How out of touch is this administration with the struggles of the average American? This out of touch:
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA): In controlling the cost of gasoline at the pump, do you give yourself an A-?
Secretary of Energy Steven Chu: Well, the tools that we have at our disposal are limited, but I would say I would give myself a little higher than that. Since I became Secretary of Energy I’ve been doing everything I can to get long-term solutions.
The statement, made today to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, will be general election gold for the GOP, played while images of rising gas prices across the country flicker across the screen.
Secretary Chu stated that the tools at the administration’s disposal are limited and this is not completely devoid of truth. This administration cannot, as much as it might want to, order oil companies to lower the price of fuel. It cannot order states to lower taxes on purchases made at the pump. While this may be the case, the Secretary neglects to give himself credit for what his office has done to damage energy policy since taking office. Today Politico reports about the same hearing:
“After hundreds of thousands of pages of documents sent over, there’s not any whiff that this [Solyndra] was a politically influenced decision,” Chu told reporters Tuesday shortly after wrapping up House committee testimony on the controversial program. “That’s true of all the loans.”
The American people pay enough attention to notice that a major gas pipeline wasn’t approved as their fuel prices continue to skyrocket, they’ve seen millions of dollars set aside for “green energy” projects vanish into thin air.
My cousin, normally apolitical, has taken to posting Facebook pictures of his $100+ weekly trips to the pump. He may not notice many political events, but he’s noticed his fuel expenditures breaking his business’ bottom line over the last several months. Come November, most Americans will tell pollsters they care most about social issues, foreign policy and economic plans. When they go to pull the lever, however, they’ll be thinking about how much they just spent in gas to get to the polling station. And if the GOP plays their cards right, they’ll also be thinking about the President’s Energy Secretary that pats himself on the back for a job well done.
You're being unfair to Secretary Chu. He's the guy who said he wanted us to have $8 to $10 a gallon gasoline. It's only about $4. It's on its way towards his goal, but not there yet. Appropriately, he didn't give himself full credit. Yet things seem to be working out exactly as he'd intended. He should be proud.
A-? Truly, grade inflation. Chu is right: as secretary of energy, he can't do much about the retail price of gasoline. DoE does not get directly involved in things that affect the price. n nThat's more Interior and EPA, and, under Obama's watch, they've done their best to restrict and reduce future production. n nChu is an especially fat target, given his oft-stated faith in a green future. Not to mention that during a congressional hearing last week, Chu blithely stated that he did not even own a car. n nHigh gas prices? Your problem, peasants. Not mine.
Looks like the Admin. doesn't like negative posts about Mr Chu…… nHow about this instead, nMr Chu is doing such a wonderful job at handling the Fuel Price Crisis. We should just follow along and work harder. Why is $8.00/gal such a problem? I just won't eat that week! nBite Me