Log In | Register
32 Comments
PrintAnalysis: McCain's claims skirt facts, test voters
Thu Sep 11, 2008 6:55 PM EDT
advertisement
The "Straight Talk Express" has detoured into doublespeak.
Republican presidential nominee John McCain, a self-proclaimed tell-it-like-it-is maverick, keeps saying his running mate, Sarah Palin, killed the federally funded Bridge to Nowhere when, in fact, she pulled her support only after the project became a political embarrassment. He said Friday that Palin never asked for money for lawmakers' pet projects as Alaska governor, even though she has sought nearly $200 million in earmarks this year. He says Obama would raise nearly everyone's taxes, when independent groups say 80 percent of families would get tax cuts instead.
Even in a political culture accustomed to truth-stretching, McCain's skirting of facts has stood out this week. It has infuriated and flustered Obama's campaign, and campaign pros are watching to see how much voters disregard news reports noting factual holes in the claims.
McCain's persistence in pushing dubious claims is all the more notable because many political insiders consider him one of the greatest living victims of underhanded campaigning. Locked in a tight race with George W. Bush for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, McCain was rocked in South Carolina by a whisper campaign claiming he had fathered an illegitimate black child and was mentally unstable.
Shaken by the experience, McCain denounced less-than-truthful campaigning. Vowing to live up to his "straight talk" motto, he apologized for his reluctance to criticize the flying of the Confederate flag at South Carolina's state Capitol in a bid for votes. When the so-called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth attacked the military record of Democrat and fellow Navy officer John Kerry in 2004, McCain called the ads "dishonest and dishonorable."
Now, top aides to McCain include Steve Schmidt, who has close ties to Karl Rove, Bush's premier political adviser in 2000.
Politicians usually modify or drop claims when a string of newspaper and TV news accounts concludes they are untrue or greatly exaggerated. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, for example, conceded she had not come under sniper fire in Bosnia after a batch of debunking articles subjected her to scorn during her primary contest against Obama.
But McCain and his running mate Palin, the Alaska governor, were defiant this week in the face of similar reports. Day after day she said she had told Congress "no thanks" to the so-called Bridge to Nowhere, a rural Alaska project that was abandoned when critics challenged its costs and usefulness. For nearly a week, major news outlets had documented that Palin supported the bridge when running for governor in 2006, noting that she turned against it only after it became an object of ridicule in Alaska and a symbol of Congress's out-of-control earmarking.
The McCain-Palin campaign made at least three other aggressive claims this week that omitted key details or made dubious assumptions to criticize Obama. It equated lawmakers' requests for money for special projects with corruption, even though Palin has sought millions of dollars in such "earmarks" this year.
It produced an Internet ad implying that Obama had called Palin a pig when he used a familiar phrase, which McCain also has used, about putting "lipstick on a pig" to try to make a bad situation look better. McCain supporters said Obama was slyly alluding to Palin's description of herself as a pit bull in lipstick, but there was nothing in his remarks to support the claim. Obama accused the GOP campaign of "lies and phony outrage."
The lipstick wars were fully engaged when the McCain campaign produced another ad saying Obama favored "comprehensive sex education" for kindergartners. The charge triggered the sort of headlines becoming increasingly common in major newspapers and wire services monitoring the factual content of political ads and speeches.
"Ad on Sex Education Distorts Obama Policy," was the headline on a New York Times article Thursday. "McCain's 'Education' Spot is Dishonest, Deceptive," The Washington Post's "Fact Checker" article said.
Major news outlets have written such fact-checking articles for years. "But in the last two election cycles, the very notion that the facts matter seems to be under assault," said Michael X. Delli Carpini, an authority on political ads at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication. "Candidates and their consultants seem to have learned that as long as you don't back down from your charges or claims, they will stick in the minds of voters regardless of their accuracy or at a minimum, what the truth is will remain murky, a matter of opinion rather than fact."
With Palin giving McCain's campaign a boost in the polls, Obama supporters are nervously watching to see what impact the latest claims will have. Surveys already show that most people believe Obama would raise their taxes — a regular McCain claim — even though independent groups such as the Tax Policy Center concluded that four out of five U.S. households would receive tax cuts under his proposals.
McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds defended the campaign's statements. "We include factual backup in every one of our TV spots," he said Thursday.
