Obama: Feds May Need To Rethink Ethanol

All Candidates Suggest Biofuel Production And Policies Need Retooling As Food Prices Rise

(AP)  Democrat Barack Obama said Sunday the federal government might need to rethink its support for corn ethanol because of rising food prices, a stance similar to Republican John McCain's but at odds with farm states considered important to the November election.

"What I've said is my top priority is making sure people are able to get enough to eat. If it turns out we need to make changes in our ethanol policy to help people get something to eat, that has got to be the step we take," said Obama, D-Ill., on NBC's "Meet the Press."

"We have rising food prices around the United States. In other countries, we're seeing riots because of the lack of food supply, so this is something we're going to have to deal with," he said.

Last week, a group of Republican senators including McCain, R-Ariz., asked the Environmental Protection Agency to loosen congressional mandates to blend more ethanol and other renewable fuels into the gasoline supply, saying they are adding significantly to food costs. The mandates are backed by President Bush and senators representing farm states.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., speaking on ABC's "This Week," agreed the issue needs closer review.

"What we need to do is accelerate the research into farm waste and into other cellulosic plant materials. Because, I think, instead of using the corn, let's figure out if we can use the corn cob," she said. "Let's figure out if we can use the corn stalk. Let's figure out what other kind of food, you know, waste we can use."

Clinton added: "In the short run, we've got to work with our farmers and with like-minded people around the world to figure out how this increasing use in biofuels, which is part of our answer to our dependence on foreign oil, does not undermine food production and really accelerate the prices."

Some top international food scientists last month recommended halting the use of food-based biofuels, such as ethanol, saying it would cut corn prices by 20 percent during a world food crisis.

Corn production in Wisconsin is already expected to dip slightly from last year. Wisconsin farmers said they plan to plant 3.65 million acres of corn this year, down 10 percent from 2007 but the same amount planted in 2006.

Matt Hartwig, a spokesman for the Renewable Fuels Association, has said the ethanol industry is exploring many other possible ethanol feedstocks, including wood chips, switchgrass, citrus waste and garbage.

[pensacola88]

Repealing the $53 cent a gallon import tax imposed on Brazil for their sugar-cane based ethanol would clearly help satisfy our energy needs. Domestic corn-based ethanol suppliers lobbied to impose this tax to stave off competition. This is the type of political lobbying that Barack Obama is against.

Lobbyists have contributed to an economic problem and its'' solution.

[rowdytexan2]

GLOBAL POVERTY ACT..."In addition to seeking to eradicate poverty, that (U.N.) declaration commits nations to banning ''small arms and light weapons'' and ratifying a series of treaties, including the International Criminal Court Treaty, the Kyoto Protocol (global warming treaty), the Convention of Biological Diversity, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention of the Rights of the Child," he said.

Those U.N. protocols would make U.S. law on issues ranging from the 2nd Amendment to energy usage and parental rights all subservient to United Nations whims.

Kincaid also reported Jeffrey Sachs, who runs the "Millennium Project," confirms a U.N. plan to force the U.S. to pay 0.7 percent of GNP would add about $65 billion a year to what the U.S. already donates overseas.

And the only way to raise that funding, Sachs confirms, "is through a global tax, preferably on carbon-emitting fossil fuels," Kincaid writes.

On the forum run by Americans for Legal Immigration PAC, one writer reported estimates of taxes from 35 cents to $1 dollar a gallon on gasoline would be needed.

"This is disgusting, sickening and angers me to the depths of my soul," the forum author wrote. "Obama wants us to support the world. I wonder how they intend to eliminate poverty. Most of the money always winds up in some dictator hands and in the U.N. coffers."

So, Obama wants to commit us to another $.35 to $1.00 in federal gasoline tax! HILARIOUS

[omaar-101]

Note: a 45 yr old man vs. a 72 yr old man...people will not Vote for ...grandpa...no Matter what !!

Thats why McCain wants Hillary''''s A!! oppose to Obama


Total Delegate Count

Polls LIE...Supporters LIE, The Media LIES..But NUmbers Never LIE

Bias People OFTEN LIE...The BIAS MEDIA Often LIES...

But Numbers... NEVER LIE

Until she does pull EVEN or SURPASS Obama, You Hillarites are Blowing Sand out of Your A!!''''''''s !!

Until Clinton EVENS Obama or SURPASSES Obamas Numbers..Hillarys A!! is the LOSER !!!


