Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Obama Shifts Tack on Offshore Drilling

Candidate says he would accept drilling as part of energy package

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 2, 2008 6:10 AM CDT

(Newser) – Barack Obama softened his opposition to offshore oil drilling yesterday, telling the Palm Beach Post in an interview  that he would be willing to accept  "a careful, well thought-out drilling strategy that was carefully circumscribed to avoid significant environmental damage"  it if necessary to avoid a deadlock on energy policy. He stressed that he was still no fan of drilling and pointed out that ending the ban would take a decade to affect gas prices.

"We're not going to drill our way out of this problem," Obama told the Palm Peach Post, but said, "I don't want to be so rigid that we can't get something done." Separately, Obama also backed the bipartisan energy plan offered by 10 senators yesterday, McClatchy reports, though that also would end most of the ban on offshore drilling. "Like all compromises, it also includes steps that I haven't always supported," he said in a statement which adds that he remains "skeptical" that drilling would bring down prices or significantly reduce dependence on foreign oil.

Barack  Obama speaks at a town hall meeting in St. Petersburg, Fla., Friday, Aug. 1, 2008.
Barack Obama speaks at a town hall meeting in St. Petersburg, Fla., Friday, Aug. 1, 2008.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
With a ship and an offshore drilling rig seen in the background, beachgoers attend the U.S. Open of Surfing Sunday, July 20, 2008, in Huntington Beach,
With a ship and an offshore drilling rig seen in the background, beachgoers attend the U.S. Open of Surfing Sunday, July 20, 2008, in Huntington Beach,   (AP Photo/Ric Francis)
Barack Obama acknowledges an audience member's question, Friday, Aug. 1, 2008, during a town hall meeting in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Barack Obama acknowledges an audience member's question, Friday, Aug. 1, 2008, during a town hall meeting in St. Petersburg, Fla.   (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Democrats Switch Policy to Back Offshore Drilling

Obama Doesn't Really Want to Drill, Baby, Drill

Dems Ditch Ban on Offshore Drilling

Save Oil for When It's Really Needed

Oil Rhetoric Gets Silly


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne