Supplies DO.....Don't Matter

The short stop over photo opportunity made by President Obama yesterday was one of the most eye-opening staged events in New Mexico political history. The carefully choreographed moments were all about creating images. In the background, as the president took the hastily arranged stage and got behind the podium, busy oil derricks were captured by New Mexico and national media cameras. Unfortunately, for anyone inclined to listen carefully, the president started speaking.
The amazing thing about the president’s brief address to the White House’s handpicked crowd was all the details he provided about how he was bringing more and more supplies of energy to the marketplace. He used “All-of-the-Above” as a catchy phrase to emphasize all the new supplies he was the champion of. All the blame shifting energy talking points were hit. Reducing dependence on foreign oil is always a big deal at a photo op. Obama cited a few out of context production statistics that are complexly unrelated to his restrictive policies to back up his claims for how he is bringing new supply to the marketplace.

And then like a true wordsmith magician using a verbal wand and top hat for distraction a sleight of the tongue was delivered. After making the case for why bringing additional energy supplies to the market were so important, Obama uttered a statement that turned his whole case one hundred eighty degrees. With an about face Obama said, “There is "no connection between the amount of oil and gas we drill in this country and the price of gas." Say what?

First, it is ridiculous to suggest that more supply will not reduce the price and second it was the president who made the case for more supply through an all-of-the above strategy. Sense became nonsense and sound economics became gibberish with one sentence.

Of course what the president did not reveal was how much more expensive it is produce energy using wind and solar. Nor was he truthful about oil companies and subsidies. But rather than get to those arguments, lets just say it is difficult to get to economic first base with this president’s energy policies when he first makes the case for more supply and then says more supply has no connection to price.

Supplies DO.....Don't Matter