Obama, of course, has made exaggerated or questionable assertions as well. Earlier this year, for instance, he repeated a claim that more black men are in prison than in college, after news accounts refuted it. He also used a McCain remark about having troops in Iraq for "100 years" to exaggerate McCain's proposals for being fully engaged militarily in that country.
In general, however, Obama has been quicker to react to news accounts challenging his accuracy. Faced with skeptical reports this year, for instance, he stopped saying he "worked his way" through college, and instead credited hard work and scholarships.
Dan Schnur, a former McCain aide who now teaches politics at the University of Southern California, said McCain and Obama learned they must stretch the truth "when staying on the high road didn't work out to their benefit."
McCain, he said, "tried it his way. He had a poverty tour and nobody covered it. He had a national service tour, and everybody made fun of it. He proposed these joint town halls" with Obama, "and nothing come of it. Through the spring and early summer, that approach didn't work. You can't blame him for taking a step back and reassessing."
___
EDITOR'S NOTE — Charles Babington covers national politics for The Associated Press.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
18 Votes- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
Published to:
- Charles Babington's Column, All of Newsvine
- Groups: none
- Regions: United States , Iraq
 | AP: The "Straight Talk Express" Has Detoured Into Doublespeak | Newsday.com | Fri Sep 12 | 1 |
| McCain's claims skirt facts, test voters | Associated Press - Google | Fri Sep 12 | 0 |
 | Obama ratchets up counterattacks on McCain | Associated Press | Fri Sep 12 | 99 |
 | McCain Camp continue to make SCURRILIOUS, False and distorted Ad's against Barack Obama. | Ted-Zee-Man | Thu Sep 11 | 3 |
| How to lie to the public and get away with it: the sordid tale of Obama and his media. | politicalcenter | Wed Sep 10 | 53 |
- Public Discussion (32)
What's this?
Who's leading the conversation?
This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user
has on the current conversation.
The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd
row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera).
Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group
is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the
left, in their corresponding group.
Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the
number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative
one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their
relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.
9.2
4.2
1.0
{"commentId":2889362,"authorDomain":"earldgray"}
Actually, You can do your own fact checking these days. Especially useful for the growing trend of Trolls posting bogus information numerous times on blogs and in email campaigns
The reputable news sites, CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC are goo bets for fact based "articles" for a simple reason. They are classified by the FCC as news. If they make a statement that is found to be untrue, they have to retract it publicly. Which they do occasionally. All news sites are NOT created equal. There are many "fringe" think tank sites out there. Be careful what you believe, even if the site looks slick.
The following sites are good for checking facts, bio's, statistics, and rumors, etc.
www factcheck org
www snopes com
www govtrack org
www wikipedia com
www senate gov
www who org
Remember folks, anybody can post on a blog, send an email, put up a web site, or upload something to Youtube.
TRUTH/ISSUES 08
{"commentId":2889362,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"earldgray"}
- 6 votes
#1 - Thu Sep 11, 2008 7:24 PM EDT{"commentId":2889378,"authorDomain":"earldgray"}
PS: If anyone else has good fact checking/information sites, let me know.
{"commentId":2889378,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"earldgray"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":2889904,"authorDomain":"tappymcwidestance"}
Politifact is good, although sometimes their ratings seem to defy logic.
{"commentId":2889904,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"tappymcwidestance"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2889688,"authorDomain":"CCS"}
McCain, he said, "tried it his way. He had a poverty tour and nobody covered it. He had a national service tour, and everybody made fun of it. He proposed these joint town halls" with Obama, "and nothing come of it. Through the spring and early summer, that approach didn't work. You can't blame him for taking a step back and reassessing."
Oh poor baby, maybe he should realize that he (not his ideas, the person) should not be President. There was a time when the press loved McCain, that time has passed. He's basically selling his soul for the presidency.
{"commentId":2889688,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"CCS"}
- 4 votes
#2 - Thu Sep 11, 2008 7:43 PM EDT{"commentId":2890073,"authorDomain":"newbroom"}
as you know.....nothing about a political campaign actually displays the reality of the candidate....sure....JMc has fibbed and fudged here and there.....don't we all?....JMc may have attempted to schmeer his opponent with scurrilous political ads....or even used his position to manipulate law enforcement....but seriously, it isn't about JMc or Palin....it IS about the Republican Money Monster....and if JMc is elected, we can expect a continuation of the exploitation of America's most vital resources by the havemores. Since displacing Democrats in the Executive office in 2000, the GOP has built an expressway for Taxpayer dollars and so called profit to flow to the favored few of us who amass wealth at the expense of the majority. I don't think it a given, despite Bush's unpopularity, that the GOP will vacate The Office in January.
