Obama shifts, says he may back offshore drilling

[Howzit]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080801/ap_on_el_pr/obama

"ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Friday he would be willing to support limited additional offshore oil drilling if that's what it takes to enact a comprehensive policy to foster fuel-efficient autos and develop alternate energy sources.

Shifting from his previous opposition to expanded offshore drilling, the Illinois senator told a Florida newspaper he could get behind a compromise with Republicans and oil companies to prevent gridlock over energy.

Republican rival John McCain, who earlier dropped his opposition to offshore drilling, has been criticizing Obama on the stump and in broadcast ads for clinging to his opposition as gasoline prices topped $4 a gallon. Polls indicate these attacks have helped McCain gain ground on Obama.

"My interest is in making sure we've got the kind of comprehensive energy policy that can bring down gas prices," Obama said in an interview with The Palm Beach Post."


A man for all seasons?

[FrenchieCat]

1. Take that AP title and stick it where the sun doesn't shine.

Too bad you didn't actualy quote but one of his sentences.

Or are we supposed to be as stupid as you?

:eyes:

[VADem11]

2. Thank you

The AP is shilling for McCain. Where was their headline when McCain reversed his position?

[Howzit]

6. I quoted the Yahoo headline and the first 4 paragraphs of the article

that is it.

[Epiphany4z]

3. He has said

maybe some limited drilling may be ok..on land they already have the leases to.

[glowing]

4. And he and all Dems have said this.. He says it in his town hall meetings

They have 66,000 acres they haven't developed yet.. go develop those first and work on getting off oil all together... duh.. Now the spin machine is on.. and you know what will happen.. another stupid attack commercial on Monday.

[margotb822]

7. 68 million acres

Not that they won't be used, but they aren't currently.

http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/are_the_democrats_correct_in_stating_that.html

[glowing]

8. oops I'm low on my numbers..

but that was the gist of the what he was saying. you can't trust these local reporters who'd like to move on too much.

[margotb822]

9. I think 68 mil is even more significant

the local press always goofs it up, especially when the truth is beneficial to dems!

[depakid]

5. From what I read, he looks to be siding with the so called "gang of 10"

Obama dropped his blanket opposition to any expansion of offshore drilling and signaled support for a bipartisan "compromise" in Congress aimed at breaking a deadlock on energy that includes limited drilling.

Obama endorsed the efforts of a bipartisan group of 10 U.S. senators who unveiled legislation on Friday to increase domestic oil production and expand conservation and efforts to develop alternative energy.

The bill would require the government to open additional areas in the Gulf of Mexico for development and would allow drilling off the coasts of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia if those states give permission.

A commission would be created to recommend areas to be opened for leasing in the future. Offshore production would still only be allowed 50 miles from the shore, and all the new oil produced would have to be used domestically.

"I welcome today's bipartisan effort as an important step in the process of reducing our dangerous dependence on foreign oil," Obama said in a statement.

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0140632620080802?sp=true
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Seems to me he didn't have much choice, because he was backstabbed by his own party yet again, after they abandoned their half hearted attempt to regulate oil futures speculation.

[skids]

10. Basically an attempt at ju-jitsu...

The Rs don't really care about offshore drilling, they are just using it as a political club to beat Ds up with.

Obama is basically trying to show that the Rs are standing in the way of funding renewable incentives, because they will oppose those incentives in any compromise legislation. Turning it into a political club with which to beat the Rs.

Until the votes are counted it's all politics.