WaPo's Charles Lane: Gas Prices 'Are Not the President’s Fault'
By Noel Sheppard | February 23, 2012 | 20:36
On Thursday, Media Research Center President and publisher of NewsBusters Brent Bozell told Fox News's Neil Cavuto that gas prices will keep climbing and the media will continue downplaying it to help President Obama get reelected.
Proving his point just a few hours later on Fox News's Special Report was Charles Lane, the editorial writer for the Washington Post, who actually said, "Gas prices, I’m sorry folks, are not the President’s fault, and he is right about that" (video follows with transcript and commentary):
CHARLES LANE: Well it’s never good to be an incumbent politician of any kind while gas prices are going up because you get blamed for just being there when it happens. There is even some empirical evidence that it could cost you a state or two if you’re running for president while gas prices are going up. But don’t worry because I bet you by November gas prices will actually be on their way down. This kind of a spike occurs almost every year at this time.
BRET BAIER, HOST: Unless Israel attacks Iran.
LANE: Well, sure, but that won’t be Obama’s fault, and everybody will understand that that will be a situation. Gas prices tend to go up in the spring and then, you know, the market works and they’re back down by the fall. We’ve been through this year in and year out. Gas prices, I’m sorry folks, are not the President’s fault, and he is right about that. Unfortunately because it is a political issue, he’s got to come out and give this kind of unconvincing speech that he did today.
Can you imagine an editorial writer for the Post saying gas prices are not the President's fault in an election year if the White House resident were a Republican?
As Bozell told Cavuto a few hours earlier, “The prices are going to continue to escalate and the media are gonna continue to downplay it. This is the kind of story they don't want to cover. It goes against the narrative of the 2012 election and they're gonna do everything they can to get this guy elected. Period."
Associate Editor’s note: As you are likely aware, since the financial collapse of 2008, charities and non-profit organizations have seen a sharp reduction in donations. Although the environment has improved, contributions are still nowhere near where they were prior to the recession. Unfortunately, the Media Research Center has not been immune. With this in mind, your support has become more important than ever. With a critical election approaching, the liberal media needs to be monitored 24/7. As we have been predicting for months, the press are willing to do anything to get their beloved politicians elected and/or reelected. As such, we need your help to fight this fight. Any contribution, even $10, is greatly appreciated. Please consider a tax-deductible gift to the Media Research Center to help us battle the liberal media. Thank you.
Comments
#1 It isn't his fault
Submitted by Shreve on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 9:23pm.
but the rising prices in Bush's administration wasn't his fault either.
#2 sure it was
Submitted by KornKing on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 12:05am.
This President's name isn't Bush, and he isn't GOP, so it is real simple: GOP-high gas prices, Dems, piece of shit electric cars that cronies have to buy to get a start on the quota
#3 Unfortunately for the obama
Submitted by robert108 on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 9:32pm.
Unfortunately for the obama lovers, it's all his fault. In August, 2008, President Bush rescinded the Presidential drilling ban, and the price started to drop; a few months later, the Dems, fearing the election, failed to renew the Congressional drilling ban. As a result of the US re-entering the world oil market on the supply side, oil dropped from $147/barrel to just over $33/barrel in December, 2008. obama inherited that oil price and gasoline at $1.80/gallon. He promptly re-instituted the Presidential drilling ban, as did the Pelosi/Reid Congress with their ban. As a result, prices have climbed steadily since then.
#4 Also,
Submitted by Boudin on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 9:42pm.
Obama is running around the country telling folks he had increased domestic production. When in-fact privet lease production is up 40% like up in the Dakotas, and Gov leases are down 40%. Not to mention the oil moratorium he put into effect in the Gulf, even ignoring a court order.
The guy has destroyed the energy production in this country, meanwhile he spends billions on alternative energy, and even subsidized they fail and file chapter 11. Not to mention investing in oil production is other countries
#5 So, Bou..........you've got
Submitted by killa37 on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 10:14pm.
So, Bou..........you've got some problem with us being 'Brazil's best customer' for all of that oil drilling that they are doing with our - whoops! Soros' - money???
