The Republicans are synthesizing a higher-octane blend in their bid to fuel Americans’ anxiety about higher gas prices. The Republican National Committee sent out talking points instructing party faithful to take up the issue. House Speaker John Boehner urged his caucus to do the same. And, on Wednesday, the House energy committee obliged: The Republican majority called in a bunch of oilmen for a hearing dedicated largely to blaming President Obama for gas prices.
“The president got his wish,” Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) announced. “He asked for $4 gasoline, he said he wanted it, he implemented policies to get us there, and now that the price is there and people across the country are furious with the prices, the president is trying to blame somebody else.” But why blame Obama for $4 gas if you can tar him with $10 gas? Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) asked a Big Oil man on the panel, Charles Drevna of the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, what the price of a gallon would be if all domestic production ceased. “Ten dollars, like they pay in Europe?”
“That’s difficult to answer,” Drevna replied. The lawmaker wasn’t satisfied. “This administration would like to wean us off our fossil fuels,” he announced, repeating the question. “The cost? I can’t,” Big Oil demurred. “Would we be paying $10 a gallon?” the congressman demanded. “If not more,” the oilman finally answered.
In fact, domestic oil output has sharply increased under President Obama to the highest level in nearly a decade and is expected to continue expanding. Even if that stopped, it’s not obvious that European price levels (which are inflated by taxes) would be the automatic result. But reason has nothing to do with it. As the stock market advances and the labor market improves, Republicans are losing their best campaign themes. That makes the recent spike in gasoline prices in part a byproduct of higher economic growth a potentially crucial issue for the opposition. The facts aren’t on their side but political reality is: The incumbent will be credited or blamed for whatever happens on his watch, good or bad.