Opinion: Oppose Drilling = Lost Election

[Possumpoint]

This is a soft spot in the position taken by the Democratic Party and Obama. A majority of American voters want relief of any kind at the cost of fuel. They will vote for relief above other issues. The appeal of price relief given by additional drilling will over ride environmental considerations. Even if there won't be an immediate benefit given the appeal is there.

Obama may be taking the high road and his goals are desirable. However, opposition to additional drilling will cost too many votes. Wake up and change this position. The Democratic talking point of the oil companies having all these leases that they don't use rings hallow. We have no way of knowing if there is oil there, the companies may feel like there is little possibility. Who knows? At election time symbolism means much. Bite the bullet or else.

[liberal N proud]

1. God, America is stupid

STUPID, STUPID, STUPID, STUPID, STUPID, STUPID, STUPID

[Cary]

5. Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people.

:(

[Hubert Flottz]

2. Sandy beaches and clean water...

Who the f?ck needs it!

[JeffR]

3. Except that additional drilling will not bring price relief.

That's the point. This is a lie being propagated by Big Oil and the GOP, and Obama and other Democrats are simply making the point that Americans are being lied to.

Yes, people want relief, but they don't like being conned.

[Possumpoint]

4. Agreed

except that the message that the American people are being lied to is lost in the noise. Either accent that point with ironclad points or give up.

[comtec]

7. You're assuming the average american will ever learn or find that truth out

it's too inconvenient, and will be denied by the oil companies as fast as Al Gore was "disproved" by the conservatives round the globe 'fueled' by the oil companies.

All Obama needs to say is it's a bad idea, but WHEN in office he will consider it.

BING he's in office "I considered it.. and it's a bad idea that will not bring relief." issue dead.

[RNdaSilva]

10. Don't like being conned?

But they are and too many are believing the con job.

Being conned about a Gas Tax Holiday, off-shore drilling, etc., etc.

[Liberal In Texas]

15. That's why we need glib catch phrases; bumper sticker messages, soundbites in short sentences.

Unfortunately, the majority of Americans need catch phrases to "sell" them, just like they get to buy soft drinks or laundry powder.

We Dems aren't very good at that.

[AndyA]

6. Obama and the Democrats need to confront McSame and the GOP about the

fact that the domestic drilling the GOP wants will not lower prices. They need to hammer that as loud and hard as they can.

MoveOn.org is going to run a new ad about it, and the ad calls the GOP/McSame stance a "gimmick." Which is exactly what it is. Donate to MoveOn to get that ad on the air ASAP!

[taterguy]

8. The problem is that the alternative to drilling is to not drive so much

And no one ever won an election asking people to inconvenience themselves.

[RNdaSilva]

11. There are leased properties that haven't yet been tapped.

[taterguy]

14. But when they get tapped we'll still need more oil

So as long as autos are the dominant mode of transportation in this country, drilling makes sense.

[bowens43]

9. Drilling does not equal relief

[DailyGrind51]

12. Remember the 2005 Energy Bill? It was promoted by Republicans

who promised it would reduce gasoline prices. How'd that one work? Obama needs to remind voters that Republicans don't care about what is good for them, but what is going to put money in the hands of "Big Oil", and he needs to repeat it over and over until it sticks!

[mdmc]

13. yup

:(

[ejbr]

16. How about this?

Obama, and surrogates, need to ask a simple hypothetical question: Is it possible that the oil companies, with the help of Republican policies, raised the price of gas to such a degree that Americans are now being extorted into bending to their will of drilling offshore, something that would never have been considered with reasonable gas prices? Can't we explore this possibility and how to rectify this type of coercion?

[annabanana]

17. Ridiculous. . WHO is going to do this drilling? Oh, yeah - exxon...

And exactly WHAT are they going to do with this oil? GIVE it to AMERICA??? Are you fucking kidding me???

They are going to sell it to whoever has the most MONEY. hmmmm ... let's see .... maybe the SAUDIS. . or the CHINESE. .


HOW DUMB DO THEY THINK WE ARE???

[MadHound]

18. Then gee, rather than once again kowtowing to Corporate America

Perhaps Obama should go out and actually explain the drawbacks about offshore drilling, like how it wont effect our supply for ten years, how we won't see more than a few cents off the price even when it does come online.

Rather than continuing to bend over to Corporate America, Obama and the Democrats need to stand up to them. Sorry, but sacrificing our environment for political gain is obscene, especially when just a modicum of effort on Obama's part would negate both offshore drilling and the threat to his candidacy.