While Obama Is Playing Defense On Gas Prices, Americans Are Feeling The Pain At The Pump

OBAMA MOCKED POLITICIANS FOR ATTACKING HIM ON GAS PRICES, BUT HE DID THE SAME THING IN 2008  

Today, CBS’s Bob Schieffer Pointed Out The Hypocrisy Of Obama Criticizing Republicans For Attacking On Gas Prices While Then-Candidate Obama Did The Very Same Thing In 2008.CBS’S BOB SCHIEFFER: “Good morning again. Welcome to Face the Nation. David Axelrod is the President’s chief campaign strategist. He joins us from Chicago. Welcome, Mr. Axelrod. Let me start with this. As the price of gas has gone up, the president’s approval ratings have gone down. But when the Republicans started pummeling the president about this, he sort of poked fun at them. Here’s what he said last week.” PRESIDENT OBAMA: “They tell the same story. They head down to the gas station. They make sure a few cameras are following them. And then they start acting like we’ve got a magic wand and we will give you cheap gas forever, if you just elect us. Every time.  Been the same script for 30 years. It’s like a bad rerun.” SCHIEFFER: “But here’s the irony, Mr. Axelrod. It is like a rerun because this is what Candidate Obama said about George Bush four years ago.” SENATOR OBAMA: “All the while, while here in Ohio, you’re paying nearly $3.70 a gallon for gas, two-and-a-half times what it cost when George Bush took office.” SCHIEFFER: “So, what about that? So, what is the strategy? Is the price coming down? Do you have a plan to do that? I mean, in the short run?” DAVID AXELROD: “Well, first of all I’m interested to hear that clip because in June of 2008 the price of gas was $4.10 a gallon. What it underscores is the fact that we’re in a global oil market. And when we’re dependent solely on oil, we’re affected by the rate shocks again and again and again. And what he said then, what the President said then, and what he’s enacted during this administration is that we need a… an ‘all of the above’ policy so that we can break this dependence on oil.” (CBS’s “Face The Nation,” 3/18/12) 

Obama Mocked Politicians For Complaining About Rising Gas Prices And Standing In Front Of Gas Stations. OBAMA: “And every time prices start to go up — especially in an election year — politicians dust off their 3-point plans for $2.00 gas.  (Laughter.)  I guess this year they decided, we’re going to make it $2.50.  (Laughter.)  I don’t know where — why not $2.40?  (Laughter.)  Why not $2.10?  (Laughter.)  But they tell the same story.  They head down to the gas station; they make sure a few cameras are following them — (laughter) — and then they start acting like we’ve got a magic wand and we will give you cheap gas forever if you just elect us.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks At Prince George’s Community College, Largo, MD, 3/15/12)

In 2008, Obama Held A Campaign Event In Front Of A Gas Station And Said, “As President, I Will Work To Solve This Energy Crisis Once And For All.” OBAMA: “Everywhere I go in Indiana, and across this country, I’m talking to folks who are working harder and harder just to get by. At a time when our economy is in turmoil and wages are stagnant, hardworking families are struggling to pay rising costs, and few costs obviously are rising faster than the ones people pay at the pump. For the well-off in this country, high gas prices are mostly an annoyance, but to most Americans, they’re a huge problem, bordering on a crisis. Here in Indiana, gas costs $3.60 a gallon – and across the country, gas costs more than at any time in almost thirty years. … And as President, I will work to solve this energy crisis once and for all. We’ll invest $150 billion over the next ten years in establishing a green energy sector that will create up to 5 million new jobs – and those are jobs that pay well and can’t be outsourced. We’ll invest in clean energies like solar, wind, and biodiesel. And we’ll help make sure that the fuel we’re using is more efficient.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks On Energy Plan,, Indianapolis, IN, 4/25/08)

• Watch Obama’s 2008 Campaign Ad Filmed On Location At A Gas Station
• Obama In 2008: “I want to invest that money in clean, affordable, renewable energy sources like wind power, and solar power, and biofuels, so that we’re not talking about high fuel prices next summer or the next summer after that, or the summer after that.” (Senator Barack Obama, Remarks, Winston-Salem, NC, 4/29/08)

Now, The White House Is Playing Defense On Gas Prices “The White House seemed to play defense today against Republican presidential candidates criticizing President Obama’s handling of gas prices, which at more than $3.50 per gallon, are the highest they’ve ever been this time of year.” (Ali Weinberg, “White House On Defense Over Gas Prices,” MSNBC’s First Read, 2/20/12)

