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McCain Hits Obama on Energy with Gag Gift
August 04, 2008 11:32 AM
ABC News' Bret Hovell reports: Obama's energy plan, as framed by the McCain campaign, can be summed up with one small giveaway to the press: a tire pressure gauge.
McCain senior adviser Mark Salter came to the press section of McCain's plane Monday morning to hand out the gag gifts: gauges that read "Obama's Energy Plan", a reference to the presumptive Democratic nominee's recommendation last week that Americans make sure the tires on their automobiles are properly inflated in order to maximize fuel efficiency.
Experts have heralded Obama's suggestion -- that Americans tune up their cars and fully inflate their tires -- as one that could save up to 292,000,000 barrels of oil a year.
"My friends, let's do that, but do you think that's enough to break our dependence on foreign oil?" McCain asked rhetorically at a town hall meeting in Wisconsin last week. As Obama unveils his energy policy this week, the McCain campaign maintains that Obama's energy plan is not comprehensive.
McCain's campaign has spent some of the last few weeks making their political points without pulling any comedic punches. Last week they produced and released an online campaign advertisement comparing McCain's rival Barack Obama to Moses, and calling him The One. McCain told reporters that they were "having some fun."
And when Obama was traveling overseas, press aides handed out fake press credentials to McCain’s stateside reporters, which read "JV Squad: Left Behind to Report in America."
As he was tossing them to reporters from the aisle of the plane, Salter was asked if the tire pressure gauges work.
"They might," he said with a laugh. Clearly the efficacy of the gauge was not the point.
August 4, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (109)
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That's just dumb.
I take Obama's hard hitting ad any day over McCain's school yard antics.
Posted by: Sandy | Aug 4, 2008 11:40:59 AM
At least Obama knows how to use a gas pressure gauge. It's probably too technical for McCain to figure out. Of course, he's never had to check his own tires because Cindy has plenty of money to pay people to do it for him.
Posted by: Mike | Aug 4, 2008 11:42:11 AM
Obama's new ad is tough and the GOP knows it or else they wouldn't be doing this junior high taunts.
McCain=Bush=Big Oil
Can't get much uglier than that.
Good job Obama and Happy Birthday!!
Posted by: Wendy | Aug 4, 2008 11:42:45 AM
Obama, like Kerry, was for it before he was against it and people were confused because he was both for it and against it while his opponents were always taking the opposite viewpoint.
No wonder intelligent people are seeing through the hollow man.
Posted by: Max | Aug 4, 2008 11:48:34 AM
Max: At least Obama is making hard choices, he just is not out there making false promises like McCain. We all know McCain is only for himself. He has more than proved that the last 8 years. Wake up.
Posted by: becky | Aug 4, 2008 11:50:47 AM
Does anyone know where Obama stands on any thing? He won't disown Rev. Wright then he does, He said Bill Clinton was a bad president now he says that he is one of the best we have had, he was against wire tapping and now he is for it, he didn't want MI and FL fully seated and now he does... gun control...abortion?
You can't become president on an ambiguous platform.
A democrat who is paying attention.
Posted by: AlbertMike | Aug 4, 2008 11:53:46 AM
Weak.
Naive.
Vague.
Arrogant.
Confused.
Dishonest.
Incompetent.
Inexperienced.
Will raise taxes.
Married to Michelle.
Will punish success.
Will expand government.
Will weaken national security.
No record of bipartisianship. Ever.
Longtime supporter of hard-left hate.
More popular in France than in America.
Clapping in Jeremiah's pews for 20+ years.
Likes to play race games to paint himself a victim.
Loved by terrorists and dictators around the world.
Cancels visit with wounded soldiers to hang at Ritz Carlton.
Full of socialist ideas for change and ready to roll on day one.
Nobama '08
Posted by: Jack | Aug 4, 2008 11:54:53 AM
His only hard decison is to order icebergm romain, or rugala.
Posted by: char19145 | Aug 4, 2008 11:59:55 AM
This is funny the only funny here is McCain that is all he has to run with....This OLD man needs to re thgink his ads.They are stupid.
Posted by: indp voter | Aug 4, 2008 12:05:46 PM
Lord Obama
was copying Hillary Plan, then McCain Plan and now Boone Pickens Plan.
XEROX WE CAN BELIEVE IN
Posted by: tim | Aug 4, 2008 12:09:40 PM
Obama copied Hillary Plan then McCain Plan and now he wants to copy Boone Pickens Plan.
Great Leadership Skills
Posted by: tim | Aug 4, 2008 12:13:04 PM
How can someone so old act so juvenile? Is this McCain's second childhood or something?
I'm sorry, senator, but I don't want my presidential campaigns to be this stuff. Now grow up please.
Posted by: Paul | Aug 4, 2008 12:23:19 PM
It is sad to see this former maverick resorting to stupid tricks to make himself look good.
I guess he'd rather give money to the oil companies. This is what Bush did to stimulate new energy searches. We see how far that went.
Posted by: truthtell | Aug 4, 2008 12:27:31 PM
Obama is coming up with ideas and solutions while McCain comes up with gags and insults.
Posted by: Deep Release | Aug 4, 2008 12:30:11 PM
Did anyone catch BHO speech in Michigan that just ended? This was a fairy tale bigger than any I have every read my children. This man is going to say anything to win.
Posted by: William | Aug 4, 2008 12:30:33 PM
At least, McCain has provided some substance, giving you a gag to measure your tire pressure.
What did the phony 0-bama have? Air.
Posted by: fact check | Aug 4, 2008 12:30:45 PM
I think you're all right. McCain is acting like a baby. Come on let's talk real stuff. I want to know what you're going to do ti stimulate the economy, where are oil prices going, will I be able to keep my house, can I afford my groceris the next few weeks?
Posted by: newvoter | Aug 4, 2008 12:31:57 PM
deep ...so true. I haven't seen McCain saying anything about the economy. Of course, he has already said he knows nothing about it. So I guess he is the best person to run this country?
Posted by: militarymom | Aug 4, 2008 12:33:58 PM
fact check - you consider this gag gift "some substance?"
Wow. I have no answer to that one.
But don't get too confortable in your drilling position. Its been a few weeks since McCain flipped on that one. He's due to flip back any day now.
Of course, when he does, we'll just hear again how he doesn't speak for the campaign.
Posted by: Paul | Aug 4, 2008 12:35:49 PM
I think the tire gauges were funny and clever....
Posted by: yh120952 | Aug 4, 2008 12:38:45 PM
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