Democrats | 2,025 Needed to Clinch

OBAMA (1,745)

CLINTON 1,603

EDWARDS 18


Republicans | 1,191 Needed to Clinch
MCCAIN 1,241
HUCKABEE 231
ROMNEY 149

CBS News estimates. Includes super delegates.

[omaar-101]

Note: a 45 yr old man vs. a 72 yr old man...people will not Vote for ...grandpa...no Matter what !!

Thats why McCain wants Hillary''s A!! oppose to Obama


Total Delegate Count

Polls LIE...Supporters LIE, The Media LIES..But NUmbers Never LIE

Bias People OFTEN LIE...The BIAS MEDIA Often LIES...

But Numbers... NEVER LIE

Until she does pull EVEN or SURPASS Obama, You Hillarites are Blowing Sand out of Your A!!''''s !!

Until Clinton EVENS Obama or SURPASSES Obamas Numbers..Hillarys A!! is the LOSER !!!


Democrats | 2,025 Needed to Clinch

OBAMA (1,745)

CLINTON 1,603

EDWARDS 18


Republicans | 1,191 Needed to Clinch
MCCAIN 1,241
HUCKABEE 231
ROMNEY 149

CBS News estimates. Includes super delegates.

[minnick8-2009]

Yes, I do think there is something wrong with starvingi people to pay for cheap transportation. Earlier today I wrote:

I never did think that converting corn to ethanol was a good idea considering food demand world wide. There are alternatives which continue to be ignored. Some other choices might be development of domestic resources such as drilling for our own oil or coal mining in Utah, or better utilization of solar energy, and wind energy, and hydrogen energy and even (dare I say it?) nuclear energy. The fact that we are so dependent on foreigh oil is the fault of the left wing, environmental, Sierra Club, liberals. Back in the 70''''s and 80''''s when they were so successful at killing and squashing all of the proposed fuel development projects, I hoped that one day they would all freeze to death in the dark. Unfortunately, we will probably all freeze to death in the dark.

Hillary''s scientific approach to transportation is.. "instead of using the corn, let''s figure out if we can use the corn cob. Let''s figure out if we can use the corn stalk." Some of us have an immediate suggestion of what can be done with the corn cob, but this being a family channel, we think "stalking" should be against the law. Does anyone else see something wrong in "starving" the peoples of the world to pay for America''s attempt at cheap transportation, while Obama tries to find a place on government property to have a smoke and Hillary tries to find someone without health insurance denied medical care and McCain just tries to make 72 an Alzheimers-free year? We understand the strong emotions surfacing around the Obama/Wright versus Clinton/Clinton versus McCain/Hagee candidacies. We doubt that "unity" will be possible from any quarter, or, in this case, third. Looks like eight more years of "death of a thousand cuts," beginning with Inauguration day minus 13. America loses again. White America, anyway. Is Hee Haw on re-runs anywhere?

[ghostdog8]

IF... Obama wins the nomination, It''s going to be McCain by 60% to 40%. Count on it.

[jbms888]

The big agricultral companies are profiteering again with the corn situation. They surely know that you get about 100 times the energy from sugar cane or sugar beets than corn. The corporations are right up there with the oil companies.

[libh8er]

''Obama: Feds May Need To Rethink Ethanol''

May?? MAY??? That''s an understatement. It costs more to produce than a gallon of gas and solves nothong. Amother ''Wile E Coyote'' like democrat plan falls apart!!!

[minnick8-2009]

I never did think that converting corn to ethanol was a good idea considering food demand world wide. There are alternatives which continue to be ignored. Some other choices might be development of domestic resources such as drilling for our own oil or coal mining in Utah, or better utilization of solar energy, and wind energy, and hydrogen energy and even (dare I say it?) nuclear energy. The fact that we are so dependent on foreigh oil is the fault of the left wing, environmental, Sierra Club, liberals. Back in the 70''s and 80''s when they were so successful at killing and squashing all of the proposed fuel development projects, I hoped that one day they would all freeze to death in the dark. Unfortunately, we will probably all freeze to death in the dark.

[broncfan1661]

Wise up people not only is Obama the best choice but he is the only choice and get used to it cause he will be your and mine next President of these Our United States of America
Posted by sandysguy at 09:39 AM : May 05, 2008
________________________________________________

Looks like the "Latte Liberals" are out in force today!

Hillary is going to put Obammie on his b**t tomorrow!

