DeMint blasts president on Strategic Petroleum Reserve
(CNN) - Sen. Jim DeMint slammed President Barack Obama's order Thursday to withdraw 30 million barrels of oil from the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The president's decision, while applauded by Democrats, drew criticism from top Republicans who said the reserve should be used for emergencies only–not price reduction.
"He's trying to be the wizard behind the curtain in 'The Wizard of Oz.' He's trying to control our economy from Washington. That's not how it works," the South Carolina Republican said in an interview with CNN's Candy Crowley, chief political correspondent and anchor of "State of the Union."
The release will take place over 30 days, injecting a supply of oil into a market strained by ongoing unrest in Libya and the Middle East. But DeMint argued Obama's plan to tap into the reserve is ill-fated.
"Instead of going after our own oil, our own energy, our own natural gas, the president has made it very difficult, really costing us tens of thousands of jobs. Now we're going to come - come into the Strategic Reserve to - to try to essentially manage oil prices," DeMint said.
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"He's trying to be the wizard behind the curtain in 'The Wizard of Oz.' He's trying to control our economy from Washington. That's not how it works,"
So eliminating taxes for the rich and corporations is not playing the "wizard" card??!!! I though all the tax breaks that we give the wealthiest 1% is supposed to inspire them to create new jobs... ha ha.. yeah! Just like the republicans promised to focus on job creation.. yeah right.. more like stall till 2012!!!!
There is no imminent need to release the oil and certainly no emergency. The US gets less than 2% of its oil from Libya so that reasoning is a non-starter. If we need to release oil at $90 per barrel why didn't he release any last summer when it was upwards of $125-150 per barrel? Why didn't he release it a few weeks ago when it was $115? This move is a transparent leap to try and bring his approval numbers up which coincidentally have fallen in the past 2 weeks and now he releases the oil, if you donm't question the motivation there is a problem. This man does not understand what it means to be President of the United States nor does he understand that it's about representing ALL of the people of the United States and not just caring about re-election, I have had it with him.
This clown wants us to believe that fuel pricing is some sort of free market enterprise. It's a speculative time bomb that the government should regulate. End users of petroleum products pay up to 40% more once the speculators have had their say. Bravo to Obama's Administration for figuring out a way to rein these bloodsucker's in.
Hey, if some one is trying to lower the price at the pump, I say thank you. I don't care if they are democrat or republican
DeMint should be honest and point an accusing finger at Wall Street olil speculators who are driving up the price of gas at a time when oil supplies are adequate and Americans are driving less and consuming less gas.
The Republicans would prefer we just give our money to the big oil companies. If he hadn't released some symbolic money (that's all it really is...) from the reserve they'd have wailed for a release. They will do anything do discredit the president – even if the nation fails as a result. Thet are the American Taliban.
Gee, first they say that Obama is not doing enough to control the economy and now they're saying he cannot control the economy and that's not how it works. Which is it guys. I'm so tired of the Republicants talking out of both sides of their mouths.
All they know is to oppose whatever Obama is for. They don't really stand for anything on their own and they don't have any new ideas of their own. They're just the party of 'no'.
There is no money exchanging hands from Big Oil to DeMints bank account in this transaction...no wonder he's upset
Of course the Republicans would be against something that helps the average guy save money and doesn't help big oil profits. How's that jobs thing you guys ran on coming?
Another hick from banjo country using any excuse to bash the President. These clowns lower the taxes of the corporations cause they will create jobs. Hey wait a minute, there are no jobs, oh well we will keep their taxes low anyways, they give us more support money than the unemployed middle class. Boy are they smart.
What tens of thousands of jobs lost? Hiring is and has been up in La and Texas in the offshore oil industry which was almost devastated during the Reagan years. What planet do these creatures exist on?
Shut your racist mouth demint
GW did the same thing. Did the right wing get angry with him. I think not.
Another shocking headline! Mr. Tea publican himself criticizing the President about something. Why doesn't CNN write one article a day, and just list all the people who felt like armchair quarterbacking today?
Oh boo hoo hoo demented. That means less money for your oil stock and for the big corporations whose feet you kiss. Cause since they are people you do a lot of kissy kissy and half way down also.
When Pres Obama..Flip-Flops means he is evolving...
When Pres Obama Proctastinates means he is deliberate and thoughtful...
......................................................but........................................................
What do the people think..??......Pres Obama is a Flip-Floper and a Procastinator...!!
People,
If you want nothing done in Washington, send Republicans to Washington. They would ensure nothing is done in Washington (helping the economy or anything else). The only thing coming from Washington would be tax cuts, and a mountain of debt from tax cuts. They would force future Democratic presidents to raise taxes to pay off the debt, then blame Democrats for raising taxes.
republicans are only upset because this might cost some of their oil buddies some income and thus costing republicans bribery money. The oil companies, specualtors( republicans are all in their pockets) want to continue to keep prices high or drive prices up for their bottom line but we, the people, are tired of paying high prices for oil while fighting for oil and oil companies profits. I hope this does reduce the price of gas and brings some relief at teh gas pumps and republicans continue to betray the public with propaganda but we have caught up to their schemes and they will pay the price for their betrayal when we vote them out.
Shut your pie hole DeMint. I wish South Carolina would try to secede again. This time we should let them do it, but only if we can still play golf there.
Obama is not like the Wizard. He's more like the scarecrow. No brains.