WASHINGTON -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has fired a broadside at Republicans over high gasoline prices. In an email sent to supporters and posted on its website and blog, it said, "President Bush and his Rubber-Stamp Republicans passed legislation giving billions of tax dollars to Big Oil and Gas. The oil and gas industry thanked them with millions of dollars. Since the 1990 election cycle, the oil and gas industry has given Republicans $156,412,201 in campaign contributions. When Republicans had the chance to protect us from high gas prices, they [image-nocss] instead chose to oppose punishing price gougers."
It also posted a web video called "'Thank' Republicans for Your Higher Gas Prices," set to the theme song "Thank You for Being a Friend" from the sitcom The Golden Girls. The video compares average gasoline prices from when Bush took office ($1.45 per gallon on Jan. 22, 2001, based on Energy Information Administration data) to now ($3.07 on Nov. 26, 2007), although it does not put the prices in any historical context or acknowledge any of the global forces affecting oil prices.
The video also shows Bush meeting with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and others.
Click here to view the full DCCC statement and web video.
Click here to view EIA's Retail Historical Gasoline Prices.
Although the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) did not respond directly to the DCCC message, it did issue a statement entitled "Democrats Line Pockets with Oil and Gas Money, Leave Americans Empty at the Pump. Democrats Break Promise to Combat Rising Gas Prices."
It cites a list more than 50 House Democrats who it claims "have been busy filling their campaign coffers with tens of thousands of dollars from big oil and gas companies." And it takes them to task for not following through on their promise to lower gasoline prices and pass "comprehensive" energy legislation.
Click here to view the full NRCC statement.
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