{"commentId":2890073,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"newbroom"}
- 2 votes
#3 - Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:07 PM EDT{"commentId":2890445,"authorDomain":"chulajones"}
{"commentId":2890614,"authorDomain":"CCS"}
Why are you being so extreme? Obama is completely against handouts. He wants to reform the programs that have separated work from wages. He wants to stop programs that only benefit some Americans. He doesn't want socialized medicine.
To elaborate, since you won't bother to do your own research.
He doesn't like welfare as is. He wants to have a program that provides day care in all low income neighborhoods so that mothers can actually hold down jobs and either get off welfare or rise out of poverty. That isn't a racial issue, that's an American issue.
He doesn't want to to outreach programs towards young black men who are ex-cons. He wants programs that provide jobs to all ex-cons to reduce recidivism. The program he suggests pays for itself in the money it saves from not having to re-incarcerate these men.
Socialized medicine and universal health care are completely different. I've done my research on the differences. You should do the same.
Just three examples of how wrong you are.
{"commentId":2890614,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"CCS"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":2893568,"authorDomain":"rdonaldsnyder"}
mike-473263
SPAM
{"commentId":2893568,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"rdonaldsnyder"}
{"commentId":2890381,"authorDomain":"jackNew"}
@ AnotherAverageJoe
Agreed, to a point. You missed the underlying argument of the article: the target audience of McCain's attack ads. That group will NEVER check the facts, but will believe what they see on the 'magic tube.' That includes lies and distortions. It has worked before (e.g. Bush's smear campaign agsainst McCain).
"Surveys already show that most people believe Obama would raise their taxes — a regular McCain claim — even though independent groups such as the Tax Policy Center concluded that four out of five U.S. households would receive tax cuts under his proposals."
See?
{"commentId":2890381,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"jackNew"}
- 3 votes
#4 - Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:27 PM EDT{"commentId":2933513,"authorDomain":"earldgray"}
@ bigtoesJack
I actually do agree with you 1000%
These lies and smears are the bain of modern elections, and in spite of the swiftboat ads, this election seems to be no different. In fact, I see it as worse, since the strategy seems to be to use a lie "machine gun" rather than a rifle.... With Obama unwilling to stoop to McCains level, he is at a disadvantage, because the media re being used, by some cunning but ruthless strategists (Rove proteges' in the republican camp
The only hope we have is to get it out here "first" and let the News outlets pick it up. That of course, and giving to the most "truthful" campaign.
Hopefully the media won't be gun shy from all of the "liberal media" accusations, to do the job they need to do, which is to get the truth out, rather than let the talking heads from each side regurgitate talking points for two minutes. Unfortunately, that is more often what happens.
By doing ONLY that, they do a HUGE dis-service to the public by actually making lies profitable.
Example:
Accusation: Your candidate is the devil!!!
Talking head 1: No he isn't
Talking head 2: Yes he is
Next segment.....
{"commentId":2933513,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"earldgray"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2890466,"authorDomain":"chulajones"}
{"commentId":2891002,"authorDomain":"rdonaldsnyder"}
The McCain campaign seems to be engaged in one giant social experiment. They seem to be determined to see just how many and how egregious lies they can get away before the American people vomit in disgust. Call it the Rove Effect Experiment. They want to determine exactly how stupid are the American people and how low they have to sink before the people wake up and realize that they're being lied to. I'm waiting for McCain and Palin to claim that Barack Obama is actually from another planet. You know if they said it you can believe the bulk of their supporters, including many who post on this blog, would buy the lie hook, line and sinker.
{"commentId":2891002,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"rdonaldsnyder"}
- 2 votes
#6 - Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:08 PM EDT{"commentId":2894978,"authorDomain":"two-sage"}
As Mencken said: No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people.
I'm afraid that conservatives have so sullied the idea of journalism (reducing it all to matters of opinion) that this devious experiment just might work. I mean, I saw Glenn Beck and two conservative guests going crazy about the lipstick on a pig, and if that happened to be the only show you saw about it, you would really believe Obama had called her a pig. The journalistic media is the one being hurt most by the GOP, and because of that, the public is losing democracy's only true champion.
