McCain Blasts Obama, Breaks With Bush On Energy

[FVZA_Colonel]

Source: Reuters


By Jeff Mason

KENNER, Louisiana (Reuters) - Republican John McCain launched his November election campaign for the White House on Tuesday with a searing attack on Democratic rival Barack Obama and a pledge to break with the energy policies of the Bush administration.

Declaring the primary season over, McCain, an Arizona senator who has wrapped up his party's presidential nomination, sought to grab part of the spotlight from Obama on a night when the Illinois senator became the first black to lead a major U.S. party's presidential ticket.

"He is an impressive man, who makes a great first impression," McCain said of Obama, speaking before an audience of some 600 people in a venue near New Orleans.

"But he hasn't been willing to make the tough calls, to challenge his party, to risk criticism from his supporters to bring real change to Washington. I have."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080604/ts_nm/usa_politics_mccain_dc

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So the "real change" he's promising involves one vote against Bush, and 99 with him?

[Lorien]

1. Well, at least he MENTIONS the environment

I've hardly heard a peep from Obama or HRC about the issue that deal with humankind's very EXISTENCE on this planet. They both cited ethanol and capping emissions by 2030-when both would likely be dead. Pathetic. I hope to whatever Deity anyone believes in that Obama can come up with some bold plans and real vision on the environment and renewable energy. So far: nada.I would LOVE to hear a speech on the environment that rivals his speech on race-with real plans, not just rhetoric. At least McCain is giving the issue lip service:

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, NOD TO CLINTON

"The next president must be willing to break completely with the energy policies not just of the Bush administration, but the administrations that preceded his, and lead a great national campaign to put us on a course to energy independence," McCain said to applause.

The administration preceding Bush was that of Democrat Bill Clinton.

"No problem is more urgent today than America's dependence on foreign oil," he said, adding that the problem threatened the U.S. economy, its security and the environment.

Obama has repeatedly tied McCain to Bush, but the Arizona senator turned the argument around, saying Obama had voted for an energy bill promoted by Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. McCain did not vote for the bill.

McCain also cited his plan to cut emissions and fight global warming as another area in which he has broken from Bush.

"If America is going to achieve energy independence, we need a president with a record of putting the nation's interests before the special interests of either party," McCain said. "I have that record. Senator Obama does not."

Both Obama and McCain have put forward plans that would cap U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and create an emissions trading system for factories and other big polluters. Obama has said his plan would be more effective than McCain's.

McCain, who has struggled for attention while the electorate focused on the Democratic duel between Obama and Hillary Clinton, also tipped his hat to the former first lady, with comments aimed to her women supporters, some of whom have said they would support McCain rather than Obama.

"She deserves a lot more appreciation than she sometimes received," McCain said of Clinton.

"As the father of three daughters, I owe her a debt for inspiring millions of women to believe there is no opportunity in this great country beyond their reach. I am proud to call her my friend."

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. I get the sense that Obama hasn't the slightest idea about what to

do about energy, other than to claim that some yet to be defined government agency will spend money & somehow create green jobs and new undiscovered sources of power.

[Lorien]

5. Well, I sure hope that he can find someone who does know what to do

and make it a top priority. I've mentioned this many times on DU and I never hear anything from Obama supporters that gives me any hope on the issue. Now that it looks like Primary season is over, let's pray that he has the common sense to devote a little time to the issue. Our lives depend on it.

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. The people who have any experience and money to invest are the much

reviled corporate interests. The Obama appeal seems to be focused on issues of social justice. Social justice doesn't heat houses during the winter.

[Lorien]

7. It doesn't slow this down either:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=141942&mesg_id=141942

There are people like Al Gore and a few of his colleagues who have great ideas. A massive solar farm was suggested a few months ago -93 square miles could take care of nearly all of America's energy needs, according to one scientist. Arizona wants to do it, but it would need subsidies, which our fossil fuel owned congress is loathe to spend on such a project. A national Mag Lev rail line is another idea. Obama at least needs to recognize the urgent need for real CHANGE in our approach to energy and the environment ASAP. The solutions exist, but the political will to implement them...?

[fjc]

20. Make Al Gore Energy Czar

[susankh4]

15. Maybe All Gore will spoon feed him a little?

You know... the way the rest of the good ole boys do???

[hatrack]

24. Yes, but in 2008 as in 2000, talk remains cheap

Really, really cheap. Especially when it comes with somebody with a 27% lifetime voting score from the League Of Conservation Voters, which is non-partisan.

[Lorien]

27. What disappoints me is that Democrats don't even seem to consider

it an issue worthy of talk at all. It's shameful that McCain is bringing this up before Obama. Obama has had the time to develop a bold plan for the future on the environment and energy, yet still we have nothing.

[Norrin Radd]

2. Whatever. Obama's going to wipe the floor with him during the debates.

[Frisbee]

3. I didn't think that...

I didn't think that it was possible to hate someone as much as I hate Bush/Cheney, McCain is really making me rethink that. And by the way, John, you're a fucking republican and...

