Posted on 06/10/2008 1:32:50 PM PDT by Dawnsblood
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain is "open to the possibility" of tapping America's domestic oil and gas reserves, but it is not clear from his voting record whether he would actively push to expand offshore oil recovery efforts.
On ABC's "This Week -with George Stephanopoulos," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C), a McCain friend and supporter, said the Arizona Republican would be open to talking about looking for oil and gas "in our own backyard."
"John McCain would allow offshore explorations, if the states consent," Graham said Sunday.
Graham's statement echoed the position McCain took in response to a survey conducted by the League of Conservation Voters last year. The League questioned all the 2008 presidential candidates about whether they supported maintaining current moratoriums on new offshore oil and natural gas drilling.
Congress passed the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Moratorium in 1981, which prevented the leasing of coastal waters for the purpose of fossil fuel development.
McCain said he supported expansion of oil recovery in the OCS -- with qualifications.
"I believe there are some OCS areas that can and should be developed for their energy potential but the areas should not be those that are ecologically sensitive to such development," McCain said in the survey.
"I also believe that the will of the people of coastal states like Florida and California on issues related to OCS development off their shorelines must be respected and they should have a say in where moratoria are kept in place as well as the terms of such development that is permitted," he said.
McCain added that if oil retrieval is conducted in the Outer Continental Shelf, it should be done according to strict environmental standards and oversight.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnsnews.com ...
I would expect he would follow the example of the Democrats on this, too.
He doesn’t need balls or a brain. Just mimic liberals, McCain.
Where McCain is concerned, I expect "Uncertain" means "Unlikely"
Lindsey reminds me of pretty-boy John Edwards.
Why should I bother voting for this clown. Let Obama win, gas prices will hit $10 a gallon by 2012 and perhaps a real conservative can clean house.
Just one more reason in a growing list of reasons to not support McCain in November. Way to go John. Keep on your leftward journey.
He is against drilling in ANWR.
“the Arizona Republican would be open to talking about looking for oil and gas “in our own backyard.”
Wow “would be open to talking about looking for oil and gas.”
If McCain would change course and come out strongly for more domestic drilling in ANWR, offshore, oil shale etc., this would be an absolutely winning issue for his campaign. Surely his advisers must know this, in today’s climate.
He is open to maybe talking about it. That is very reassuring. LMAO!!!
A little boy followed his campign several years ago in a penguin suit and McCain tells this story as to how he was converted to environmentalism.
Doesn’t anyone find it strange that all three presidential candidates (McCain, Clinton, Obama) all are Global Warming Cult Members and none of them have a plan to open the USA to drilling or new refineries?
It is like they are totally ignorant of gas prices these days and its affect on the economy. They all have something in common though that most American’s don’t, they are all millionaires.
If McCain really wants to win, he needs to pull his head out of his ass and develop an energy plan (drilling of the coasts, drilling in Alaska, cut red tape on refineries, alternative fuels besides Ethanol, etc).
He needs to bash the Democrat controlled House and Senate for not living up to the 2-year old Pelosi promise to slash energy prices.
Oh, perfect! Just like Ted Kennedy won't allow offshore windmills because it might "obstruct his view", now we're going to let a couple of thousand wealthy millionaires with beach-front property dictate US energy policy in the Gulf, OCS, and the interior. Sorry, Bozo, but if we don't start drilling the OCS, the Mexicans and Chinese already have plans for "side drilling" our offshore oil deposits. For once, do what's right and start drilling and forget your millionaire cronies. That said, what's your excuse for ANWR...too many tourists might get pi$$ed off? How many people will travel 5000 miles to look at frozen tundra? Drill, you idiots.
McCain is a Global whoreist.
McCain Red Herring Alert.
My hope would be that he would still support coastal drilling like he did before, and that he would not VETO an ANWR bill is we got it out of congress.
Don’t tell me; another McCain disappointment...
Exactly what I was thinking. It also means he's willing to let others lead instead of himself.
Should MeCain get elected because Conservatives hold their noses and vote like me, straight party ticket.
He will feel he won because of his 'Maverick" stances against Christian Conservatives while embracing liberal causes of the day like Global Warming, Amnesty for Illegals and Limited Free Speech.
Geezzzz, I hate the guy.
Really now. Then why are you, Juan Mc, opposed to giving those very same states and the rest of them any say in your push for so called Comprehensive Immigration Reform, a.k.a. Amnesty?! Why not John?! Juan, you're talking out both sides of your mouth again with forked tougne.
That’s just one of the reasons I’m not going to vote for him. But you stated it quite nicely. It’s not just the issues, it’s what he’ll do in our faces once elected.
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