So-Called Energy Expert Sarah Palin Doesn’t Know How Much Energy Her State Produces

[ProSense]

So-Called Energy Expert Sarah Palin Doesn’t Know How Much Energy Her State Produces

On Wednesday, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) defended Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s “experience does she have in the field of national security” by asserting that “she knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States of America.” McCain’s claim to Palin’s expertise was undercut the next day, however, when Palin severely overstated Alaska’s energy production in an interview with ABC News’s Charlie Gibson.

Challenged by Gibson on her “national security credentials,” Palin cited her experience as the governor of a “state that produces nearly 20 percent of the U.S. domestic supply of energy” as a credential that she “brings to the table“:

PALIN: Let me speak specifically about a credential that I do bring to this table, Charlie, and that’s with the energy independence that I’ve been working on for these years as the governor of this state that produces nearly 20 percent of the U.S. domestic supply of energy, that I worked on as chairman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, overseeing the oil and gas development in our state to produce more for the United States.

Watch it:

(http://thinkprogress.org/2008/09/13/palin-alaska-energy/">Palin makes false claims about Alaska's energy output)

But, as the non-partisan FactCheck.org points out, Palin’s claim about Alaska producing 20 percent of America’s domestic energy supply is “not true. Not even close.” In fact, “Alaska’s share of domestic energy production was 3.5 percent.”

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[bluethruandthru]

1. Palin wouldn't know the truth

if it bit her on the ass!

[patrice]

2. I hope Biden corners her on this.

[ProSense]

6. On everything, that is

if she is still in the race.

[Kutjara]

3. Of course she's an energy expert...

...she fuels her own car, doesn't she? That's about on a par with the amount of "executive" experience and "foreign relations" experience she has. Good to see ol' Mooselini is such a polymath.

[TransitJohn]

4. Yeah, that statement was obviously bullshit

I mean, my state of Wyoming produces like a third of the U.S.'s coal, and we're 3rd or 4th in oil, and 2nd in natural gas, so we've got Alaska beat.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

5. Question. How much of that energy production goes to the US or is it sold to the highest bidder?