Is Biden Inconsistent on Off Shore Drilling?

By: Ryan Corsaro
Topics: Joe Biden

(CBS)

From CBS News' Ryan Corsaro:

FORT MYERS, FLA. -- These are two statements he has made this week.

"I'm not opposed to drillin'. But I want to say to my friends on the other side, I'll prepare to support drillin' off shore and even take some risks with our environment if you guarantee me that that oil -- which by the way, is our oil. You own that oil. The American people own the Continental Shelf. The oil companies don't own it. We own that oil. We own that oil in Alaska. We own that oil in the gulf."

"So I have no problem -- go ahead and drill. Just guarantee me two things. One – all that oil is going to come to America. Virtually none of the oil from Alaska comes to America, it all goes to Japan. So guarantee me it all comes to America and guarantee me you're not going to charge me Saudi Arabian prices…you're going to guarantee me you won't charge me OPEC prices."

-- Sen. Joe Biden, Scranton, PA 9/1/2008

"They want to drill off our shores. Okay, I got that. Let's say, okay, let's say it makes sense to drill -- it doesn't, I'm against it. But let's say it made sense."

-- Sen. Joe Biden, Fort Myers, FL 9/3/2008

McCain spokesman Ben Porritt responded, "Biden is being inconsistent on his position, but the cause for concern revolves around Barack Obama alarming refusal to support sensible energy policies when Americans are paying record prices at the pump. The combination of Barack Obama's refusal to support off shore drilling and desire to raise taxes on American families will kill jobs and leave America dependent on foreign sources of oil. This is another example of Barack Obama's lack of judgment and readiness to take on critical issues."

When asked to clarify the campaign's position, Obama spokesperson David Wade released the following statement, "I want to make this very clear because what Joe Biden's saying is real simple, folks. Neither Biden nor Obama think drilling is a long term answer, but unlike John McCain who rejected a bipartisan compromise because it asked too much of Exxon Mobil, they are open to a consensus position that actually achieves the gains we need in renewable energy, immediate help for consumers, and increased exploration. They have a completely different approach to bi-partisan governing than John McCain who has made clear he'll take the Bush road of doing exactly what the oil companies want. Sen., Biden also cuts through the oil company malarkey and gets to the truth: right now, the richest companies in America which already get public land dirt cheap and which are just plain sitting on 68 million acres of leases, are telling tall tales to American consumers pretending that another land grab would bring down gas prices. They don't even acknowledge that there's a global market for oil and that all this drilling would be spread out across that market, not filling American gas tanks alone. "

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by mattcat25 September 4, 2008 4:56 PM EDT: "The liberals are reaching and are sore losers- their responses will pale in comparisoon to the Republicans intelligent responses- lets move on to issues that matter- like: Economy ( Obama will RAISE your taxes) Environment ( Obama does not want to DRILL) War- (Obama wants to Retreat-) Change ( Obama will change this country into a Sad Socaialistic disaster) mmm..which do you prefer? There is no contest. MCCAIN/PALIN 2008-2012. The winning ticket :hands down."

Economy: The Bush(and McCain) Tax Break entitlement program for the top 1% Wealthy entities will be repealed.

Environment: It%u2019s been the Republicans that have blocked the %u201Cuse-it , or lose-it %u201C bill set before congress to force OIL Companies to retrieve Oil from domestic fields already approved for Oil production that they are not using at this time.

War: I hate that the distorted, fanatical, and perverted obsession that the you and other right wingers have with war and death will come to a responsible termination, along with the $12 Billion Dollar per month Entitlement Program for War Contractors (tax free).

Change: Stop the bleeding of the Federal Treasury, Corruption, and attack on the American Middle Class by the Conservative Agenda.

There%u2019s more issues, many more we can discuss all day%u2026

I stress that we vote for our own better interests America!

Posted by Ariel133 at; Reply to this comment


by ariel133 September 4, 2008 2:12 PM EDT: The liberals are reaching and are sore losers- their responses will pale in comparisoon to the Republicans intelligent responses- lets move on to issues that matter- like: Economy ( Obama will RAISE your taxes) Environment ( Obama does not want to DRILL) War- (Obama wants to Retreat-) Change ( Obama will change this country into a Sad Socaialistic disaster) mmm..which do you prefer? There is no contest. MCCAIN/PALIN 2008-2012. The winning ticket :hands down.; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 September 4, 2008 12:03 PM EDT: Drill baby drill!

Republicans love OIL!
and, a vote for Palin/McCain is a vote to keep America OIL DEPENDANT.; Reply to this comment


by siobama September 4, 2008 7:28 AM EDT: ENOUGH OF REPUBLICAN CORRUPTION!!

ENOUGH OF REPUBLICAN LIES AND MANIPULATION!!

This year,

DEMOCRATS ALL THE WAY!!; Reply to this comment


by bswalker121 September 3, 2008 7:43 PM EDT: biden''s looking forward to that 5th of dewars around 8 am, then another 5th of dewars around 3 pm, then another 5th of dewars around 8pm and so and so on.

i wonder if he knows about the 12 steps of AA!!!!!

when he gets honest with himself and looks back over his past he''ll see all those mistakes and make amends properly, but how can he when all those babies are dead from his legislation, so the catch22 continues and he remains a drunk.; Reply to this comment


by bettymowery September 3, 2008 7:09 PM EDT: Ask Biden how his state is doin? Ask him how many people travel to Maryland everyday to work cause there is no good jobs in Delaware?? He give''s Drivers licenses to ILLEGAL immagrants without insurance!! I don''t know how they get it but he hasn''t done anything new in Delware since he started. And now he has a plan....like all the other goverment officials....for oil...and alternative fuels? Dah!! So does McCain!! Biden and Obama won''t do anything but sit back and get paid and blame the stillness of his presidentcy on Bush! Mark my words! Obama has no experience so he doesn''t know who and what he''s dealing with....and Biden can''t even run his own state properly. So what''s there plan for oil?? Oh yeah....smoke and mirrors!! SMOKE AND MIRRORS!!; Reply to this comment