OBAMA HAS NOT CONTRIBUTED TO SOLVING THE GAS CRISIS

Gas Prices Have Skyrocketed Under Obama 

Since Obama Took Office, The National Average For A Gallon Of Regular Gasoline Has Increased From $1.85 To $3.838. (Energy Information Administration, Accessed 3/12/12; AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report, Accessed 3/18/12)

“Last Month Turned Out To Be The Most Expensive January Ever At U.S. Gasoline Pumps …” (Ronald D. White, “Average U.S. Gas Prices Hover At Record-High Levels,” Los Angeles Times, 2/7/12)

“2011 Closed Out As The Year With The Highest Average Annual Oil Price In The 150-Year History Of The Modern Oil Industry” And U.S. Gasoline Prices Hit An All Time Record Annual High For A Gallon Of Regular. “Already, 2011 closed out as the year with the highest average annual oil price in the 150-year history of the modern oil industry at $111 for a barrel of Brent crude, 13 percent higher than the previous record of $98 a barrel in 2008. U.S. gasoline prices also reached a record annual average high at $3.52 for a gallon of regular.” (Coral Davenport, “Rising Oil Prices Could Fuel Political Rage,” National Journal, 1/7/12)

• “Government And Industry Analysts Predict That Those Prices Will Only Continue To Rise In The Coming Year.” (Coral Davenport, “Rising Oil Prices Could Fuel Political Rage,” National Journal, 1/7/12)

“ Most Americans Say Higher Prices Are Already Taking A Toll On Family Finances, And Nearly Half Say They Think That Prices Will Continue To Rise, And Stay High.” (Dan Balz And Jon Cohen, “Gas Prices Sink Obama’s Ratings On Economy, Bring Parity To Race For White House,” The Washington Post , 3/11/12)

• 63 Percent Of Americans Say Rising Gas Prices Have Caused Financial Hardship In Their Lives, Compared To 37 Percent Who Say They Have Not. (The Washington Post/ABC Poll, 1,003A, MoE 4%, 3/7-10/12)

89 Percent Of Americans Are Concerned With Rising Gas Prices, Compared To 10 Percent Who Say They Are Not Concerned. (The Washington Post/ABC Poll, 1,003A, MoE 4%, 3/7-10/12)

• 66 Percent Of Americans Say They Are “Very” Concerned. (The Washington Post/ABC Poll, 1,003A, MoE 4%, 3/7-10/12)

Two-Thirds Of Americans Disapprove Of Obama’s Handling Of Gas Prices. ”Gas prices are a main culprit: Nearly two-thirds of Americans say they disapprove of the way the president is handling the situation at the pump, where rising prices have already hit hard.” (Dan Balz and Jon Cohen, “Gas Prices Sink Obama’s Ratings On Economy, Bring Parity To Race For White House,” The Washington Post , 3/12/12)

Energy Production On Federal Lands Has Decreased

“He Doesn’t Want To Admit It, But President Obama Is Taking Credit For Something George W. Bush Did. The White House Is Touting Federal Data That Shows Domestic Oil Production Is At Its Highest Level Since 2003.” (Amy Harder, “Obama’s Fuzzy Oil Production Math,” National Journal, 3/17/11)

• For 2009 And 2010, Oil Production Numbers Are Due To Actions Taken Before Obama Became President, Especially Since He Didn’t Take Any Major Action To Expand Offshore Drilling In His First Year. “While Bush was in office from 2001 to 2009, the oil and gas industry saw many new leases and other expanded drilling opportunities. In March 2010, Obama announced plans to expand offshore drilling, but he retreated in the aftermath of the BP oil spill. According to EIA’s short-term 2011 outlook, released last week, oil production was significantly higher in 2009 than in the years prior. Obama may have been in office for most of that year, but the oil production numbers are due to action taken before he became president. In 2010, most if not all of the production increase recorded is likely due to action that predates Obama, since Obama didn’t take any major action expanding offshore drilling his first year in office.” (Amy Harder, “Obama’s Fuzzy Oil Production Math,” National Journal, 3/17/11)

Obama Oversells The Government’s Influence On The Energy Industry And Many Wells Coming In To Production Were Planned Before He Was President. “Obama is not only hoping that simple, rock-solid statistic will silence his GOP critics, he’s angling to get some credit for the trend as he navigates a tricky re-election campaign. But he oversells the government’s influence on the industry and ignores the fact that many wells coming into production were planned years ago, before he was president.” (Dina Cappielo, “FACT CHECK: Obama, GOP Spin Recent Energy Stats,” The Associated Press, 2/6/12)

