Tire Gauge Joke Is on GOP, Not Obama

Republicans are laughing at Barack Obama’s suggestion that if Americans drove on properly inflated tires and had their vehicles tuned up regularly, they could save as much gas as offshore drilling would produce. The RNC is distributing tire gauges labeled “Barack Obama’s Energy Plan” and cackling with glee. There’s just one problem, writes Michael Grunwald of Time: Obama’s right.

Offshore drilling would produce 200,000 barrels per day by 2030, the Bush administration says. That’s roughly 1% of what we already use. Efficiency experts say proper tire inflation can improve mileage 3%, regular maintenance another 4%. "It's a pretty simple concept," Grunwald argues: "If our use of fossil fuels is increasing our reliance on Middle Eastern dictators while destroying the planet, maybe we ought to use less." (More John McCain stories.)