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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2008 > July > 22 > Entry
Eye on Ohio: John McCain ‘Pump’ ad
By Jessica Wehrman
Dayton Daily News
The ad: “Pump,” 30 seconds.
Producer: The McCain campaign.
Where to see it: Airing in key states, such as Ohio, and on national cable. View it at DaytonDailyNews.com/eyeonohio.
Script: Female announcer: Gas prices — $4, $5, no end in sight, because some in Washington are still saying no to drilling in America. No to independence from foreign oil. Who can you thank for rising prices at the pump?
Chant: Obama, Obama!
Announcer: One man knows we must now drill more in America and rescue our family budgets. Don’t hope for more energy. Vote for it. McCain.
John McCain: I’m John McCain, and I approve this message.
Video: The ad starts with images of a lone gas pump, then flashes between the image of the pump and the pump’s price skyrocketing. It then superimposes a picture of a grinning Barack Obama at the pump as its price soars. Then the ad cuts to shots of McCain talking to crowds.
Analysis: The political battle on how to solve the energy crisis has intensifed the debate about whether to increase domestic oil production. Obama opposes lifting the moratorium on offshore drilling; McCain supports lifting it.
McCain supported the moratorium during his 2000 presidential campaign, but changed course in mid-June. He still opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
According to Bob Ebel of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the high price of oil is spurred by a number of factors, among them booming economies in India and China and geopolitical problems in oil-producing countries such as Nigeria and Venezuela. He said that while there’s no one “silver bullet” to bring prices down, an increase in supply could help. But ending the moratorium would not produce new oil for at least five to seven years. And other factors — speculators, OPEC, geopolitical forces — might still impact prices.
Similarly, a report by the Energy Information Administration released last year projected that drilling in the Pacific, Atlantic or eastern Gulf regions “would not have a significant impact on domestic crude oil and natural gas production or prices before 2030.”
That report indicated that because oil prices are determined on the international market, impact on prices “is expected to be insignificant.” That agency falls under the jurisdiction of President George W. Bush, who himself called for lifting the moratorium last week.
Obama and McCain have decried America’s dependence on foreign oil; the two differ on where to go from there. Besides more drilling, McCain supports expanded use of nuclear energy and investing in alternative energy. Obama would invest $150 billion over 10 years to advance the next generation of biofuels and fuel infrastructure, as well as double fuel-efficiency standards within 18 years.
One particular line in the ad is laughable: When the announcer asks, “Who can you thank for rising prices at the pump?” the crowd chants Obama’s name. McCain on July 7 delivered a speech in which he said the nation’s dependence on foreign oil was “30 years in the making.”
Jessica Wehrman is the Washington correspondent for the Dayton Daily News.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Eye on Ohio
Comments
By mwm
July 23, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
With McCain using scare tactic ads about oil, when he is as guilty as any long term member of congress of ignoring the public and courting the lobbyists. (Keating 5 included!) More drilling equates to oil company subsidies. Nuclear plants equate to money going to Bechtel and Halliburton; It is a con… Any continued energy bill presented by the Republicans is just a continuation of advancing the weath of Republicans in congress and their lobbyist bed partners. Take the oil company subsidies and put it to good use… Alternaive energy programs. Forget the fear and lies of the neocon agenda. And, don’t use oil as a weapon. One thing that has brought down the price at the pumps is lower demand… Not ranting by some Republican senator. Or, boondogle trips by some Republican representative.By TRS
July 22, 2008 9:32 PM | Link to this
Currently there are wells that were capped prior to the ban which will begin to bring oil in 2 years, new wells in 7 to 10 years. As for alternative energies, what date can you give me that alternative energies will be usable?????????. Exactly what date will the technology come out of the lab? What year will the distribution system be in place? Who do you propose will pay for the replacement vehicles or conversions of existing ones? Oil already has all these in place - they just need the go ahead to pursue new reserves and development them. The Democrats are asking us to buy a pig in a poke vs a sure thing. If anyone is joined at the hip it is the Democrats and the “Big Environmentalists”. Scarring us? How about the “Chicken Little” sky is falling environmentalists, hanging their hats on science which is highly disputed and telling us the world is coming to an end if we don’t listen to Al Gore. To coin a phrase, the “environmentalist mafia” and their partners, “big law” hold this country hostage and have for years. This is a great country with innovative people. It only makes sense to go after the sure thing as well as develop the new technologies. We can do it all and should. At present the only thing precluding us from doing that is those that favor “big government”.By mwm
July 22, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this
Neither candidate can do anything to lower gas prices in the near future. Drilling new wells will not produce any benefits for a decade or more…if ever! Alternative energy technology will take government subsidies to be attainable. Solution would be to cut of oil company subsidies and put the money into alternative energy development and implementation. The ONLY reason the Republicans want extended well drilling is to continue oil company subsidies…. The oil company lobbyists and the Republicans are locked at the hips. (hopefully they use protection against STD’s) Currently, the Republican neocon mafia is attempting to scare the public for votes… Sound familiar? But this time, it is lies about oil instead of using lies to start wars. Remember Bush is an oil man.. And Cheney is part of an energy conglomerate. The next thing the republicans will pull is “Swift Boat Veterans for Oil Wells” The Republican party is nothing more than organized crime, with an idiot at the helm.By ME
July 22, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
Well it seems to me that since Bush lifted the Presidential ban on off shore drilling gas prices are down—why does not the Media report this fact? Sure there are market considerations but almost instantly once his announcement was made down went gas prices. To me,Republicans seem to be able to do something about gas prices more than Reid,Pelosi or Obama combined If Obama was responsible for gas pricing going down he would be the next savior.