GOP's New Oil Drilling will go to International Market

The American People are being hoodwinked.

Republican plans to open up new oil drilling leases in Alaska or the Outer Continental Shelf will do nothing to help reduce the price of gas for American families.

Don't believe me?

While the U.S. oil industry wants access to more federal lands to help reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, American-based companies are shipping record amounts of gasoline and diesel fuel to other countries.

A record 1.6 million barrels a day in U.S. refined petroleum products were exported during the first four months of this year, up 33 percent from 1.2 million barrels a day over the same period in 2007. Shipments this February topped 1.8 million barrels a day for the first time during any month, according to final numbers from the Energy Department.

Reuters

So all this new drilling proposed by McCain/Bush and the GOP is all a big charade. There is no guarantee that American oil will stay in America for our use.

This is just a big land grab by Bush and his oil buddies to lock down as much of our coastline as possible before this friendly administration is put out with the trash.

Last week the Democrats tried to ensure that new Alaskan oil would stay in the USA. Bush, to nobody's suprise, threatened to veto that bill.

Here is what the White House said...

"Such a ban would make virtually no additional oil available to U.S. consumers, and would not lower oil prices that are set in a world market," the White House said. "At the same time, such export restrictions are detrimental to the efficient operation of global energy markets and would send the wrong signal to our trading partners who may face pressure to impose similar trade restrictions."
Reuters

So all the huffing and puffing you are hearing out of the White House and GOP that we need to "Drill Here Now" is really just a gigantic oil grab that will enrich the big oil companies, ruin our last special places, and not do a damn thing to lower gas prices for the average American family.

When will the Democrats get a backbone and call bullshit on the Bush/McCain oil drilling scam?