And what's wrong with having the Canadiens ship their oil, via Warren 'the great American' Buffets trains, to China. We can always buy it back from them with the money that they lent us.
#6 Yep,
Submitted by Boudin on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 10:24pm.
These morons and the media will justify it as job creating
#7 But, but, but
Submitted by Spinningplates2 on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 10:50pm.
But he can sing like an angel from above.
#8 He's an angel, all right...
Submitted by HockeyKid on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 8:10am.
of the variety to which Saul Alinsky dedicated "Rules for Radicals".
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
#9 Too bad You Have a Memory
Submitted by KCK on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 11:03pm.
I remember the event very well, and it is exactly as you say. Bush spoke, and it seems like the next day the pump prices started ebbing. And, we were suffering at @ $4 gal. then.
Your problem, and mine, is that we have long memories. For BHO supporters, history began yesterday.
#10 Actually, it's all their fault.
Submitted by JohnMcGrew on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 10:54am.
The real reason oil & gas prices are high is because of inflation; the inevitable result of the cheap money policy of the fed and a spendthrift Congress. We've effectively printed trillions of dollars in the name of "quantitative easing" and "stimulus" without a corresponding increase in national output. That cheapens the dollar, which how buys less oil. Drilling has relatively little to do with it.
#11 Because high gas prices are only the president's fault...
Submitted by Phryj1 on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 9:38pm.
...when a Republican is president.
Progressives seem to be completely averse to facts and logic. Apparently, reality has a conservative bias.
#12 No, Charles, gas prices don't usually "spike" this time of year
Submitted by UpNorth on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 9:41pm.
They usually spike when the switch is made to "summer blend", and that switch is usually made in late April or early May. If you'd watch, and pay attention, that point was made earlier this week, but then, it wasn't an Owebowma apologist who made the statement, so I doubt you paid attention.
And, just why is a "summer blend" needed, anyway?
And, NB should have continued the video. Krauthammer did a masterful job of smacking Owebowma's statement, and pointing out the idiocy of now depending on algae, for energy. Yeah, don't drill, we'll just grow algae and drain the liquid into our gas tanks.
#13 Fox News' Eric Bolling
Submitted by BondPlainBond on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 10:12pm.
Fox News' Eric Bolling, a former gasoline distributor, explained that the gasoline we receive is already refined and ready to go into our tanks. It's the blending mandated by the EPA, dozens of types (dependent upon US environ and season), which is the extra added cost.
Bolling says that if the blending process is abandoned, gas prices should immediately drop.
He discussed it with Fox News' Greta van Susteren here:
http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/on-the-record/transcript/why-does-gas-cost-so-much
#14 UpNorth.....Here is the VIDEO you referred to, and as you
Submitted by Rush Fan on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 2:42am.
so aptly noted,"Krauthammer did a masterful job of smacking Owebowma's statement." Of course, Lefty Washington Post columnist Charles Lane defended Obama and the Democrats to the end.
Krauthammer On Obama's Algae Policy: "I Think He's On To Something" (VIDEO)
#15 Just for a laugh
Submitted by Bob K on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 9:48pm.
I went to the far left website, democratic underground, and I did a search. What a surprise. Articles and thread after thread from '05, '06, '07, all blaming high gas prices on President Bush. Now of course, they absolve obama of any responsibility for rising gas prices.
#16 So, whos fault are they?
Submitted by NJRightWinger12 on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 9:50pm.
The crooner in chief? "Sweet Home Chicago"! This bum ought to quit his day job-fiddling while Romes burning! I dont care what he does, just as long as he quits his day job!
#17 OK Obama quits
Submitted by Radical1979 on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 9:51pm.
But he damn well better take Biden with him!!
#18 I'm glad I haven't had to
Submitted by killa37 on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 10:10pm.
I'm glad I haven't had to watch, or hear, ol' Purple Lips - Boy Blues - butchering 'Sweet Home Chicago'!!! And I'm sure that he was bustin' a few moves while the music was goin' too..................and you can be damn sure that Mooooooooooooochelle was showcasin' her dancing expertise - just stay the hell out of the way of dem der' swangin' hips!!!
