McCain's Million Plus Reasons To Drill

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John McCain is, now, all in favor of approving offshore drilling, but that wasn't the case just a short time ago.

McCain's Offshore Drilling Position A Flip From Three Weeks Ago

Sam Stein
The Huffington Post
June 18, 2008

It is hardly a secret that when it comes to offshore drilling, Sen. John
McCain was against the idea before he was for it. On Monday, the Arizona
Republican told a crowd in Texas that he was abandoning his long-time support
for a federal moratorium on drilling along the nation's coastlines in favor of
allowing states to decide for themselves.

But how recent a convert is McCain to this position?

In late May, during a campaign town hall, McCain was asked about the
prospect of coastal drilling. His answer then was far more nebulous and
skeptical of the idea compared to his recent, full-throated endorsement.
...(full article)

What, you might ask, would change McCain's mind? He fashions himself the maverick. He says he doesn't bow to pressure and vote in lock-step with Republican Party leaders.

Could what changed McCain's mind be the $1,010,868 in campaign contribution from the Oil & Gas Industry? Yes friends, John McCain is the #1 recipient of contributions from the Oil & Gas Industry!

So... sad to say, McCain is just a much bought and paid for as is Newt Gingrich who's "Drill here, drill now, pay less" campaign is bankrolled by Big Oil. Newt's "Drill here, drill now" isn't a solution to high gas prices, it's actually another big give-away to Big Oil.

Unfortunately we can only expect the Republicans to trot out more cheap tricks instead of serious proposals to solve our energy problems.

UPDATE: TPMElection Central has the latest evidence of McCain's quid pro quo with Big Oil .

Multiple Oil Company Executives Gave Huge Contributions To Electing McCain Just Days After Offshore Drilling Reversal

By Greg Sargent and Eric Kleefeld - August 4, 2008, 12:47PM

Ten senior Hess Corporation executives and/or members of the Hess family each gave $28,500 to the joint RNC-McCain fundraising committee, just days after McCain reversed himself to favor offshore drilling, according to Federal Election Commission reports.

Nine of these contributions, seven from Hess executives and two from members of the Hess family, came on the same day, June 24th, the records show. The total collected in the wake of McCain's reversal for the fund, called McCain Victory 2008, from Hess execs and family is $285,000.

...(MORE!)