{"commentId":2894978,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"two-sage"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2912601,"authorDomain":"gabby3239"}
no body in this country is immune to the truth, while I agree with you that the right wing will support Palin even if she is caught dirty in trooper gate because they have supported the liar in chief for all the lies he told about taking this nation to war. But the right wing cannot elect Palin without independents and moderates and that is where she is vulnerable because those people know that this country can't withstand 4 more years of lies and investigations and cronyism. But most importantly other than the real die hard white racist you cant convince most people in America that the Republican Party is or has been good for America for the last 8 years as the American economy is in shambles and most of the American people know that fake slogans and happy talk wont pay the mortgage, car note, put grocery on the table, and empty slogans definitely wont fill up your gas tank or keep your lights on or your home warm. I understand the game of politics but the truth of the matter is that we have had 8 years of Republican incompetence and if in this election we sign up for 4 more years of Republican leadership I fear the terrorist will have won the war which was launched at and hit our economy. The Republicans seem to forget that the terrorist attacked our economy not our freedoms. George Bush and the Republican Party done that. But what the terrorist attacked was the World Trade Center in the heart of our most important Financial Center. And 7 years later our economy is still suffering, so although the Republicans want us to think that Iraq or even Afghanistan are the central fronts in the War on Terror, our economy was and still is the central target of Bin Laden and the terrorist and the truth is they hit a bulls eye on their first strike while our ineffective Republican President and his Republican Party have spent 7 years and 1 trillion dollars on 2 foreign wars killing people who live in mud huts and caves yet still to this day haven't killed the 2 men responsible for the greatest act of war perpetrated on the American people. I am just a regular guy but I know a lie and bullshxt when I hear it and that's all the Republican Party led by George Bush had and John McCain has to sell to the American people are lies and bullshxt
{"commentId":2912601,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"gabby3239"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2891951,"authorDomain":"scg-llc"}
I watched the news story of Senator McCain, his wife, Obama, and the Mayor at Ground Zero of the WTC. They were given a flower to place upon the site showing respect and remembrance. Senator and Mrs. McCain respectfully knelt or bent over to gently place the flower upon the others at the site. Then I was absolutely appalled, angered, and ashamed to see Obama simply toss his flower on the pile like it was a piece of garbage going into a garbage can. His actions showed his total disrespect for all of those lives lost, the family, friends, and the entire United States left behind to grieve their loss. This is just another instance of his true feelings and commitment to our country. What an absolute shame to have this type action and disrespect seen across the world and be representative of our country.
{"commentId":2891951,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"scg-llc"}
#7 - Thu Sep 11, 2008 10:22 PM EDT{"commentId":2892029,"authorDomain":"kaicrrll"}
You need to lay off the hallucinogens when watching tv. So your going to make your decision based on how Obama laid down his flower.?!?!? You must be one of those "informed voters" we hear so much about.
{"commentId":2892029,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"kaicrrll"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":2892452,"authorDomain":"newbroom"}
Did you see any flag pins on their lapels?
{"commentId":2892452,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"newbroom"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2892759,"authorDomain":"rdonaldsnyder"}
Kc77
Confucius say: "Waste not your wisdom or words upon trolls."
{"commentId":2892759,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"rdonaldsnyder"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":2894984,"authorDomain":"two-sage"}
Hey Dennis: Old Man's arms don't move. If they did, we would have seen him wave them over his head to try to get more attention for himself. "I'm respecting the dead, I'm patriotic."
McCain voted against increasing funding for firefighters and first responders after 9/11. That's not patriotism we can believe in.
{"commentId":2894984,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"two-sage"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":2895255,"authorDomain":"Cerus"}
FYI - It's customary and respectful in Hawaii to toss flowers, or a lei of flowers into the sea after the ashes of the deceased have been scattered there. It's also customary to do the same at a grave-sight. This is an act of "Aloha Oe" which means "Fondest Farewell". Since Obama was raised in Hawaii, which has a rich and diverse history of melding customs and traditions from people all over the world, Obama was in fact acting as a proper representative from the United States and in particular the 50th State. I'm sure people "across the world" will "get it" even if you don't.
{"commentId":2895255,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"Cerus"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":2904454,"authorDomain":"peek-a-boo-2"}
Thank you for your comment.