I'm a white country boy from out here in Asia/Hawaii, and I've forgotten more about the REAL American blues than Boy BlahBlah has ever learned. The ONLY American blues he knows about is what he is giving us!!!
#19 killa
Submitted by Radical1979 on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 10:16pm.
Unless Sweet Home Chicago sounds anything like the muslim call to prayer (One of BO's favorite sounds), I doubt he knew what it sounded like...
#20 Yeah, I've also read that
Submitted by killa37 on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 10:46pm.
Yeah, I've also read that Little Boy Blue likes Howlin' Wolf..................I heard him say that he had Wolf on his Ipod - about 4-5 months before he gave some speech at some college and claimed that he didn't know how to use any of that new-fangled technical stuff - remember that??
But anyway, I know a little bit about Chester Burnette - aka Howlin' Wolf - and he was a hardline guy who believed in work, responsibility, accountability, and earning your keep. And he was a big, intimidating guy too. I'd be willing to bet that he'd probably lay it on the line to a guy like Obama - automatic!!! And Wolf came from the cotton fields and the subsistance farms and the hard working ethic, plus he had been in the Army, and he was a product of the REAL 'black American experience'...............which is the polar opposite of Litte Boy Blue.
#21 You forgot this
Submitted by Boudin on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 10:33pm.
Yet?
#22 Merci Boudin*
Submitted by cajun2 on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 10:47pm.
...;-)
#23 Nice outfit, Gatemouth!!! Now
Submitted by killa37 on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 10:49pm.
Nice outfit, Gatemouth!!! Now DAT what I be tawkin' bout!!!!
#24 My new theme song.
Submitted by Shreve on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 6:27am.
My new theme song.
#25 Yesterday, All the Progressives' Problems Seemed So Far Away
Submitted by BondPlainBond on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 9:55pm.
How did the Center for American Progress, which is today, Obama's main line of policy dictates, put it back in 2007?
Oh, yeah...
Pain in the Gas: Volatile Gasoline Prices Wreak Havoc on Household Finances
By Amanda Logan, Christian E. Weller | May 23, 2007
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/05/pain_in_the_gas.html
And with gas prices up 91% since Obama took office (and climbing ever higher), this scary and horrific rise in gas prices, according to the Center for American Progress' thought process, should have us all huddled in rags around a 55 gallon drum stuffed with refuse from which we receive our heat, eyeing the person beside us with a cannibalistic glaze in our eyes.
The hobbled Progressive brain can fan the flames of unbridled mass hysteria when a Republican is in charge, but, since it's Obama, they've decided to keep quiet or blame Bush... again.
My side of the map saw regular unleaded at $5.17 this afternoon at my usual fill-'er-up location. So excited to see what Saturday's prices will be!!!!
#26 Dis wasn't sposed ta happen til 2013
Submitted by Dan Diego on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 10:28pm.
Sen. Obama: "I think that I would have preferred a gradual adjustment. The fact that this is such a shock to American pocketbooks is not a good thing. "
Wonder if Katie's taking out a 2nd on her house to fill the tank.
#27 Does fault matter again
Submitted by 10ksnooker on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 10:45pm.
Democrats are so screwed ...
#28 Never underestimate the stupidity of the American people
Submitted by Radical1979 on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 10:48pm.
and the GOP.
There is no lock on this election.
#29 Yes, Ms. Lovely Rad - the GOP
Submitted by killa37 on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 11:01pm.
Yes, Ms. Lovely Rad - the GOP are the unchallenged champions of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory............mainly because they don't 'play to win', and they think that they can 'make nice' with the very people who will screw them up, as well as screw them down.
#30 Goebbels Would Be Proud
Submitted by IrateNate on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 11:01pm.
Who, Mr. Lane, could possibly blame the president for high gasoline prices?
"With gas prices at a record high, Democrats Tuesday poured fuel on the debate over the soaring prices, accusing the Bush administration of failing to stabilize the market ahead of the summer vacation season." (CNN, April, 2004)
"Consumer gasoline prices continue to soar as the Bush administration places too much emphasis on drilling reserves and not enough on alternative fuels, Democrats said Saturday." (USAToday, April, 2006)
"The price of oil is...attributed to two oil men in the White House and their protectors in the United States Senate," Pelosi said in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. (CNN, July, 2008)
"Gas prices, I’m sorry folks, are not the President’s fault." (Washington Post, Feb, 2012)
"Four legs good, two legs better."