While Domestic Oil Production Is At An All-Time High, Production On Federal Lands And Waters Dropped Significantly In 2011. “Domestic oil production may be at an all-time high nationwide, but the increase is primarily occurring on state and private lands rather than on federal land and waters, where production appears to have dropped significantly in 2011, according to the most recent government data.” (Phil Taylor, “Production On Federal Tracts Fell In 2011,” Greenwire, 2/27/12)

“Production Of Natural Gas On Public Lands And Waters In Fiscal 2011 Dropped 11 Percent From The Previous Year, According To Interior Department Data. Oil Production Dipped Nearly 14 Percent.” (Phil Taylor, “Production On Federal Tracts Fell In 2011,” Greenwire, 2/27/12)

• “By Contrast, Oil Production On Public Lands Grew By About 4 Percent, While Gas Production Dipped Slightly.” (Phil Taylor, “Production On Federal Tracts Fell In 2011,” Greenwire, 2/27/12)

“The Reduction In Oil Production Was Most Significant In The Gulf Of Mexico, Where It Declined Nearly 17 Percent To 514 Million Barrels From 618 Million Barrels In 2010.” (Phil Taylor, “Production On Federal Tracts Fell In 2011,” Greenwire, 2/27/12)

Federal Land Produced Less Crude Oil In 2011 Than It Did In 2003. “The U.S. Energy Information Administration, the DOE entity which prepared the report, debunks Salazar’s claim that production is the highest its been in recent memory. The report shows that crude oil production and natural gas production on Federal lands both fell between 2010 and 2011. In fact, federal lands produced less crude oil in fiscal 2011 than they did in fiscal 2003. Natural gas production on federal land also fell between 2010 and 2011.” (Joel Gehrke, “DOE Report On Energy Contradicts WH, Salazar,” The Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential, 3/15/12)

Crude Oil Production On Federal Lands Fell From 4.3 Quadrillion Btu In 2010 To 3.7 Quadrillion Btu In 2011. (“Sales Of Fossil Fuels Produced From Federal And Indian Lands, FY 2003 Through FY 2011,” Energy Information Administration, 3/14/12)

Natural Gas Production On Federal Lands Fell From 5.5 Quadrillion Btu In 2010 To 5.0 Quadrillion Btu In 2011. (“Sales Of Fossil Fuels Produced From Federal And Indian Lands, FY 2003 Through FY 2011,” Energy Information Administration, 3/14/12)

Coal Production On Federal Lands Fell From 9.6 Quadrillion Btu In 2010 To 9.5 Quadrillion Btu In 2011. (“Sales Of Fossil Fuels Produced From Federal And Indian Lands, FY 2003 Through FY 2011,” Energy Information Administration, 3/14/12)

Total Fossil Fuel Production On Federal Lands Fell From 19.9 Quadrillion Btu In 2010 To 18.6 Quadrillion Btu In 2011. (“Sales Of Fossil Fuels Produced From Federal And Indian Lands, FY 2003 Through FY 2011,” Energy Information Administration, 3/14/12)

Obama Nixed The Keystone Pipeline, Which Would Have Led The U.S. To Greater Energy Independence

“In A Politically Explosive Decision,” Obama Rejected The Keystone Pipeline, Delaying A Tough Choice Until After The November Elections. “In a politically explosive decision, President Barack Obama on Wednesday rejected plans for a massive oil pipeline through the heart of the United States, ruling there was not enough time for a fair review before a looming deadline forced on him by Republicans. His move did not kill the project but could again delay a tough choice for him until after the November elections.” (Ben Feller and Matthew Daly, “Obama Rejects Canada-Texas Oil Pipeline-For Now,” The Associated Press, 1/18/12)

“The Oil From Canada Could Ultimately Supplant Much Of The Oil The United States Imports From The Middle East And Other Unstable Regions. It Could Give The Country A Measure Of Energy Security.” (Editorial, “Pipeline Delay An Insult To Jobless,” The Detroit News, 11/14/11)

According To A State Department Report, Pipeline Is “Needed” To Maintain Supplies As Imports Decline.  “The pipeline is needed to maintain supplies of heavy crude oil to Gulf Coast refineries as imports decline, according to today’s State Department report.” (David Lerman & Jim Efstathiou Jr., “TransCanada Pipeline’s Environment Risk Limited, U.S. Finds,” Bloomberg, 8/26/11)