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New Obama Energy Ad Hits Back At GOP
The Obama campaign is quickly striking back at the RNC's spot on energy policy, airing an ad of their own that goes after John McCain.
The ad will run in the same four swing states as the RNC's spot -- Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin -- and rebuts the GOP's accusation that Obama doesn't have an energy plan in two ways: Explaining what Obama's policies actually are, and tying John McCain to the unpopular President Bush.
Check it out:
"McCain and Bush support a drilling plan that won't produce a drop of oil for seven years," the announcer says. "McCain will give more tax breaks to big oil. He's voted with Bush 95% of the time."
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Comments (69)
I fucking loved this.
July 8, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is the best ad of the cycle - tying McCain to Bush, promoting Obama's positive vision for energy.
I REALLY hope they expand this to all battleground states, it's a terrific ad.
July 8, 2008 11:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's about damn time we started hearing from the campaign!
July 8, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
"This is the best ad of the cycle" Interesting choice of phrases..."Obama's energy plan? Get a bi-cycle."
July 8, 2008 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hm, it was mostly without substance, but I agree that it was effective in conveying the McCain=Bush message, so it should do some good. It would not do much to sway my vote if I were undecided, but I expect that there are more than a few undecideds out there who will be receptive to an ad like this.
July 8, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Dude,
It's a 30-SECOND AD!! It hits the highlights and refers to a Web site for details.
What more can you do in 30?!?
July 8, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Fair enough. Hopefully it is very effective with regard to its actual target audience (of which I am not a member, given that I am already far gone for Obama).
July 8, 2008 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think you're dead on Dude. His ad says McCain's plan won't produce a drop of oil for seven years...and his plan is "Hope we invent something quick!" Seriously, what is his?...
July 8, 2008 2:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nothing needs to be invented. Technology just needs to be scaled up.
July 8, 2008 7:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
....which makes it perfect for the average American televiewer. Just ask any ad firm.
July 8, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like how he brought up other tangentially-related points -- McCain=Bush and the middle class tax cut -- even though they do not directly relate to energy. It's good to remind voters why McCain sucks.
July 8, 2008 11:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. And they should mention that middle-class tax cut whenever they get the chance, to keep pushing back on McCain's incessant "Obama will raise your taxes and I won't" nonsense.
July 8, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love the imagery in this ad. The Bush-McCain embrace, the "He's voted with Bush 95% of the time".
When people are concerned that McCain is just a continuation of Bush, it's smart to present that embrace over and over and over and over.
Nice to see some pushback on this.
July 8, 2008 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Is Obama intellectual lazy or plainly stupid? I don't necessary support more oil drilling as I support alternative energy such as nuclear energy, solar energy, and tec. But this argument of no oil for seven years is just so stupid. President Bush and republicans suggested oil drilling in Alasa in 2001? Had they started drilling then, would we not have such oil now? Yes, if we start oil drilling now, there will not be another drop of oil in seven years. But if we don't start now, we won't even have any after seven years!!!
Do you liberals know a saying: better later than never?
July 8, 2008 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
I've never heard the statement "better later than never."
I HAVE heard of "better late than never", but maybe that's just a liberal phrase that we talk about at the club meetings.
July 8, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'VE said "better late than never" when I'm drinking my martini with my hot girlfriend and leaning against the wall making snide remarks about the other members...
July 8, 2008 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ok, better late than never. You must start somewhere, correct?
July 8, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
You start by conserving energy and getting off oil. Something Bush should have done in 2001.
Lack of oil isn't the issue - the oil companies can drill in thousands of acres offshore already and aren't.
Lack of refinery capacity and the fact that we use way too much is the issue.
If fuel mileage were raised to 40 mpg, we'd be off foreign oil without any new drilling at all.
July 8, 2008 11:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
In terms of gas mileage and since the Olympics are being held in China i think someone should start telling people that CHINA has a higher MPG standard then the US.
July 8, 2008 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Lack of refinery capacity and the fact that we use way too much is the issue." Don't say that too loud, it's the Dems who've been blocking new refineries, and nuclear energy. You don't want anyone to catch on.
July 8, 2008 2:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Speaking of stupid. You admit that there won't be any oil for at least seven years. So why is this argument "so stupid"? Presenting relevant accurate information to the American voter is "so stupid"?
Only in La-La McCain Land.
July 8, 2008 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
what's the alternative? If we don't drill now, we won't have any oil even after 7 years. do you really think it takes less than seven years to find alternative sources of energy?
July 8, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
The biggest source of energy we have right now is conservation. If our cars got the mileage they do in Europe or Japan, none of this would be an issue.
What's with the oil/obsession drilling? Why not just use less?
July 8, 2008 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Conservation? No wonder people are saying Obama's running for Carter's second term. Yes, we should all start riding bycle to work.