(The Sheep)
#31 Geez.....$5 gas in 2012 and STILL Bush's fault?
Submitted by djwolf12 on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 11:07pm.
That seems to be the Obama Pee-stream lapdog media's talking points today. Even David Shyster came out of his rat's hole and said this. Uh, as much as I couldn't stand Bush during his 2nd term, atleast we weren't downgraded in the S&P and gas was around $2.65/gallon. This administration makes both the Carter Administration AND the Hoover administration look like the most brilliant people to ever run this country.
PS - Bush hasn't been in office since January 2009. Time for a new playbook.
#32 Sounds like y'all have a problem
Submitted by cocodrie on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 11:19pm.
Sounds like y'all have a problem with america becoming the USAS (United Socialist American Republics). That's the change he promised us remember?Man, where's Che when you need him?
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
#33 Coco
Submitted by Radical1979 on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 11:20pm.
Che's out busy using the revenue from his t-shirts to build camps and dig graves for those of us who refuse to be "re-educated".
#34 Good evening Rad
Submitted by cocodrie on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 11:41pm.
The one good thing, we'll all get to meet one another in the re-education camps. I'm trying for Stalag 13, Stalag 17 from what I've seen is a bit rough.
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
#35 I'm with you, coco.
Submitted by UpNorth on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 11:54pm.
And, I want Sgt Schultz as our overseer. That rat-faced Nazi at Stalag 17 is too good at his job.
#36 We know, Charles.
Submitted by GregE on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 11:53pm.
It's Bush's fault. What isn't?
#37 Partly it is
Submitted by octavioj on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 11:58pm.
Another reason that no one mentions is the spending the president has been doing and the monitization the Fed is providing is actually causing the dollar to weaken. That affects the price if oil and hence gasoline.
#38 Hope and Change Are On Life Support....
Submitted by JRobertGiles on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 12:16am.
Barack Hussein Obama keeps looking down his smug little nose at us as his minions fervently and blindly defend his failures. Please read and share the following article. Ready the troops!!.
http://tiny.cc/ag81t
J Robert Giles
#39 Hope and Change Are On Life Support....
Submitted by JRobertGiles on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 12:16am.
Barack Hussein Obama keeps looking down his smug little nose at us as his minions fervently and blindly defend his failures. Please read and share the following article. Ready the troops!!.
http://tiny.cc/ag81t
J Robert Giles
#40 The troops are ready just
Submitted by John21 on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 8:56am.
The troops are ready just waiting for the people to realize how much they have lost because of the socialist in the White Hous.
#41 Actually, NOTHING is Boy
Submitted by killa37 on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 12:21am.
Actually, NOTHING is Boy Barry's fault - according to ol' Purple Lips himself, as well as the StateRun Media. So why start trying to blame him now?????
And in the immortal words of Sam 'Lightnin' Hopkins.......................'lawd have moicy'...................
#42 Notice how nothing is ever
Submitted by LAM SON 719 on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 12:27am.
Notice how nothing is ever obama's fault.
#43 Who is it that really cares about gas prices?
Submitted by big.league.slider on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 12:41am.
Even with gasoline at $5/gal, it still is a minor expense for me in comparison to other things. Even at $5/gal, I still only will spend about $2500/year for gasoline. My federal income and self-employment taxes are over $30,000/year.
#44 So what's your point Mr. Buffett?
Submitted by Rush Fan on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 1:29am.
For those who are unemployed, for those who are working paycheck to paycheck, for those who are in retirement, even $4.00 gas can be a hardship. Please keep in mind that it's not just the direct price of gas that impacts all of us. Everything that relies on transportation, from food to clothing to energy can have a serious hardship on many of us.
But I can understand why someone as self-absorbed as you would not be concerned with the impact of higher gas prices on others.
---------------------------
By the way, the serious hardship link is to a ABC News story titled: Poll: High Gas, Food Prices A Serious Hardship. It's not dated, but appears to have been written during the George W. Bush administration, when gas averaged $1.81 a gallon. Something tells me that the serious hardship that ABC reported then, is not so serious now that Obama is in office.
