Obama says he wants lower gas prices
AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
(CBS News) President Obama on Tuesday scoffed at the notion he wants higher gas prices, as some of his critics claim.
Asked about the charge at his first formal White House press conference of the year, Mr. Obama replied to Fox News correspondent Ed Henry's question with a question of his own.
"From a political perspective, do you think the president of the United States going into re-election wants gas prices to go up higher? Is there anybody here who thinks that makes a lot of sense?"
Presidents of both parties have historically considered it harder to get votes if gas prices rise in the months before an election.
Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich last month said on CBS This Morning that Mr. Obama "of course" wants gas prices to rise in order to push people to move to alternative energy sources.
In addition to the political reasons for lower gas prices, Mr. Obama noted that he wants them to help the economy.
"I meet folks every day who have to drive a long way to get to work and filling up this gas tank gets more and more painful and it's a tax out of their pocketbooks," he said. "When gas prices go up consumer spending often pulls back. We're in the midst of a recovery starting to build steam, and we don't want to reverse it."
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Today's press conference gave Mr. Obama a moment in the media spotlight on a day that would have otherwise belonged to Mr. Gingrich and his Republican rivals -- 10 states are holding their Republican nominating contests today in what's known as "Super Tuesday."
The president reiterated his support for an "all of the above" energy strategy that includes increasing domestic energy production, increasing auto fuel efficiency standards, conservation and developing green energy technologies.
With respect to domestic production, Mr. Obama mentioned clearing up "potential bottlenecks in refineries around the country" -- a concern that the administration has could be in part addressed by the construction on the Southern leg of the Keystone pipeline. Mr. Obama also mentioned that he's directed Attorney General Eric Holder to monitor international oil markets for speculation.
"There is no silver bullet," to lowering prices, Mr. Obama said.
In the past month, gas prices have risen by more than 28 cents per gallon, making fuel the most expensive ever for this time of year. Gingrich in particular has seized on the issue to criticize the president, promoting what he calls the "Gingrich $2.50 plan" to bring prices down.
At the top of his news conference, Mr. Obama jokingly acknowledged the Super Tuesday contests, saying, "I understand there are some political contests going on tonight."
In his remarks regarding his new mortgage relief initiatives, the president also took a shot at former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney when he said, "I'm not one of those people who thinks we can sit by and let the housing market hit bottom."
Romney has more than once said the foreclosure crisis should run its course and hit the bottom in order for the housing market to recover.
After noting that Romney has called Mr. Obama "feckless," CBS News White House correspondent Norah O'Donnell asked the president what message he had for Romney tonight. Mr. Obama said, "Good luck."
More from the press conference:
Obama to GOP rivals: War in Iran "not a game"
Obama won't judge "sincerity" of Limbaugh apology
Obama's Super Tuesday message to Romney: "Good luck tonight"
Obama details mortgage relief plans
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The Republican game plan is to destroy the economy blame the Democrats and President Obama. This is their strategy to obtain the White House and the Senate in the 2012 elections. If you think the Republicans are death on average Americans, working-class and middle-class people now. Just think of how much more damage they could do to this country if they had the house,the Senate and the presidency to consolidate power to do whatever they want. They would then have free reign to turn America into the Third World country that they want for their corporate overlords.
They've already shown their hand by not approving extended unemployment benefits for people and anything else that would help the average American. Then they took America to the brink of default with the debt ceiling crisis. A crisis in which they created. Republicans on the supreme court ruling corporations are people and therefore can give unlimited funding to politicians. Republicans fighting for tax cuts for corporations, big oil and the wealthy while advocating cutting social security, medicare and medicaid. For those reasons and more I can't imagine any thinking working-class poor or middle-class person voting to support Republicans after all the damage they've done to this country. Americans must reject republicans at town hall meetings and the polls for their anti American unpatriotic strategy and tactics. The only difference between Timothy McVie and the republicans is he used explosives and they used their congressional positions.
