Posturing At The Pump

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I just got a behind the scenes account of a rather awkward and amusing Republican press event that took place this afternoon from CBS News Capitol Hill Producer Allison Davis.

First, a little backstory: This morning, the Washington Post's Dana Milbank had a funny piece on the gas price rhetoric, and somewhat ironic driving habits, of some members of Congress. He led with a quick account of a Democratic press event yesterday that took place at an Exxon station on Capitol Hill, where regular unleaded is going for $3.10. "Since George Bush and Dick Cheney took over as president and vice president, gas prices have doubled!," Milbank quotes Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Boxer saying. "They are too cozy with the oil industry."

Milbank subsequently noted that Boxer "then hopped in a waiting Chrysler LHS (18 mpg) -- even though her Senate office was only a block away."

Today it was the Republicans' turn to use a gas station as a backdrop to score some political points. Representatives Dennis Hastert, Roy Blunt, Marsha Blackburn and Adam Putnam were scheduled to appear at a BP station about nine blocks from their home base on Pennsylvania Avenue around 1:30, but thanks to an emergency conference meeting concerning the lobbying bill, the event got pushed back until about 2:35.

That's when waiting reporters watched as Blunt, Blackburn and a few others pulled up to the pumps in two blue, General Motors fuel cell vehicles, complete with Shell logos. Hastert was nowhere to be seen, but he eventually emerged from a parking lot near the gas station. After speeches about the importance of better energy policy, the members went over to one of the cars. They then awkwardly looked under the hood, commenting on how interesting it all was, as photographers took pictures.

When that wrapped up, the members started to leave. (All but Putnam, who stuck around to talk to reporters.) Blunt and Blackburn got in one of the fuel cell vehicles, while Hastert started walking back in the direction he'd come from. His press guy then apparently told Hastert that he should get into one of the fuel cell vehicles. Hastert changed course and did so.

When the vehicles drove away, a few people noted they were going in an odd direction. Davis got in her car and started driving. She soon spotted the two fuel cell cars on 8th street, and immediately noticed that Hastert, along with his security detail, were no longer in one of them. One of the cameraman said he'd seen Hastert's standard Chevrolet Suburban parked a few blocks away from the gas station -- apparently he'd been dropped off there before the fuel cell cars went back to the Capitol building.

We've posted the video of the event. Click on the box to watch. We've cut out the speeches, so what you see is the members' arrival, the photo-op of under the hood, and Hastert's change of course during his departure. All in all, about four minutes. Enjoy.

[innov8ion]

Very amusing piece, Brian. Kudos! I love how politicans posture and pander to the public. Could they for once work on a real solution that addresses economics (work on increasing supply) or subsidize finding alternate forms of energy? And quit with the $100 rebate already!

[joycewest]

It does make one cringe when staged public relations efforts fail so miserably. Why did Rep. Hastert even bother to participate? Eyes are everywhere. As they say, you can run (and maybe it would do a body good) but you can't hide.

[mattcat25]

Time is running out, the Bush supported Big Oil and Energy Companies are going to take full advantage of their political cover by continuing to rape all of the American People for as long as they are allowed to. This is not FREE MARKET its legislated theft. The economy is doing real great for some (the few) and not so good for the many (all of us). The best thing to do for our country is to make your vote count, go to the polls!

[alphaa10-2009]

Correction about the price of regular gas-- the magic $1.50 price happened more than two years ago, depending on what market holds you captive. As recently as January, 2005, however, I paid $1.73 for a gallon of gas. (Your mileage misery may vary.)

[alphaa10-2009]

A national GASOUT DAY has been discussed before, and one attempt rolled across the country via email organization. I never heard about the results, but I would be glad to stop buying gas for as long as it took to make Big, Fat Oil say-- "We are sorry for our windfall profits, which left us in tears all the way to our bank. We (reluctantly) will refund your money via quick reductions in gas prices at our pumps below the price which prevailed as of February, 2006, when gas was only $1.50 per gallon (regular). The BFO group contributed heavily to Bush in 2000 and 2004 because we knew he would do nothing to stop us from raping consumers, but this GASOUT thing really makes us want to reconsider. We must say we are sorry (pause for sniffling sounds in background). In this joint statement of responsibility, the BFO group acknowledges we wronged the American people by exploiting their trust, and their vulnerability to any flimsy cover story about the oil market, excusing our predation under the guise of "market volatility". If our profits have reached record highs, we have earned a record low in public trust. People believe we will do anything for a buck, now. And they are right."

[robertelegal]

Looks like Senate Repubs want to enable our oil addiction with $100. Don't we need tough love, zero tolerance or some other ineffective, yet cruel "cure"?

[bcdmnbvcxz]

we already know the price of gas is is high,so lets all do what we need to do,remember smoke out day,well lets have a week of national gas out day,and and maybe they'll get the message,I know we all use our cars,but lets all try to take public transportation.if not for a week at least a few days.we all know its all alot of b.s,every year around the same time they start with the gas hikes.THINK ABOUT IT ?

[centralcal-2009]

This is just hysterical (along with the Milbank piece earlier)!! I can't stop laughing ...except...when I remember these nincompoops are in charge. Then I get really upset and angry at the whole sorry lot of them!