Kerry Urging Energy Independence in U.S.

BOSTON (AP) - With the start of the summer driving season approaching and gasoline prices soaring, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said Saturday the United States should strive for energy independence.

``There are two reasons why we cannot be asleep at the wheel during this current energy crisis,'' Kerry said in the weekly Democratic radio address. ``First, soaring energy prices are putting our economy at risk and second, our dependence on Middle East oil is putting our national security at risk. But it doesn't have to be this way.''

Separately, Kerry's campaign objected Saturday to a suggestion during a radio interview with Secretary of State Colin Powell that Kerry has blamed oil for the war in Iraq. Kerry has said repeatedly he does not believe the Bush administration started the war to control Iraq's oil.

In his radio address, the Massachusetts senator said the United States should divert oil being used to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in the short term and bring it to market to bring down prices. The White House contends that would have only a negligible impact on pump prices. Kerry also said the country's leaders should demand that Saudi Arabia and other oil-producing nations increase supply.

He said his long-term strategy as president would include investments in alternative fuels and new technologies that are more fuel-efficient. He said he would establish tax credits to help make fuel-efficient cars more affordable.

``Our dependence on foreign oil is a problem we must solve together the only way we can - by inventing our way out of it,'' Kerry said.

The average price per gallon rose to $2.017 this week, the first time the national average has exceeded $2. Kerry and other Democrats blame President Bush and Republican leaders for allowing prices to rise so high, and his radio address reiterated the case he made earlier this week on the campaign trail.

``We're at war and families are struggling to make ends meet, especially with rising gas prices,'' Kerry said. ``For our security, our economy and our environment, we must make America energy independent.''

Kerry often tells voters at his campaign rallies that ``no young American in uniform ought to ever be held hostage to America's dependence on oil from the Middle East.'' He has said that refers not to the war in Iraq but to the potentially volatile situation in an unstable region.

Powell was asked about Kerry's statement in an interview with Westwood One Radio on Friday. He replied that Kerry was using it as an ``applause line'' but was not stating a clear policy for Iraq.

``That's not sending our troops overseas for oil,'' Powell said. ``That's sending our troops overseas to put in place a democratic nation rested on a foundation of openness and human rights that will be a friend and partner of the United States.''

Kerry spokesman David Wade said the Bush administration is trying to mislead Americans about the challenge of oil dependence.

``For years John Kerry has warned the Bush Administration about our dangerous dependence on foreign oil from the volatile Middle East,'' Wade said. Still, he said, ``George Bush has no plan to liberate Americans from our fossil fuel dependence on countries like Saudi Arabia, which can arbitrarily raise the price of oil and hold families hostage at the gas pump, and fragile regimes which hold so much of the world's oil.''

But he opposes ANWAR.

Bush needs to hang high gas prices around Kerry's neck until November.

And then a reporter asks "Senator Kerry, how much will these 'investments' and 'tax credits' cost the taxpayer?"

Oh, yeah, right. Like a reporter is going to notice that this "stratergy" is EXPEN$$$IVE!!!

The the man who owns 5 HUGE houses, a gulf stream 2 jet, a yacht, power boat, and a Harley? This the man who has voted for 19 years for every enviro whacko piece of legislation that has come down the pike? This the man who votes to lock up low sulfer coal and won't let us drill or build refineries, build a nuke plant, or drill for natural gas??????????

It's all hanoi john's and the dems and enviro whackos fault we have a gas shortage!Start using this fact when you complain about the high cost of gas.

Heating fuel will be the next energy crisis.

23 posted on 05/23/2004 7:36:06 PM PDT by GailA (hanoi john kerry, I'm for the death penalty, before I impose a moratorium on it.)

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