Maine GOP Chairman Comments on today’s MoveOn protest

"It is ironic MoveOn is protesting John McCain when they ought to be protesting Barack Obama," said Maine Republican Party Chairman Mark Ellis.  "McCain has proposed policies - including a summer gas tax holiday - that offer real solutions.  Meanwhile, Barack Obama wants to impose even higher energy taxes and he opposes every initiative that would offer real relief.  Obama's only suggestion is to impose a windfall profits tax on oil companies. Jimmy Carter tried that is the late 70's and it resulted in higher prices at the pump. Obama has said ‘no' to any realistic solution that will reduce our energy costs and our dependence on foreign oil."

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For more information on Dr. NObama, please go to http://www.gop.com/news/NewsRead.aspx?GUID=6fbbd05f-7e3e-438e-95de-d2338dfc7c8a.

Why Does Barack Obama Continue To Say No To Energy Solutions That Will Help Americans?

 John McCain Wants To Increase Energy Independence By Allowing States To Decide If They Want To Drill Offshore, But Obama Says No:

John McCain Proposed Lifting The Ban On Offshore Drilling And Letting States Decide If They Wanted To Explore And Drill For Energy. McCain: "But I also believe that lifting the moratoria from offshore drilling or oil and natural gas exploration is something that we should place as a very high priority. And again, I don't want to dictate to the states what they should do, but I think that the states can be provided with additional incentives such as a greater share of the revenues than is presently the case." (Sen. John McCain, Remarks At Press Availability, Arlington, VA, 6/16/08)

Obama Opposes Lifting The Ban On Offshore Drilling. Obama: "The politics may have changed, but the facts haven't. The accuracy of Sen. McCain's original position has not changed: Offshore drilling would not lower gas prices today, it would not lower gas prices next year and it would not lower gas prices five years from now." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At Press Availability, Jacksonville, FL, 6/20/08)

John McCain Wants Immediate Gas Tax Relief For American Families, But Obama Says No:

John McCain Proposed Immediate Gas Tax Relief For American Families. "Hard-working American families are suffering from higher gasoline prices. John McCain calls on Congress to suspend the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.4 cent diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day." (John McCain For President Website, http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/4dbd2cc7-890e-47f1-882f-b8fc4cfecc78.htm, Accessed 6/25/08)

Obama Opposes Immediate Gas Tax Relief For American Families. Obama: "I think John McCain's proposal for a three month tax holiday is a bad idea." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At Campaign Event, Blue Bell, PA, 4/21/08)

John McCain Wants To Reward American Innovation For Developing The Next Generation Battery, But Obama Says No:

John McCain Called For A $300 Million Prize For A Next Generation Battery. McCain: "I further propose we inspire the ingenuity and resolve of the American people by offering a $300 million prize for the development of a battery package that has the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars." (Sen. John McCain, Remarks At Campaign Event, Fresno, CA, 6/23/08)

Obama Called John McCain's $300 Million Prize For A Better Battery A "Gimmick." Obama: "In this campaign, John McCain is offering the same old gimmicks that will provide almost no short-term relief to folks who are struggling with high gas prices. Gimmicks that will only increase our addiction for another four years." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At Campaign Event, Las Vegas, NV, 6/24/08)

John McCain Wants To Expand Nuclear Power, But Obama Says No:

John McCain Has Proposed Building 45 New Nuclear Plants. McCain: "So, if I am elected president, I will set this nation on a course to building 45 new reactors by the year 2030, with the ultimate goal of 100 new plants to power the homes and factories and cities of America." (Sen. John McCain, Remarks At Campaign Event, Springfield, MO, 6/18/08)

Obama Recently Criticized Expanding Nuclear Power. Obama: "That might make sense in Washington, but it doesn't make sense for America. In fact, it makes about as much sense as his proposal to build 45 new nuclear reactors without a plan to store the waste some place other than, guess where? Right here in Nevada at Yucca Mountain." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At Campaign Event, Las Vegas, NV, 6/24/08)