Don’t fall for the trap on energy and gas prices
Candidates,
Good afternoon. With gas prices on the rise, Democrats are retreating to their tired strategy of claiming Republicans are “beholden to big oil.” It’s important to stay on offense and avoid falling into the pitfalls of defending oil companies. Democrats want nothing more than to take a sound bite out of context from a Republican making it sound like oil companies aren’t making a lot in profits or are making less than other industries. Don’t give them that opportunity.
Remember, this energy debate provides us with an opportunity to contrast our real all-the-above energy solutions with the Democrats’ big-government war on energy that increases burdensome regulations, stops American-made energy production and rewards political donors while Americans are left to foot the bill. Below please find some helpful points to remember as you highlight your energy position.
DEMOCRAT CLAIM: Despite record high profits from high gas prices, Republicans are protecting $40 billion in subsidies to oil companies.
SAMPLE RESPONSE:
• Democrats are in charge in Washington. They’re the ones responsible for big-government approach to energy taxing, regulating American-made energy and leaving working families with record-high gas prices.
• Democrats will say anything to distract from the fact that they have stifled badly-needed domestic energy production, like when they rejected the Keystone XL pipeline in order to placate a few wealthy radical environmentalist donors at a high cost to American working families.
• The Democrats’ stimulus was supposed to produce more energy independence, but instead it gambled away billions of taxpayer dollars on fatally-flawed schemes like the now-bankrupt Solyndra company.
• The Democrats’ plan to increase gas prices even further will hit low-income Americans the hardest.
•Dems’ Tax Increase Will Hurt Consumers “At The Lower End Of The Economic Spectrum.” (Investor’s Business Daily)
DEMOCRAT CLAIM: Republicans protect big oil because big oil lines their campaign coffers.
SAMPLE RESPONSE:
• Democrats owe the American people more than tired political attacks. I want to protect American consumers and working families who are dealing with record high gas prices. Those families deserve energy independence and a real energy plan that can lower gas prices and create jobs here at home.
• Instead of stifling American energy production like Washington Democrats have for years, I believe in an all-the-above energy policy that utilizes the natural resources we have right here, creates jobs and improves energy independence.
• The Democrat solution to rising gas prices is to continue pushing policies that will send jobs overseas and further compromise America’s energy independence.
• Since Democrats Rejected The Keystone XL Pipeline, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper Is Currently In China Pitching Those Jobs And Energy That Would Have Otherwise Been Headed To The United States. (Postmedia News)
• “Increasing The Production Costs Of Oil And Gas Via New Taxes And Fees Place American Jobs In Jeopardy.” (U.S. Chamber of Commerce)
• Washington’s big-government regulations have contributed to skyrocketing gas prices, which is why we need a new voice in Congress that will fight to remove these regulatory barriers to American-made energy production and end using taxpayer dollars for political paybacks like the $500 million in stimulus funding that was given to now-bankrupt Solyndra.
• Democrats’ policies are hurting small business independent operators who are struggling to stay viable despite the administration’s refusal to allow job creators to access America’s own energy resources.
BACKGROUND READING:
• Alex Guillen, “Chu: DOE working to wean U.S. off oil, not lower prices,” Politico, 2/28/12
• Russell Gold, “Oil and Gas Boom Lifts U.S. Economy,” The Wall Street Journal, 2/8/12
• Dina Cappiello, “Fact Check: Obama, GOP Spin Recent Energy Stats,” Associated Press, 2/5/12
• Glenn Thrush and Darren Samuelsohn, “Keystone decision a political win-win,” Politico, 1/18/12