{"commentId":2904454,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"peek-a-boo-2"}
{"commentId":2892712,"authorDomain":"scg-llc"}
Kc77 stated: "You need to lay off the hallucinogens when watching tv. So your going to make your decision based on how Obama laid down his flower.?!?!? You must be one of those "informed voters" we hear so much about. "
==================================================================================
Obviously, your comments may suggest that you feel his actions were appropriate. I base my decisions on the overall actions of individuals based upon their comments, personal and professional actions, and history. They are not based on spontaneous outbursts, misspelled words, improper punctuation, and speaking of mind altering substances while watching television. Yet, you did get one of your comments almost correct. I am an informed voter, but I am not sure who the "we" is that you are referring to.
{"commentId":2892712,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"scg-llc"}
#8 - Thu Sep 11, 2008 11:16 PM EDT{"commentId":2922453,"authorDomain":"kaicrrll"}
Dennis, until you can actually look at both candidates objectively, I fail to see the need to debate with you. So far the only thing I can see is that you took a long time to double check your punctuation.
{"commentId":2922453,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"kaicrrll"}
{"commentId":2895381,"authorDomain":"tothiro"}
Some information is less accurate than other... I don't see how your one and only point (the physical posture of someone paying respect at a tragedy site) can be used to support any of the claims and future predictions you go on to make.
When my Grandmother's ashes were scattered we didn't "gently place" them on the mountain. If you're saying I have a problem with my Grandmother's memory you and I can take this to the level which Fox news operates and I promise I can bring it better than anyone.
I base my decisions on the overall actions of individuals based upon their comments, personal and professional actions, and history.
Do you? Because that's what I've done.
My family and friends have served in the military. My best friend lost his girlfriend in the WTC attack. I have another friend that almost died there that day. Bush is a Godless bastard. McCain has sold his soul (how about that refusal of funds for emergency responders following 9/11? Cat got his tongue?). Giuliani has exploited the memory of the dead victims and their families for his own gain every time he makes a press statement. How dare they? How dare they?
They're lying - almost everything they've said is a lie - proven, documented factually a lie. They can't even respond but to lie again, lies upon lies and hope the whole steaming pile blots out the facts. They lie about Obama - Trying to smear his image and an entire world religion by lying about his faith and insinuating he's a terrorist!? They lie about themselves - McCain has changed every position he held for a vote and Palin is a thief and a liar - she's ignorant and incapable of performing the duty of Vice President.
McCain and Palin are acting as terrorists because the only hope they have of winning is through fear and they will do continued harm to our country. How dare they?
Those that lie, those that spread the lies and those that adamantly remain ignorant are spitting on the graves and memory of the 3,000 victims of the attacks and the 4,000 dead servicemen and women in Iraq.
I went to sign up as a volunteer today. I left my name and information and will have to serve another day because you know what isn't happening today? Barack Obama's campaign offices are not calling, not canvasing neighborhoods, not talking to voters out of respect for the day - Sept. 11th.
What did you do? You posted an internet message about a candidate's ability and dedication based on some petty presumption you made siting only his placing of a flower as your guiding principle.
Wake up.
I believe in my country, I am an American and respect those that died.
That's one reason among many that I am voting whole heartedly for Obama.
{"commentId":2895381,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"tothiro"}
- 3 votes
#9 - Fri Sep 12, 2008 6:35 AM EDT{"commentId":2898619,"authorDomain":"QACoach"}
Right on, Quality!!
{"commentId":2898619,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"QACoach"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2933548,"authorDomain":"earldgray"}
MAN!!
I AM THERE WITH YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ENOUGH!!!!
PS: The capitols are on purpose. In this case I AM shouting...
{"commentId":2933548,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"earldgray"}
{"commentId":2897022,"authorDomain":"schatell"}
Why should people be surprised that John McCain (who is now using Karl Rove as a campaign advisor--along with his large crew of lobbyists) would stoop to using negative and deceptive tactics in his current campaign just because they were used against him previously? He CAVED ON TORTURE under the Bush administration--despite being the only member of Congress who had ever personally experienced it. IMHO, he lost ALL credibility at that point, and nothing he can do afterward will ever regain it.
