The Post tells us that the Republicans are pushing offshore drilling in environmentally sensitive areas as part "an 'all of the above' strategy to lower gasoline prices and decrease dependence on imported oil. This is what the Republicans claim but it cannot be true, since there is not enough oil in these areas to have more than a minimal impact on gas prices (e.g. 3-4 cents per gallon) and even this benefit will not be realized for close to two decades. The most likely reason that the Republicans want drilling is to create a wedge issue so it looks like they care about ordinary working people, while Democrats only care about the environment. Since more drilling will not actually affect the price of gas, the Republicans are just taking this position for appearances. Reporters have the time to evaluate the accuracy of politicians' claims, most voters do not. They should not be passing along inaccurate claims as though they are true.
--Dean Baker