July 8, 2008 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, why bother conserving? Didn't you know that it is sustainable to have 4% of the world's population using 25% of its energy resources?
Let the rest of them eat cake!
July 8, 2008 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Yeah, why bother conserving? Didn't you know that it is sustainable to have 4% of the world's population using 25% of its energy resources?
Let the rest of them eat cake!"
Cuz that 4% provides 25% of the GWP (Gross World Product) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)
Let them eat the cake we give them out of the kindness of our hearts.
July 8, 2008 2:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dude, I'm 6'5" 250 lbs...how am I gonna get in a "smart car?"
July 8, 2008 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's the alternative?!? Do you honestly expect that folks will just carry on for another seven years while we wait for the new supply to come online? Of course not. If something is not affordable, people will not buy it. We do not buy gasoline because we need it to sustain biological life. We buy it because we need it to sustain a particular lifestyle - a lifestyle for which several equally attractive but far less expensive alternatives already exist. People will start to carpool, to drive smaller cars, to find jobs closer to their houses or houses closer to their jobs. All of this will decrease our need for oil in far less than seven years. As such, do we really want to undertake an effort which will come at very severe economic and environmental costs in order that, seven to ten years from now, we will be able to meet a need which will no longer exist? The answer to that question, I should hope, is absurdly obvious.
July 8, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stop this intellectually bankrupt line of reasoning, would you?
The oil companies aren't going to start drilling now, were they suddenly allowed. They just want the land, for future use.
July 8, 2008 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, offshore drilling can produce in three years, from the start of building the platform to refined gas in the tank...ANWR is your 7-10-20 (whatever y'all are using today)year project.
July 8, 2008 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
You keep saying this. Do you have a legitimate link? My understanding from oil industry testimony before congress was that the rigs are tied up for a minimum of 5 years and they wouldn't be able to start drilling until after 5 years at a minimum. It's not like they have all these rigs ready to go at a moments notice to start all this wonderful black gold flowing immediately. Also, there is plenty for them to drill already, which they aren't doing. This really is a non-issue and will only cost mcbush florida, which is a good thing.
July 8, 2008 3:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sure:
http://energytomorrow.org/media/resources/r_586.pdf
July 8, 2008 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I said a legitimate source. Are you kidding me? I didn't wade through the bs to find the 3 year claim. By the way, I would marginally trust the US Energy Information Agency before big oil. 2030 and an insignificant impact.
July 8, 2008 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ok, how about this report from the US Energy Information Agency that determined in 2007 that any price impact from off-shore drilling wouldn't occur until 2030 and the impact would be insignificant!!!!! Any links to your propoganda?
http://climateprogress.org/2008/06/18/eia-bombshell-offshore-drilling-would-not-have-a-significant-impact-on-domestic-crude-oil-and-natural-gas-production-or-prices-before-2030/
July 8, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Guess he learns from the best:
"Allowing oil drilling in U.S. offshore waters that are now closed to energy exploration would do little to lower gasoline prices paid by consumers, the government's top energy forecaster said on Wednesday."
[...]
"Most energy experts say it would take five to 10 years to find oil in the closed areas and bring the crude to market."
http://www.reuters.com/article/email/idUSN2546114820080625
If McCain is so brilliant, why did he change his position on offshore drilling only when it was politically expedient?
July 8, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Some people disagree with this assessment because future supply does affect today's price. If we know for sure we will have oil in seven years, we can stop stockpiling the strategic reserve and even release from that reserve.
Even if the price of today's oil is not impacted, seven years from now, there will be more domestic oil available for consumption and we may have better price then, correct?
That's right - even if we grow the crops today, we won't able to harvest in three months. It will not keep us from feeling hungary now. Let's just forget about it!!!
July 8, 2008 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
But you ducked my question about McCain flip flopping on the issue... You could just as easily accuse him of having waited seven years... Where was the fabled Straight Talk in 2001?
July 8, 2008 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I feel hungary sometimes . . . but sometimes I feel germany too
July 8, 2008 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
With that avatar, that's funny.
July 8, 2008 1:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think most people are smart enough to deduce that maybe if we divert our resources to discovering/developing alternative energy sources, maybe we will have gone a long way in seven years to eliminate our dependency on oil. Obviously there's no guarantee, but I'm sure you can vouche for the fact that there will definitely be more oil in seven years if we go that route.
July 8, 2008 11:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
And just think where we could be if we had followed Jimmy Carter's push for solar energy back in the late 70's?
July 8, 2008 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yea, the good old time of Jimmy Carter's days.
July 8, 2008 12:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jimmy Carter put Solar Panels of the roof of the White House -
Ronald Reagan took them down.
July 8, 2008 12:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Clinton was never in favor of more drilling. Indeed, she was making all of the same arguments a few months ago on this subject that Obama is now. Would you be this impressed by McCain if it were Clinton running this same ad instead of Obama?
