Obama Wanted High Gas Prices...Gradually (2008 Election Campaign)

During a June 10th, 2008, interview with CNBC, then-candidate Obama said this:

HARWOOD: As difficult as this is for consumers right now, is, in fact, high gas prices what we need to let the market work, a line incentive so that we do shift to alternative means of energy?

Sen. OBAMA: Well, I think that we have been slow to move in a better direction when it comes to energy usage. And the president, frankly, hasn't had an energy policy. And as a consequence, we've been consuming energy as if it's infinite. We now know that our demand is badly outstripping supply with China and India growing as rapidly as they are. So...

HARWOOD: So could these high prices help us?

Sen. OBAMA: I think that I would have preferred a gradual adjustment. The fact that this is such a shock to American pocketbooks is not a good thing. But if we take some steps right now to help people make the adjustment, first of all by putting more money into their pockets, but also by encouraging the market to adapt to these new circumstances more quickly, particularly US automakers, then I think ultimately, we can come out of this stronger and have a more efficient energy policy than we do right now.


TRANSCRIPT:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/25084346/CNBC_...

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  News & Politics

[Tabitha MH J]

"I would have prefered a gradual adjustment"

Do you bonehead Democrats REALLY think this sound like a guy who wants you to pay LESS at the pump???

[LesPaulCustom79]

The United States has 1,442 billion barrels of known oil reserves that cannot be currently recovered due to the obama administrations regulations. The United States currently only has 20 billion barrels of proven (receoverable) oil reserves. That is only 1.38% of our total reserves that are being produced for gasoline and diesel fuel. DO NOT BELIEVE ANYTHING THIS LYING SACK OF SHIT SAYS ABOUT WHY GAS PRICES ARE HIGH!!!

[GreenDay1981]

Gas has just jumped to $3.99 a gallon in my area and what his Bacrock Odumbo doing? Sitting on his unamerican ass planning his next vacation. Fuck you Odumbo!!

[lillbella100]

'Gradual" like how they are,and he is"gradually" taking away rights?..hmm..hope you people who voted for him,open your eyes,because likr RickJLV asked on here"do you dems,i wont use boneheads,but at any rate,think that this sounds like a guy who wants you to pay less at the pump?" WAKE UP!!!!!!!!

[Hotdog22958]

Another fake video exposed!

[ValleySpyder]

@RickJLV I am also a Republican and I believe the Govt has to regulate all business or stupid shit like what happened with BP will keep happening. We have to be strict with a companies values so wages and job safety is in place instead of being ignored just because a Senator was paid off by a Lobbyist. P.S. Lobbying should be illegal.

[ValleySpyder]

it's Black Friday 2012 and gas prices are at $3.21 a gallon in Albama right now. A state that clearly hates having a black President and believes stupid lies like what's stated in the title of this video.

[Tabitha MH J]

I am Republican and I don't believe in NO REGULATIONS.. But I don't believe in business-strangling regulations either..

Government should KEEP BUSINESS HONEST and fair to the consumer, but beyond that, government has NO RIGHT to meddle in private business.

[ValleySpyder]

Umm....apparently you don't know that it's the GOP that wants less Govt regulations with all big business including the oil industries.

Because of less or no regulations whatsoever, we are getting ripped off at the pump.

You cannot blame one person ( Obama or Bush ) for the gas hikes.

That sounds very ridiculous.

[ValleySpyder]

ummmm.....were you driving during the Bush W administration?

Gas was way higher then.

[mjazzguitar]

Thanks for nixing the pipeline from Canada, BO.

Instead of a reliable energy source from our own neighbor, he wants to give American dollars to his muslim buddies.

[firesidechet]

WOW I NEVER KNEW OBAMA WAS SUCH A GENIUS ECONOMIST.