Obama’s Allies Hit Back at RNC Energy Ad

Democratic allies of Barack Obama blasted a Republican National Committee (RNC) ad that hits the Illinois senator on energy policy, coming to Obama’s defense on a conference call today.

Rep. Allyson Schwartz (Pa.), Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, and Sen. Sherrod Brown (Ohio)–Democrats serving states where the ad is airing–all defended Obama and criticized John McCain.

The ad is incorrect, disingenuous, and right on “neither the short term or long term solutions on this energy crisis we’re in,” Schwartz said. Granholm called the ad “ridiculous” and praised Obama’s plans to create jobs through renewable energy production, while Brown questioned McCain’s leadership on energy issues in the Senate.

The ad promotes McCain as a leader on energy issues such as alternative energy, conservation, climate change, gas taxes, and oil production. McCain has long called on the government to address climate change while many Republicans have denied scientists’ claims of global warming.

Obama, by contrast, has “no new solutions” for energy policy according to the ad, as he “just says no” to lower gas taxes, nuclear power, and offshore oil drilling.

The ad began airing yesterday in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Obama opposes McCain’s plans to allow offshore drilling and temporarily repeal the gas tax. The Illinois Democrat says he is open to expanding nuclear power, given the U.S. can store nuclear waste and protect power plants from terrorist attacks. Obama opposes a proposed waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada.

“Senator Obama is the one who is offering permanent solutions on the price of energy and on creating these clean energy jobs,” Granholm said.

Obama’s proposal for a $150 billion, ten-year renewable energy fund is “a game changer,” Granholm said, “It’s certainly a stark contrast to John McCain’s plan for a gas tax holiday, which for Michigan would mean 208 million dollars in highway funds, that would mean 7,200 lost jobs and it’s a temporary fix to a permanent problem.”

Granholm went on to praise Obama’s proposals to limit oil speculation and further tax oil company profits.

Brown hit back at McCain most emphatically, saying the Arizon senator has “paid little attention to energy issues except to vote wrong time after time after time after time” in the Senate. Brown cited recent votes on biofuels, solar and wind power. “He’s never really shown any kind of leadership on these issues,” Brown said.