April 03, 2012 01:10 AM UTC

Obama Swings Back On Energy Production

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• by: Colorado Pols

Here’s a new ad from President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign, now on the air in Colorado, directly responding to presumptive GOP opponent Mitt Romney and his PAC allies on the issue of energy costs production. From accompanying materials:

President Obama has taken steps to move us toward energy independence and create an economy that’s built to last.

He’s been a strong supporter of domestic energy production, has made historic investments in clean energy technology, and has nearly doubled fuel-efficiency standards for cars and light trucks. Because of the progress we’ve made, our dependence on foreign oil is the lowest it’s been in 16 years. Yet, conservative groups funded by big oil are spending millions trying to distort the President’s record…

In 2010 domestic crude oil production reached its highest level since 2003.

In 2010 natural gas production reached its highest level in more than 30 years.

The U.S. has become a net exporter of fuels for the first time since 1949.

The Obama administration has proposed a five-year offshore leasing plan that makes more than 75 percent of undiscovered oil and gas resources off our shores available for development, while putting in place common-sense safety requirements to prevent a disaster like the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico from happening again.

As we’ve said before, there’s probably no better use of air time by Democrats than directly confronting Republicans on their dubious statements regarding gas prices and energy production. As the economy has steadily recovered, Republican candidates have turned to the “price of gas” as a way of stoking continued economic angst–even as polls show the public isn’t buying the spin, and isn’t blaming the president for speculation-induced high gas prices.

Since gas prices are likely to stay high, like it or not, for the rest of our lives, it’s an issue that is going to remain in the spotlight for as long as it’s worth any low-information votes–both from those seeking to exploit the complex reality, or defending their records from said exploitation.