July 8, 2008 12:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought Bush said we are addicted to oil. So the plan is to drill for more? Makes no sense to me. If one is addicted to cocaine a sensiblem plan would be to get off the stuff not to look for more.
July 8, 2008 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't get no sleep/
Cold sweat on my sheets...
Bush == CoCain
July 8, 2008 1:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hit 'em hard, and hit 'em fast! This campaign is going to be one for the ages, folks...
Bonus points for mixing in the Bush/McCain kiss =()
July 8, 2008 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
The info at the short URL they point to at the end is well done too -- concise, informative, well laid out.
http://newenergyforamerica.com
July 8, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, that is a good website. If I were an undecided voter and I saw that website (a big "if" of course), that definitely would sway me towards Obama. I hope that he talks up all of those points in his appearances over the next couple of weeks. It is precisely the right mix of scary "McCain will makes things even worse" with hopeful "Obama can make them better."
July 8, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow..that is a great link.
I especially liked the green and yellow Obama logo for environmentalists...just awesome continuity.
Loving it!!
America this is our moment.
We are the ones we've been waiting for!
July 8, 2008 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's an outstanding ad!! (I especially loved the hug and kiss!)
More like this!
July 8, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think he can hit a lot harder on the oil drilling, there is a lot there that people need to know:
http://www.thepersonalispolitical.com/2008/06/mccainbush-oil-scheme-pure-deception.html
July 8, 2008 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Offshore drilling is one of the most idiotic ideas McCain has proposed. Not only are there huge environmental risks, and a huge amount of money that must be invested not only in drilling sites themselves but in refineries, but there's also 68 million acres of federal LAND currently being leased by the oil companies. And they're just sitting on it, doing absolutely nothing. I'm not really in favor of drilling for more oil myself, but if someone wants to propose oil drilling, there are other places to do it, and better ways to do it, than the offshore bullshit McCain is spewing.
July 8, 2008 12:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's going to cost him florida, which was a mcbush state and he needs to win it to have a shot. What a moron. Talk about bad judgment.
July 8, 2008 12:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
...actually it'll help win him Florida...
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/florida/election_2008_florida_presidential_election
July 8, 2008 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ok, totally off topic, but big news. We set up an iranian puppet state in iraq. Brilliant move by the republicans. The shiites want us out yesterday so that they can oppress the sunnis and kurds and cozy up to iran. Brilliant.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080708/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq
July 8, 2008 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm getting a tax cut!!!
July 8, 2008 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Campaigned in Central Texas with a local congressional candidate all week end - parades, festivals, speeches to seniors, etc.
EVERYONE had 2 questions for him and always in this order -
1. How will you get us out of Iraq and when ?
2. What will you do about Energy Independence ?
the 2nd one took me aback - kept expecting to hear complaints about $4/gas or 'those damn a-rabs!', but no - independence was on everyone's mind and at least 60% of them understood fossil fuels were not the way to go
this was once a very red, very republican county - and none of the usual Off Shore/ANR/More Refineries flim flammery is working
July 8, 2008 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
You guys really need to come up for air once in awhile...you're getting tunnel vision...
http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/texas/election_2008_texas_presidential_election
July 8, 2008 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dream on. Ratsmussen has as much credibility as the king in any event. Try some other polling organizations to support your positions. Look at what happened with crist's approval ratings after he got on board with the off-shore drilling crap. They tanked. I will bet you a lunch he will lose florida due to off-shore drilling.
July 8, 2008 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Strange, it tacked on the wrong post. This was in reply to the florida ratsmussen poll bs on florida.
July 8, 2008 3:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
It was the same thing...but about Texas.
July 8, 2008 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've been rather disappointed in Obama's approach to energy. I had hoped that he would weave it into a larger narrative. For as Steve Baer said over 30 years ago :
"It all comes down to energy".
July 8, 2008 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
yeah i love this ad. Its ten times better then what the RNC put out.
McCain camp throws out 61 yr old women from event
http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/07/07/mccain-camp-throws-a-61-yr-old-lady-out-of-his-event/
July 8, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Was it because McCain said get that kid out of here?
July 8, 2008 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. Another example of the fascist republicans repressing citizens' civil liberties. Also an example of just how afraid their campaign is of being tied to Bush. Thanks for the link.
July 8, 2008 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
It made it into the Denver Post as well.
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_9812206
July 8, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Aimay May said:
"President Bush and republicans suggested oil drilling in Alasa in 2001? Had they started drilling then, would we not have such oil now?"
22 years earlier Jimmy Carter pushed for workable energy conservation and independence from foreign oil. Think or where we'd be now if we had taken his lead.
July 8, 2008 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I absolutely hate how this has been portrayed as the Democrats obstructing new oil exploration for the past 30 years. Republicans have been obstructing alternative energy innovation for the past 30 years too!
July 8, 2008 7:19 PM | Reply | Permalink