Muslims especially when it came to 911. If there is any doubt that Obama may be sympathetic to Muslims or have any connections to them, he must be kept out of the White House. Vote McCain
Posted by: roger2323 | Jun 17, 2008 10:13:05 PM
There goes the California and Florida electoral votes. McCain just lost those states.
Posted by: Nancy | Jun 17, 2008 10:42:41 PM
We must drill everywhere so we can compete with the monopoly of oil.
ONLY WITH COMPETITION AND NEW ENERGY
RESOURCES WE CAN BRING DOWN OIL PRICES...
Posted by: TEXAN | Jun 17, 2008 10:44:56 PM
Oh the sites of those the 30 key losers McCain camp came up w/ supposedly Dems for McCain?! That was a joke LMAO.
Just go check out therealmccain.com and have a laugh and go to bed happyand safe the Obama will be your daddy
Posted by: laughing at cindy | Jun 17, 2008 10:50:28 PM
no one things like that rodgerdodger
hope you have fun in lalaland, wish I could be so ____________
Posted by: rmccainb will croak in office hes so old | Jun 17, 2008 10:52:51 PM
Offshore drilling is a cool idea. To save money on tankers and pipelines, I suggest using the fur of the cute animals (which is very absorbent) to shuttle it to the refineries. There, the animals can be wrung out, given lollipops for their trouble, then made into shoes and biodiesel.
Posted by: 1percenter | Jun 17, 2008 11:13:21 PM
Oil is the basis of our fiat money,
We won't be self sufficient because of a faustian bargain with the Arabs.
Oil companies know where the oil is and most auto makers know of the technology to manufacture fuel effiicient vehicle but only when it is financialy expedient and profitable.
Posted by: garebo | Jun 17, 2008 11:15:18 PM
Noone seems to care that the price of oil is going up in spite of stable/decreased demand and increased supply. So, what is the solution by Bush? Increase the supply even more. From the same guy who said we are 'addicted to oil'.
Posted by: 1percenter | Jun 17, 2008 11:17:23 PM
I don't even know what to say... other than "wow". You idiots need to do some research before you spout your opinions. But, that will never happen. So, I am back to "wow".
Posted by: Dumbfounded | Jun 17, 2008 11:19:26 PM
Conservation in the US is working. We decreased the amount of oil we used in 07 by 500,000 barrels verses 06. Thats the first time we have decreased use in quite some time. If we couple decreased use with increased drilling it will have to have an impact on the futures/commodity markets. McCain is right to say drill here & drill now and oil in and of itself is not the long term solution. Find renewable energy that is clean, but in the meantime dont let our economy collapse.
Posted by: Levi | Jun 17, 2008 11:21:05 PM
Boy,
Tim Russert would have had a field day with Mr. McCain on this one. What a flippity floppity one he is.
When will the voters realize all this "quick fix" so-called solutions don't work. It's funny McCain brought up Jimmy Carter. IF the politicians AND energy companies of this country had been willing to sacrfice a quick buck then, we wouldn't be dependent on foreign countries for oil NOW.
How come Toyota (Japan) and Honda lead the way in alternative energy cars? Hmmmm.
Posted by: Flippity Floppity | Jun 17, 2008 11:25:34 PM
I cannot believe the ignorance surrounding this topic. Supply and demand is not the issue, drilling more will not stop the price from going up, i say again supply is not the issue. We live in a global economy prices will still be up EVEN IF YOU MAKE MORE THEN YOU CONSUME. Look at canada they produce more barrels then they consume and they export it. Prices are still high.
Prices are high because of america and other big money countries greed, because of the elite. But we all know the elite are never held accountable for their actions, hello paris hilton...
They need to
a) regulate the speculators
and
b) crack down on the oil companies making 11 billion dollars in profit in 1 quarter. Would it have been so bad if they adjusted the price so they only made 10 billion? or 9? Perhaps pass that onto the loyal consumer, their commercials say they care about us... They make so much money they don't even care to dicuss their salary with congress, AND CONGRESS ACCEPTED THAT!???
Our politician are to spineless to stand up to corporations. To stop the greedy from taking advantage of the little guy... I ask what happened to all of the people that are in it for us. Neither candidate is what we need.
If you need me i'll be down at Exxon's HQ with my pants down and bent over, after filling up yesterday i might as well... i think they owe me dinner or alteast a drink at the bar.
Posted by: KD | Jun 17, 2008 11:26:12 PM
Earth to Levi: How long does it take to "drill here & drill now"? Guess... Also why would increased drilling have any impact on the futures/commodity markets when they are not following the 'law' of supply and demand?
Posted by: 1percenter | Jun 17, 2008 11:28:21 PM
" Besides the Roman Empire ended because of too big a welfare state. Rome no one worked. Everyone got everything for free from the government. That is the same as Obama wants. Obama solution to our problems will destroy USA and bankrupt us the same as it did to Rome and all other world powers. Read your history lessons."
eh??? Rome was a slave empire. No romans worked because slaves did much of the work. Roman gold went to propping up failing parts of the empire, and paying mercenary armies to hold back their various military opponents. You CANNOT compare Rome to the USA, Sidney.... That's just the dumbest thing I have seen written here.
I do agree thoughy, that we as a nation eed to be doing EVERYTHING we can to get free of foreign oil, and eventually oil altogether.
But there is no smoking gun. It will take a combination of many different efforts to do this, including offshore drilling, and as long as the next president can FOLLOWTHROUGH (and not stop when times get better) we will succeed.
Posted by: bryan | Jun 17, 2008 11:30:52 PM
Let's reproduce Stalins stem cells so we can create a master nation to control the greed and keeep the wealth in the pious like Nancy Pelosi(richest woman in the Senate) and Mr Carbon footprint Al Gore to determine our fate.
Posted by: garebo | Jun 17, 2008 11:31:35 PM
Let's reproduce Stalins stem cells so we can create a master nation to control the greed and keeep the wealth in the pious like Nancy Pelosi(richest woman in the Senate) and Mr Carbon footprint Al Gore to determine our fate.
Posted by: garebo | Jun 17, 2008 11:31:41 PM
There is always the chance that e will get an early winter and people will see how much it will cost to bring your homes above freezing this winter. Reality does make one sober to reality and time will tell. Get ready for sticker shock on the basic nessities. Then see if yu want change or not.
Posted by: John | Jun 17, 2008 11:33:12 PM
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