{"commentId":2897022,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"schatell"}
- 1 vote
#10 - Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:02 AM EDT{"commentId":2898738,"authorDomain":"QACoach"}
What I love is the title of this AP article:
Analysis: McCain's claims skirt facts, test voters
{"commentId":2898738,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"QACoach"}
- 2 votes
#11 - Fri Sep 12, 2008 11:46 AM EDT{"commentId":2902887,"authorDomain":"westrm"}
Well, lets take McCain's offshore drill here, drill policy for example:
With hurricane Ike heading into the Houston area, many oil and natural gas rigs are in harms way, in addition to nine of Americas few operational oil refineries are exposed to natural disaster beyond our control.
Gas prices are already fluctuating and hurricane Ike hasn't hit yet.
McCain also wants to drill off the west coast of the United States, which is a known earthquake zone prone to pacific Tsunamis as well. Drilling is not the answer, we need a race to the moon type effort immediately. Not a prize award for who in private industry can create a electric car battery, because the electricity to chard electric cars still requires fossil fuels!
Governor Palin was brought in to support more drilling in Alaska. Yet, the oil companies have tens of thousands of existing virgin oil leases currently in their possession for decades to come.
However, it is now understood that America uses 25% of the worlds oil, but, has only 3% of the worlds oil in our drilling areas. We can drill all we want and we will still be importing more and more oil while transferring our wealth offshore. McCain has admitted himself that we are at national security risk for being at the mercy of foreign oil and transferring the largest wealth in human history. Besides, the oil drilled from the U.S. is sold of the global market at open market price, it is not our oil.
While McCain claims to be for solar and wind power, his previous voting records show he opposed those green technologies repeatedly over the last decade.
McCain has the highest political campaign donor receipts from the oil company representatives.
What proof do we the voters have that McCain will in fact push for green technologies and a energy independence policy using wind and solar as the main target? Where is his plan and support for the Production Tax Credit green companies need NOW to feel secure in starting up new technology corridors in the U.S. green energy belts where the wind and solar can be harvested?
So far I have not see any proof or fact, other than 100,000 foot view of promises that have zero accountability!
SEED SOME PROOF... [or]
I believe McCain wants to give more long term U.S. oil leases to the oil companies in exchange for loosing profit to green energy. So as America becomes more green, the oil companies can continue reaping profit from our resources for decades. Putting Americas coast lines and wilderness at risk!!
{"commentId":2902887,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"westrm"}
#12 - Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:16 PM EDT{"commentId":2904466,"authorDomain":"schatell"}
Even if we gave the green light (pun not intended) to start drilling EVERYWHERE in or offshore of the US tomorrow, it would still be at least a decade before we would see any oil. So the offshore and Alaska drilling talk is a lot of hot air, it isn't going to solve the immediate problem, which is supposedly (as far as you can believe oil companies raking in record profits) more an issue of refinery capacity than crude oil supply.
As usual, McCain is distorting the truth. He has really been vicious in this campaign, and I'm really worried about his hothead reputation and his proximity to the nuclear GO button. :-(
{"commentId":2904466,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"schatell"}
#13 - Fri Sep 12, 2008 6:12 PM EDT{"commentId":2933534,"authorDomain":"earldgray"}
Some Simple math.
-The US has 3% of the worldwide oil reserves
-The US uses 25% of the worlds oil
-Off Shore Oil rigs take a "minimum" of 5 years from inception (the 7 year number is more accurate but I am being conservative) to produce oil
EVERY REPUTABLE OIL ANALYST IN THE WORLD agrees with these facts...
Therefore.... WE CAN"T solve the problem, with OFFSHORE drilling
The best man on the planet for this is T. Boone Pickens. He is a Billionaire oilman (and republican) and is using Millions of his own money to help get the word out. www.PickensPlan.com
Guess what? Part of Obama's plan, IS Pickens Plan.
{"commentId":2933534,"threadId":"355572","contentId":"1856199","authorDomain":"earldgray"}
{"commentId":10406193,"authorDomain":"breelaboy"}
{"commentId":10435757,"authorDomain":"brianalampton"}
{"canLink":false,"threadId":"355572","isPrivate":false}
You're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead. |
As a new user, you may notice a few temporary content restrictions. Click here for more info.
Start Tracking
Stop TrackingCOMPANY STUFF:
LEGAL STUFF:
- © 2005-2009 Newsvine, Inc. |
- Newsvine® is a registered trademark of Newsvine, Inc. |
- Newsvine is a property of