#45 businesses
Submitted by jon_torlin on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 1:40am.
I know a couple of shop owners and restaurant managers here in town that have managed to weather the high costs of gas affecting their businesses so far but are real worried especially with the jump in the last few days with no end in sight. They've already seen a drop in patronage to their stores as it was.
Some of them have been talking among themselves about closing down for a few days because the overhead/operating costs(especially electricity alone) is getting to be more than their income and some of them are already in the red as it is.
One guy I know made the HUGE mistake of trying to open a small restaurant, fairly inexpensive, was pretty decent food(and I objected vociferously and cajoled him into waiting in doing this and watch what's going on with the financials, but he refused, and guess what, he's a huge Obeyme fan) a few weeks ago and now he's got to close down because the local bank won't lend him anymore money, even talking about bankruptcy and he's going to lose a lot in the end anyway. Stupid idiot. He really believed that line about the economy getting better and said he was proof of that. I don't know what's going to happen to him at this point but he's the one that made the bad decision, he's the one that's got to live in the hole that he dug for himself.
-Jon
#46 Let's make this real
Submitted by Van Halen on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 1:12am.
Let's make this real simple.
Gas prices are 100% the fault of Barack Obama.
And the crappy economy.
And the multiple foreign conflicts our troops are stuck in.
And the skyrocketing food and clothing prices.
And the division in the country.
And the insane deficits.
#47 The cake, the cake!
Submitted by jon_torlin on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 1:27am.
And that's just the icing on the cake. A very large cake.
-Jon
#48 What He Means Is
Submitted by HardRightTurn on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 1:31am.
Gas prices arn't THIS president's fault.
To more fully comprehend the Left, one must read “Leftism As Psychopathy” by John Ray, M.A., Ph.D. Caution, it might scare you a little bit.
http://jonjayray.tripod.com/psycho.html
#49 And the stoopid dumbMass sheeple are buying every word of it
Submitted by Dave. on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 2:06am.
F'ng morons.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
#50 What's beyond Teflon?
Submitted by LinTaylor on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 2:39am.
The media is fond of calling Reagan the "Teflon President" because supposedly no crisis ever stuck to him. I almost want to suggest that the nickname suits Obama better, but Teflon doesn't work unless something actually gets on it to begin with. The first crisis those paid cheerleaders attribute to being Obama's fault will be the first. So rather than the Teflon President, maybe we should call him the Forcefield President. Of course, I'm open to suggestions if someone can thing of anything snappier.
#51 Hearst and his contemporaries
Submitted by HockeyKid on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 8:46am.
gave us yellow journalism. Today's "journalists" give us brown-nose journalism.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
#52 ^^Like^^
Submitted by UpNorth on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 10:59am.
.
#53 LOL, Brown-nose journalism
Submitted by CarlosS on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 10:59am.
I like it, can I have permission to use it?
#54 At the Washington Post
Submitted by John21 on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 8:53am.
At the Washington Post nothing is ever Mr. Obama's fault, they hope the rest of the non-Kool-Aid drinkers forget about all the outrage by him and his rag when the price increased during the Bush administration.
No doubt they are making up more propaganda that makes it Bush'e fault again, because it could never be their master fault. Liberals display their stupidity on a daily basis all you have to do is listen to what they say.
#55 Deranged
Submitted by allouchsit on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 9:59am.
When gas prices went up under Bush, the MSM was sure it was all his fault. With gas prices going up once again, the MSM is just a sure it is not Obama's fault. If anyone ever questioned whether the MSM is biased, here is absolute proof of their bias.
#56 Lane
Submitted by mmilesll on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 1:03pm.
Where do I start--Keystone, no drilling permits and the list goes on and on. The treehuggers and the chief clown are stopping drilling and costing the people that nobama is supposed to care so much about money that is tight to start with. Wonder how many treehuggers there would be if their parents didn't support them. Wonder how many treehuggers don't drive or actually have a real job and bills to pay. Lane should wipe that dopey look off his face and try getting out in the real world, he might just be surprised-but in his case I doubt it.