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Distorting Obama

McCain's new Web ad misrepresents some of the Democrat's positions on energy.

Jun 26, 2008 | Updated: 11:49 a.m. ET Jun 26, 2008

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Summary
McCain released a Web ad that distorts Obama's positions on clean-energy innovation and nuclear power.

The ad portrays Obama as saying "no" to energy "innovation" and to "the electric car." In fact, Obama proposed a $150 billion program of research into a wide variety of clean-energy technologies last year, long before McCain proposed to award a $300 million prize for developing a commercially viable battery package capable of powering automobiles.

The ad also has Obama saying "no" to "clean, safe nuclear energy." In fact, Obama has said, "I have not ruled out nuclear... but only [would support it] so far as it is clean and safe."

Analysis
Sen. John McCain's campaign announced the new Web-only ad on June 25. It portrays Obama as "The Dr. No of energy security." We find that some of the claims in the ad go too far and misrepresent some of Obama's positions.

No to Innovation?
The most glaringly inaccurate claim in the ad is that Obama opposes "innovation" in general and "the electric car" in particular. The claim is based solely on Obama's dismissal of McCain's proposal to award a $300 million prize for development of a battery package capable of powering plug-in hybrids or electric cars at a fraction of current costs. Obama called McCain's approach a gimmick, but it's not true that he opposes innovation or electric-powered cars.

In fact, Obama was criticizing McCain for not going far enough. He said in a speech in Las Vegas on June 24:

Obama: After all those years in Washington, John McCain still doesn't get it. I commend him for his desire to accelerate the search for a battery that can power the cars of the future. I've been talking about this myself for the last few years. But I don't think a $300 million prize is enough. When John F. Kennedy decided that we were going to put a man on the moon, he didn't put a bounty out for some rocket scientist to win – he put the full resources of the United States government behind the project and called on the ingenuity and innovation of the American people.

And far from saying "no to innovation," Obama has proposed spending $150 billion over 10 years to develop a variety of new energy technologies, specifically including advanced biofuels, "clean coal" technology, and wind and solar technologies. We find no specific reference to electric-car research, but we also find no evidence that Obama is opposed to developing electric cars.

Furthermore, Obama laid out this $150 billion proposal in a speech on Oct. 8, 2007. That is more than eight months before McCain first mentioned his $300 million car-battery prize on June 23. Readers may judge for themselves which candidate is more aggressive about promoting energy innovation.

"No to Nuclear?"
The McCain ad also portrays Obama as saying "no to clean, safe, nuclear energy." That's false. Obama has said he's open to building new nuclear plants if they are clean and safe.

Member Comments

Posted By: Payday Loan Advocate @ 10/21/2008 6:28:40 AM

Aldous Huxley, author of the classic novel, Brave New World, gives his readers a ???warning??? of what would come to pass if the government completely controlled our everyday lives. Published in 1932, Huxley wrote the book based on his prediction of how London, his hometown, might look in the year 2540, assuming the continuance of programs to end war, conflict, suffering, and antagonistic (aka: ???free???) thought. Huxley painted a picture of what the world would look like if people were unable to speak their minds, or live how they want to, free from the confines of the multiple levels of government. Many people criticized and continue to criticize Huxley for his novel. Several seeds have been planted in the U.S., which have created alarming parallels to Huxley???s novel. The socialist and communist movements have been lurking in the shadows of America for many generations, but the movements have recently come to the forefront of the political platform. Some politicians are attempting to assign the government exclusive control of too many aspects of daily life. For example, in certain areas of Los Angeles, elected officials have created restrictions on where new fast food restaurants can and cannot establish themselves. Yes, you heard me right; the ???man??? is telling you that you can???t get a juicy hamburger and fries in South L.A., whether you like it or not. What???s worse is that state and national politicians are trying to rob you of your right to access fast and easy payday loans. Politicians want to eliminate payday loans in an attempt to win the votes of bigger corporations like banks, so they can take office and promote their self-interests. Stand up and be heard. Fight to free yourself from the government???s ever-increasing power over your daily life.
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Posted By: Payday Loan Advocate @ 09/26/2008 11:54:16 PM

Payday loan customers applaud the payday loan industry mainly because, when used properly, they are the fastest and safest way to get out of an unexpected financial fallback. An old saying asks the question, "If something isn???t broken, than why fix it?" This is a perfect question to direct to many politicians who are attempting to or have outlawed the entire industry in many states. Of course, many people who are living beyond financial wealth would agree with this action and bond to fix something that isn???t broken. They have even inspired presidential hopeful, Barack Obama, to join their inexplicable motion. On November 4, vote for the peoples??? right to financial freedom and independence.

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Posted By: the-commish @ 07/04/2008 6:22:41 PM

No, not a pessimist, just a realist.

Electricity (generated mainly by fossil fuels) is on alternating current, which is far less effecient than direct current, but has one big advantage (it can be moved over long distances, where DC can not). See the rivalry between Thoams Alva edison (a proponent of DC) and George Westinghouse (a proponent of AC).

It is a fact the batteries for vehicles will have to be recharged by electricity (again this electricity produced by fossil fuels). So any gains will be at least in part eaten up by the (AGAIN) dependence on fossil fuels.

I don't know the McCain supporters can't (or most likley won't) understand this. It is not hypothesis..it is a FACT.

Now hydrogen fuel cells.. that is a different story.