A: Your party is wrong more often than not, so you should be challenging them, even though we all know you're not really.

B: Barack is a Democrat, so what is there for him to challenge with his own party? But as for change, in case you haven't been listening, (and I know you have been, that's what's scaring the shit out of you, and forcing you to find a few token challenges to the pukes), just stick around. After Barack kicks your wrinkled ass in November, you'll see change. Hell, I bet Congress even becomes a factor again. Change? Oh, it's a comin', John, it's a comin'!

[bjobotts]

8. A horrible speaker. Phony and stupid.. He could have said anything

[bjobotts]

9. Anything and that ignorant crowd would have cheered. Less than zero.

[bjobotts]

10. Kept saying Obama wants the government to do it and doesn't trust the people to do it

[bjobotts]

11. Hey Mr. wanna be dictator...the government is the people. Represent us not rule us.

[bjobotts]

12. McCain is so stupid and such a phony. "Get enthused here McCain" and his eyes get big.

Just pathetic. Arizona is getting to finally see what a phony self serving liar this guy is.

[tom_paine]

13. Just another Bushie Liar.

Did he wink while peddling this load of bullshit?

Plus, even in the bullshit, some indications present that he is just another Bushie Lair. "We must reduce dependence on foreign oil." (BY DRLLING THE SHIT OUT OF AMERIKA!)

God, these Bushie Liars make me sick.

He's lying. Like Bushler, he's lying about almost everything. Straight-shooting maverick, my ass.

[liberal N proud]

14. "sought to grab part of the spotlight from Obama"

:rofl:

I don't think there was grabbing any of Obama's spotlight last night, he is now in the history books, no matter what and last night he out-shined them all.

[Algorem]

16. "McCain's a maverick... maverick... maverick... maverick... "-MSM

[tanyev]

17. Are they referring to last night's speech? Searing?

Seriously?

[Virginia Dare]

18. The MSM will be bending over backwards, forwards,

and upside down trying to make sure this will be a close race. I'm thinking landslide victory for Obama even with their meddling.

[meow2u3]

19. McLame summed up

[Tempest]

21. Repugs not impressed with McSame's speech

Andrew Sullivan: "From the re-branded green background to the silly attempt to capitalize on Democratic divisions to the Clintonian cooptation of an Obama meme - "a leader we can believe in" - McCain's opening gambit in the general election was, in my judgment, underwhelming."

Here's Mark Levin over at National Review's The Corner: "Not to offend those who might be offended, but this speech is a mash and tough to digest. You have to get through the self-congratulatory praise of independence and commander-in-chief pose from the Senate, then you have to try to follow the inconsistency of some of his big-government ideas vs. his anti-big-government rhetoric, and his inconsistency even on his supposed strength -- the surge in Iraq vs. closing GITMO and conferring additional rights on the detainees."

Summing up GOP sentiment was prominent Republican media consultant, Alex Castellanos, speaking on CNN: "Last I checked this was not a speech-making contest, thank God."

[ryanmuegge]

26. Don't worry. They're setting him up for a "finding his voice" transformation storyline.

Even though nothing will actually change, he'll make "steady improvements from his dreadful speech on June 3rd," and by October, he'll be the greatest public speaker in the world. He'll be compared with MLK, Jr., JFK, and traditional oratory greats. Just watch.

[Tempest]

28. And while they're doing that

The rest of America will be seeing McSame as the doddering old fool he is and wonder what the hell they're talking about.

[ryanmuegge]

29. We'll see, but the media's storylines have proven to be effective in influencing public opinion.

Kerry the flip-flopper, Bush the master debater, Obama the charismatic, youthful, brilliant orator (which is actually true, but Obama would not have been nearly as well known out of the gate if not for the media coverage), Obama the black-separatist, anti-semitic elitist, an Hillary "finding her voice" in New Hampshire, Bush the likable master of the townhall meeting, McCain the moderate maverick, a few notable examples.

These things carry strong resonance with people who are NOT political junkies. They hear these little bits that are repeated over and over again and accept them.

[LynnTheDem]

22. Real change = continue the bush regime's policies.

Don't think so, mcnuts.

[Supersedeas]

23. laughable -- will this be the media coverage of McBush's grinning speech

[ryanmuegge]

25. No specifics? I'm tired of your hopeful, empty platitiudes, McCain.

You're going to break with him on energy? How? Yeah, that's what I thought.

Nobody wants to really touch the energy issue because they know we're all fucked, especially the Republicans.

How come the media hasn't touched McCain's specifics on health care? You'd think most people would be interested to know that a candidate wants to end employer-sponsored health care and replace it with a $5,000 (for married couples) tax credit to buy private insurance. No, that's something that Wall Street and their propaganda outlets at FOX, MSNBC, and CNN want to barely talk about through the election and then pass in the middle of the night after McCain's elected with no debate, just like they used to do in the good old days like 2001-2005.