The phony debt ceiling debate and agreement is another part of the republican game plan to take back the senate and white house. They create artificial crisis to stall (run out the clock on President Obama's term) and cripple him and the economy to prevent JOBS from being discussed or created. They are counting on voters blaming the president for the bad economy even though they the republicans are sabotaging every step of the way. Even a blind man can see republicans couldn't care less for average Americans. Just imagine what they would do if they controlled the house, senate and presidency. Americans cannot let that happen. Because it is crystal clear by the behavior of republicans they do not want America to progress and will hold it hostage to prevent it.
Republicans are screwing up government to prove their mantra " government doesn't work". This is designed to frustrate and turn off non supporters from voting thus paving the way for their depraved zealots to vote republican. Americans need to punish republicans at town halls and the polls. They cannot be allowed to get away with sabotaging our great nation. Americans need to recognize that republicans have no intention or incentive to do anything to bring America out of its economic woes.
After all, they think they can also get elected by blaming President Obama and Democrats. Time will tell if voters will fall for this again. Prevent abuse of struggling Americans and America. Just say no to voting for republicans.
1} Defund EPA ...this might help cut government spending immediately. It sure will help keep jobs?and control expected climb in energy costs.
2} Congress must override and change the EPA ruling on CO2 , inadvertently supported?by the Supreme Court in 2007 in the global warming overreach.
Obama's admin & EPA policy is a job killing machine...guaranteed to make the Obama recession?the next "Great Depression"
Act now.... 2012 EPA phase I ....is waiting to kill off more jobs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlTxGHn4sH4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I6ga0nrH5I
http://news.yahoo.com/energy-s...?http://hotair.com/archives/200...?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...?http://www.nypost.com/p/news/o...
This guy is un-freakin'-believable!? With what he, and his Energy Secretary, have both said on record in the past about gas prices, does he REALLY expect us to believe what he says here?!? It's important to hear what they say, but it's more important to see what they do!
April 21, 2008—Gasoline prices jump to a record $3.50 a gallon in some parts of the U.S.
May 15, 2008— While many people were shocked at $3 a gallon, they were not prepared for what was about to happen as prices shot up to nearly $4 a gallon. Public hysteria sets in as consumers begin using Gas Buddy to find the lowest gas prices in town.
May 21, 2008—Oil price skyrockets to $130 a barrel. Holly cow!!!
June 9, 2008—Retail gas prices rise above $4 per gallon.
In the early summer of 2008, when the average price of a gallon of gas in the US topped $4, a wide variety of Fox News figures were quick to push a simple message: don't blame the Bush/Cheney administration.
Make no mistake about it, gasoline prices ARE President Obama's right Achilles heel. Iran is President Obama's left Achilles heel. Either one, or both, have the potential to bring him down in November.
"Hope and Change" no longer works for me. After I put gas in my car, I don't have any change left!
Every time gas prices go up; so does everything else.
In 6 weeks a center cut ham slice went up from $3.19 per pound to $4.49 per pound, a pound of pretzels went up .50 per pound etc.
I can see increases of .20 or.30 over a period of a few weeks, but increases go up anywhere from $1.00 to a $1.50 in a week.
Unfortunately; my check does not go up accordingly.
High prices for necessities take a huge toll on discretionary income; yet the government would have you believe the country is on the rebound from the recession.
I can't help but wonder how Gingrich can promise $2.50 per gallon gsoline prices.
Remember; Obama promised the American people utopia if he was elected.
Has anybody seen Utopia yet.?
I DON'T THINK SO.!!
Pricing you see today is based on these future replacement costs.
These current prices are based on an educated opinion that supplies may not be so good in the future. There are many reasons for this.
If making money on these oil investments is so easy, and profitable, all you have to do is get in on it. Anyone can invest in oil. Let us know a month from now how you are doing now that (hopefully) you have the most rudimentary understanding of how it works.