Gas prices are all politics for Obama

Gas prices are all politics for Obama

The Obama administration has blocked all efforts to increase oil production and President Obama and his energy czar (Steven Chu) have publicly indicated that they want to see gasoline prices rise (so that we will be interested in electric cars), but they are a little disappointed that the pump prices have gone up so quickly. The high prices are creating re-election difficulties for Obama and they are eager to do something to make people think they notice.

Of course there were numerous actions that could have been taken (or not taken) over the last three years that could have increased supply and moderated the price increase, but it is too close to the election for these actions to have the desired effect.

So now they are thinking about releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The reserves are intended for emergency use, and anyone who reads a newspaper knows a real emergency may soon occur in the Middle East — especially if Israel takes steps to diminish Iran’s nuclear capability. The availability of oil may be severely interrupted.

We are learning that everything Obama does is political and he will not hesitate to place his re-election above the national security interests of the country. Liberal democrats, including our own clueless Sen. Dick Durbin, will obediently line up behind Obama to make it happen.

We can expect the same results that were achieved when Obama released reserves during the Libya uprising — a slight decrease in pump prices for a short period and then the prices returned to the increase trend and the taxpayers replenished the reserves at increased prices. Obama will continue to demonize the oil industry, say that speculators and Wall Street are the villains, and (of course) blame George Bush.

Kelley C. Smith

Long Grove