Because so much of the 2012 focus has been on the Republican presidential field, and the ads aired by the candidates and their super PACs, we've seen far less from the Obama/Biden campaign when it comes to election messaging. That's changing now that the general-election phase is getting underway.
The president's re-election team unveiled this new ad late yesterday, which is airing in several battleground states: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio, and Virginia.
What's interesting about the spot is the context in which it appears. In this case, a Republican-friendly outfit called the American Energy Alliance is already spending $3.6 million on attack ads that falsely blame Obama for rising gas prices. The president's new spot helps make Obama's case on energy policy -- oil production has gone up each of the last three years, for example -- but it's also intended to rebut the AEA attack.
Notice, however, that Mitt Romney is very much a part of the equation. Obviously, the former Massachusetts governor can't be blamed for pain at the pump, but the Obama campaign's message, like the one being pushed by the Priorities USA super PAC, ties the likely Republican nominee to Big Oil through his policy agenda and campaign financing.
The criticism has the benefit of being true: the American Energy Alliance is being financed in part by the Koch brothers and the oil industry, which are enthusiastically backing the Romney campaign because the Republican has vowed to protect the industry's tax breaks, profits, and drilling interests.
The point isn't exactly subtle. "Big Oil" isn't popular with the American mainstream, and the Obama campaign wants voters to make the connection: Mitt Romney is the oil industry's man.
The fact that the president's team is airing this ad at all signals a degree of concern about energy policy -- if Obama didn't feel vulnerable on the issue, his campaign would simply ignore the American Energy Alliance's dishonest attacks -- but it also suggests Obama/Biden has plenty to work with when it comes to pushing back against the Republican/oil industry barrage.
Indeed, it's worth recognizing just how weak an issue energy policy is for Romney and his team.
The main problem, as the New York Times reported today, is that the likely Republican nominee has already argued for the same policies he's now against.
For several weeks, Mitt Romney has seized on the rising cost of gasoline to attack President Obama and his environmental aides for what Mr. Romney calls their misguided desire to see higher energy prices. [...]
But Mr. Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, has in the past appeared much more open to the notion that rising energy costs could be good for the American economy. In his 2010 book, "No Apology," Mr. Romney described a gradual increase in the cost of energy as the kind of market-based incentive that conservatives could embrace.
As governor, Romney also raised gas taxes -- by 400% -- and hired an energy advisor who opposes reduction in oil prices.
Romney even pushed for more energy-efficient light bulbs, though he now opposes the idea.
Clearly, the former governor is aware of public concerns and wants to incorporate energy policy into the 2012 race, but between Romney's Big Oil ties and his previous personas, it's not going to be easy for him to stay coherent on the subject.
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Hit 'em hard, and hit 'em often, because, as H.L. Mencken told us, we should never underestimate the intelligence of the American public.
...unless you're trying to get rich.
Shouldn't that be "overestimate?"
I think there's something else to notice here. At a time when gas prices are about 4 bucks a gallon the President is playing offense, attacking the Republican candidate for being against higher mileage standards and renewables. This pitch is a profoundly progressive one.
attacking the Republican candidate for being against higher mileage standards
Judging by the size of the vehicles I see every day, most Americans are also against or really don't think/care about mileage standards. SUVs are everywhere. I am fine with renewables except for the fact that we now grow food (corn) to fuel our vehicles while millions go hungry all over the earth.
Judging by where POTUS invested money in e.g. the Stimulus I'd say 'renewables' means any energy you can put in a battery, i.e. wind, solar etc...
Regular Americans are now feeling the brunt of our government's failure to implement a viable and robust alternative energy strategy. Our addiction to oil is as strong as ever, and it is fed by intransigence and opposition from special interests in the energy industry and their legion of allies in Washington. Big Oil is getting big profits while hard-working Americans are suffering as never before. The answer is to simultaneously punish the oil companies and speculators for driving up prices while aggressively reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. http://www.sunstateactivist.org
President Obama's reelection team is working the right trajectory here:
We've been through difficult economic times, not of the President's making no matter how his Republican detractors try to pin the meltdown on him. American families have had to really face tough economic decisions that the top 2% no nothing about. The Republican brand has been lying and twisting reality for some time now,
So, Team Obama has gotten out in front of the Rovean lies and is reinforcing the reality-based American narrative of his Presidency these past 4 years which acknowledges the pain and woe of the middle class, and strives for solutions to alleviate the unbalanced economic and tax burdens borne by us 99%ers.
President Obama is doing well to set the contrast of the two parties, and it'll be our part to Occupy the Ballot Booth (OBB) come this November to Vote the Republicans Out! (OBB to VRO!) -Kevo
Maybe it's just me, but in Shrubs last years in office I recall that gas was up past $4/gal.! The fact is WE the People will continue to be "manipulated by the Oligarchy" and whether its gas/food prices/stick your label here - until WE shift and are NO LONGER willing to fall for the Ponzi scheme that WE are currently losing! The rich get richer and yet it is the labor (along with generous taxpayer $$) of the people that's making it so!
OIL IS A FINITE RESOURCE! Please reread that, WE as a nation must stop feeling entitled to cheap OIL especially because it is our tax dollars continuing to go the most profitable industry in the world!! WE have got to shift into renewable energy sources and reinvest in R&D to figure out other ways of carrying on without decimating the environment and our future generations life chances!
m
I find it amusing that after years of the automotive industry saying that they could NOT increase gas mileage and they were getting the best mileage they could, now all of a sudden we have vehicles getting better gas mileage. Amazing. What did they discover after all these years of saying it couldn't be done? Maybe a bailout deal?
And putting corn in our gas? I thought it was said that doing that actually DECREASED mileage, therefore, using the same amount of actual gas if not more. When did that change?
When the corporate agriculture industry wanted a piece of the oil pie?
I have such a hard time keeping up with all these corporate and political lies at times.
I just found a gas receipt, in an old book, from 7/2/2008. The price per gallon was $4.059. The price at the same gas station today was $3.81. Will Republicans ever stop lying?
No.
Apple reported over $30 BILLION in profits over last 4 quarters (compared to Exxon's $40 billion).
How come there's no soapbox speech about Apple being greedy?