The Speech Obama Made Against Himself

"In what's become a bit of a regular occurrence in this campaign, Senator Obama once had a different position on offshore drilling, and it's clear why he did. It would have long-term consequences for our coastlines, but no short term benefits, since it would take at least ten years to get any oil. Well, the politics may have changed, but the facts haven't. The accuracy of Senator Obama's original position has not changed. Offshore drilling would not lower gas prices today. It would not lower gas prices tomorrow. It would not lower gas prices this year. It would not lower gas prices five years from now. In fact, President Bush's own Energy Department says that we won't see a drop of oil from his own proposal until 2017, and in fact, you wouldn't see any full production out of any oil drilling off the coast until 2030. It will take a generation to reach full production, and even then the effect on gas prices will be minimal, at best. So, let me just repeat: Barack Obama's proposal, George Bush's proposal to drill offshore here in Florida and other places around the country would not provide families with any relief this year, next year, five years from now. Believe me, if I thought there was any evidence at all that drilling could save people money who are struggling to fill up their gas tanks by this summer or the next year or even the next few years, I would consider it, but it won't, and Barack Obama knows that. The fact is, Senator Obama's decision to team up with George Bush on offshore drilling violates the bipartisan consensus that we have had for decades that has protected Florida's pristine coastline from drilling."