McCain Campaign Responds to Obama’s Energy Plan

ARLINGTON, VA – Senator McCain dismantled Senator Obama’s energy initiatives calling them “misguided policies” that “would result in higher energy costs and increased dependence on foreign oil.”

Today Senator Obama kicked off “Energy Week” by outlining his energy plan in Lansing, Michigan. Obama’s plan includes tax for big oil companies, fuel-efficient cars, a 10 percent renewable energy requirement, and a 15 percent electricity reduction.

One of Obama’s biggest announcements was tapping strategic oil reserves, a plan he previously opposed. Now he wants to sell 70 barrels from reserves to lower gas prices.

On a press call with Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA) and Doug Holtz-Eakin, McCain Campaign Senior Policy Advisor, the McCain campaign touted “more of the same” from the Democratic nominee whose energy policy they call “strictly political.”

“I believe anyone who says that we can achieve energy independence in this country without more nuclear power, without more offshore drilling, without more clean coal, doesn’t have the experience to understand the problem we are faced with or isn’t being straightforward to the American people,” said Rep. Cantor.

One of the big differences in McCain’s energy plan is the Republican nominee is in favor of exploring offshore drilling. Although, Obama’s stance may be softening as he said just last week that he may be willing to compromise if offshore drilling was part of a larger strategy to reduce energy costs.

Holtz-Eakin echoed McCain’s energy policies, ”When John McCain put together his Lexington Project to eliminate America’s dangerous dependence on imported oil, he used what the experts said was the best possible tactics to put everything into the plan. It’s a comprehensive effort that was realistic about the ability to move the United States away from the dangerous reliance on imported oil toward cleaner technologies and cleaner energy in the future.”

Michigan McCain supporters distributed tire pressure gauges that said “Obama’s energy plan” at the Obama speech today. This was meant to poke fun at Senator Obama’s statement last week about “making sure your tires are properly inflated” as an effort to conserve gas.

“It’s time for leadership on this issue. That is what Senator McCain has presented the American people with, a path forward so that we’re no longer held hostage to foreign oil markets. It’s an aggressive plan. Senator Obama has shown no leadership on this issue, sticking with the party line, not bucking his backers or his party to cast tough votes and provide leadership on real issues for the American people,” said McCain’s Senior Policy Advisor, Holtz-Eakin.

Obama’s “Energy Week” includes stops in Indiana and Ohio. McCain is currently in Pennsylvania focusing on small business.