Obama: Opponents Are ‘Rooting For Bad News’ On Gas Prices

[Purveyor]

By David Nakamura,

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — President Obama defended his energy policies Thursday in the face of rising gas prices, saying there are no “quick fixes” to protect consumers and lashing out at political rivals who blame him for the spike.

Gas prices have risen 29 cents per gallon since December, with the price for regular octane gas now averaging $3.64 a gallon in the Washington region at a time of year when consumers usually enjoy a respite from such spikes.

Republicans are blaming Obama for the increase and even some Democrats are pressing him to take stronger action to protect consumers. It’s a potential election-year mess for a president who has recently enjoyed a surge in approval ratings.

But in an appearance at the University of Miami, where he toured an engineering program for energy efficiency, Obama told a crowd of about 1,500 that his GOP rivals who are pledging to slash prices are “rooting for bad news” to win political points.

MORE...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/taking-heat-on-gas-prices-obama-to-defend-energy-policy-but-offer-no-quick-fixes/2012/02/22/gIQAkuxCVR_story.html

[JaneQPublic]

1. Opponents also forget Bush-era spikes in gas prices.

When they blame Obama's economic policies for the present rise, someone needs to ask them why it is prices also rose during GWBush's presidency, when Bush was doing everything the GOP candidates say will fix things now.

[HopeHoops]

2. BINGO!

What's good for America is bad for the GOP.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

3. Mr. President, I'm sorry, but you are incredibly NAIVE!! The Republicans have been rooted for your

failure every since you raised your hand. They have been rooting for the economy to worsen so they win! They have been actively and deliberately blocking every economic recovery measure to see to it that you lose!!

STOP BEING SO FREAKIN' NAIVE!!!!!

[Son of Gob]

5. What is he naive about?

He just said they're rooting for bad news and has said it before. Also, WHY THE FREAK ARE WE YELLING!!!!!!

[Proud Liberal Dem]

7. Yeah

I mean, he is getting out there and telling people what the Pubs are up to. What more can he do? He knows what's going on. It may not always seem like it because he is actually busy, well, governing but he knows what's up.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

9. He says these things, but he continues to behave differently. I'm one of Obama's biggest supporters

but it irks me that he seems to be in shock about this revelation.

[WI_DEM]

6. Where did it say that he doesn't know this?

and why do you keep making this same statement every day?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

10. I've made this statement every day? I'm not even on DU every day, and I'm one of the president's

biggest fans. I do think he suffers from naiveté by believing that he can work with these people on the right. It's just frustrating.

[Son of Gob]

11. I'd say you're suffering from naiveté by believing that he can accomplish

anything without trying to work with these people. It's frustrating to have to work with these impeding zealots but it's also frustrating to see people not recognize that it is necessary to do so to accomplish anything.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

13. That's funny! The Obama haters here on DU have blamed Obama for everything. I fully understand

that he has to try, but there was a time that he kept trying to no avail and refused to see that he couldn't work with ANY of these clowns, not even Susan Collins or Olympia Snowe. I'm the least naive person around these parts. If you're familiar with any of my posts, you'd know this.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

4. It's all just part of the Republican's plans

to talk down the country, the economy prior to the election. They have become insistent that President Obama (and the country) fail.

[AwareOne]

8. They are not just rooting for it, they are causing it

I've heard several interviews lately where the host is questioning oil industry experts about why gas prices are going up. No one can explain it. The fact is we are flush with oil and gas now and we have had a very mild winter and US residents are driving less. We are even exporting much more gas now. The only reason gas is going up seems to be the oil companies can and will charge whatever they want. They despise Obama and will do whatever they can to get rid of him so why not jack the prices up leading up to the election and blame Obama for it. The oil companies are in collusion with the GOP to sour the economy and make the American people howl. Anything to win the election no matter who it screws over.

[DCBob]

12. Rooting?? .. they are nearly orgasmic.

Some RW moron on the radio today was stuttering and spitting with excitement explaining how rising gas prices will take the President down. When confronted with the argument that the President has little control over the price other than tapping the strategic reserve. Then he got pissed and said he better not do that.. thats there for "emergencies" only. I suspect he fears that would work.