[pensacola88]

The economics of gasoline substitutes is the core of every debate. It is only feasible and attractive to seek other forms when oil prices are high. When they go down, substitutes lose their appeal.

A lesson for economists about over-commiting a country to one substitute system while prices are high can be learned from Mexico in 1971. The oil secretary in Mexico saw oil prices rise from $12 to over $30 per barrel. He pursuaded the President of Mexico to borrow money to finance oil exploration and construction of refineries, because at $30 a barrel, they could repay their loans and still make a profit. When Saudi Arabia saw their monopoly threatened, they reduced their prices back down to $20 a barrel. That move spelled economic disaster for Mexico, as it had to repay its loans and operate at a loss. To offset their error, they devalued their peso to stop importing goods. Runaway inflation exceeded 100% for years. The exchange rate of 12.5 pesos to a dollar in 1971 is now 105,000, but the decimal point was displaced over three places to 10.5 to improve public perception.

There is no possible disconnection from world fuel economics with any energy policy. Self sufficiency is not attainable in global market. Fluctuations are a fact of life.

[aldon61]

Don''t use corn for ethanol, use switch grass; it''s cheaper, more abundant and requires practically no maintenance. It is an alternative that needs more consideration.

[sandysguy]

Looks like they let all the nuts out this morniong
You may not be one but you sure are acting like one

You would rather have pathological lias Hillary or war mongering bush worshipping mcain as president


Wise up people not only is Obama the best choice but he is the only choice and get used to it cause he will be your and mine next President of these Our United States of America

God Bless You All

[pensacola88]

Currently, our Federal Government imposes an import tax of about 53 cents a gallon if the ethanol is from Brazil, which is a sugar cane based form of ethanol. This was a result of political lobbying done by domestic ethanol suppliers which are corn based.

There is no doubt that ethanol would help reduce our total dependancy on petroleum. Brazil currently has a 20% mixture.

The economic model says that less demand on gaoline will drive gas prices downward, but more demand on ethanol will drive up ethanol prices. Regulation of ethanol prices is critical to succeeding in gaining acceptance by the consumer. The diesel fuel price model of the past two years reflects a change of which fuel will cost more as demand increases for the gasoline substitute.

[abbe91]

Posted by JACK3213 at 08:00 AM : May 05, 2008
Posted by dante805 at 08:00 AM : May 05, 2008

Anything worth to say about bio-fuels (the subject of the article, you know) ?

[jack3213]

IN HIS RETORT AFTER WRIGHT GAVE HIS SPEECH, OBAMA SAID :" I FEEL THAT HE HAS PERSONALLY INSUTLED ME" OF COURSE, OBAMA FEELS THAT IT IS PERSONAL, BECAUSE HE IS AS SELF- RIGHTEOUS AS CLINTON, WHEN NIETHER DESERVE SUCH ADMIRATION - HOW DARE THEY THINK THEY DESERVE SOME KIND OF ACCULADES FOR ALL THE NONSENSE AND LIES THEY SPEW. I FEEL SORRY FOR THOSE WHO ARE DUPED BY THEM. IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS- IT IS STUPIDITY.

[dante805]

Obama Can''t be trusted. Could Ted Kennedy or Barbara Boxer or Russ Feingold get elected President. No. Why because they are so liberal. Now OBAMA is even MORE liberal than them. Why don''t we ever see stories in the print media about that? Because the Obamination is a NEW liberal, a progressive who can speak fairly well. Gimme a break. He''s a wolf in sheeps clothing. Don''t fall prey to this Snake Oil Salesman. We are too bitter, cling to our guns and Religion , and would rather have an abortion than be punished with a baby. My God, why is he still in the DEM race. Think you sheeple, think.

[vet_sk]

Even the farmers have admitted that the subsidies for both growing corn for ethanol and makign ethanol from the corn was a fraud.

I am glad Obama is stepping up to the bat and telling it how it is.

realtime09, what is the problem with that? Do you want to be pandered to like a 1st grader or talked to like an adult? Our country needs it mojo back again and whie Obama has some faults he is by far our best chance of that.

[miami_21]

a view from behind bars; coming from the midwest..all my life i have seen farmers getting rich off the goverment welfare they receive and now it gets worse because the goverment says we have to have this ethanol....for those of you that disagree look around, since the 1970''s farm folks have gotten big heck some of my people farm and they brag about their tax deductions....time to put that money in my pocket!