Global Intifada

Earlier this month, Republican Presidential candidate John McCain lambasted the oil industry:

“I am very angry, frankly, at the oil companies,” said the presumptive GOP presidential nominee. “Not only because of the obscene profits they’ve made, but their failure to invest in alternative energy to help us eliminate our dependence on foreign oil.” (Source)

When McCain ran for the Presidency in 2000, he was a fairly staunch opponent of enforcing the prohibition on drilling for oil in the Arctic, but he recently switched on his position and stated that he think it would be okay if individual states wanted to do so. (VOA)  He went on to argue that the federal government should ease the regulations on offshore drilling as well. (Houston Chronicle)

Hmm, why the sudden change of mind? Is it because of the global oil crisis? Probably not, the advantages of drilling in that region won’t immediately defuse the problem which is being caused primarily by a shortage of supply and an increase in demand for oil.

A better explanation is that the oil industry has proved to be not only his most prominent supporter during the presidential race, but even during his terms in the Senate:

“. . . McCain does lead all other senators, and all others who ran for president, in contributions from the oil and gas industry, according to the Center for Responsive Politics’ analysis of federal data in the 2007-08 election cycle. McCain collected $724,000 through May.” (Washington Wire)

Whose HIS daddy?

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