Opinion> Debra Saunders> Mccain Talks Energy

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McCain Talks Energy

I'll say this for John McCain — he doesn't hide behind his staff. The Republican candidate for president holds town meetings across the country and takes questions from critics and supporters alike. Regular citizens, who often depart from the news-pack question du jour, get to tell him what they think about Washington. If in reply McCain says something dicey, he can't blame his staff for filling out a questionnaire incorrectly, as Democratic candidate Barack Obama has done, because McCain said it himself.

For years, Democrats have hit President Bush for being too isolated. But as Obama campaigns Oz-like from behind a curtain of advisers, McCain mixes it up in public on a regular basis. You don't hear Democrats complaining about isolated politicians anymore.

In an interview Monday night prior to a San Francisco fundraiser, McCain challenged Obama to square off with him before The Chronicle editorial board. Having won his party's nomination — when so many had counted him out — by carrying his own luggage through airports and conducting more than 100 town hall meetings in New Hampshire alone, McCain relishes the debate.

McCain also clearly enjoys being a maverick, and he doesn't shrink from saying things that drive Republicans crazy. Earlier this month, former Vice President Al Gore gave a speech in which he argued that the United States could and should boost its use of solar, wind and geothermal energy so that 100 percent of American electricity is carbon-free within 10 years. It's a great idea — if you don't know anything about energy infrastructure or economics.

To the chagrin of many Republicans, McCain responded, "If the vice president says it's doable, I believe it's doable." Do you really think that? I asked. (After all, Gore was talking up renewable energy during the whole eight years when he was vice president, and despite all the governmental subsidies and his booster talks, solar, wind and geothermal power only provide about 3 percent of America's electricity today.)

McCain's answer, "No, what I really meant was ..." And then McCain explained that he "always respected the vice president" on global warming.

But: "I don't think it's doable without nuclear power." Good point.

Gore didn't mention nuclear power, even though it cleanly produces about 20 percent of U.S. electricity.

More McCain: "I didn't read all the specifics of his plan. I agree with his goal. I may disagree on all the ways of getting there. But I again want to emphasize my respect for the former vice president's leadership on this issue."

Then, just to make it clear how little McCain knew about Gore's speech, McCain said that Gore's 10-year plan was reachable with more offshore oil drilling and clean-coal technology — precisely what Gore opposes.

And: "I am in no way trying to get in a fight with (Gore), because we share the same goal." If the goal is to be nonsensical on energy, mission accomplished.

I can see GOP readers tearing out their hair and asking why oh why McCain can take on Obama for opposing offshore oil drilling despite gasoline now costing more than $4 per gallon, but not Gore.

But maybe there is a method to McCain's madness. With the USA Today/Gallup poll showing 65 percent of Americans disapproving of President Bush, McCain is within three points — read: the margin of error — of Obama in the RealClearPolitics national poll average.

Voters seem to be looking for a president who is more interested in getting things done than scoring partisan points and being deliberately confrontational. Perhaps McCain can be more effective in taking on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for barring any House vote on offshore oil drilling.

"I respect her position," McCain said, but then he slammed Pelosi for her decision "to not even allow votes." If elected, McCain said, he would sit down with Pelosi to talk energy.

Perhaps in joining Democrats in energy babble, McCain actually could get something halfway sensible done — that is, more oil drilling, more nuclear plants and more renewable energy.

E-mail Debra J. Saunders at dsaunders@sfchronicle.com. To find out more about Debra J. Saunders, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

Comments

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Ma'am; I have to take issue with your notion that there is something clean about nuclear power. I have worked with people who said they got a years supply of zoomies in an eight hour shift, and no one can live a year on eight hours wages. I'll bet you couldn't use a roll of handi wipes in that place without having to mount a guard on them for the duration of America. I think it could work, if people wanted to make it smaller and more managable, and quit building breeder reactors. If every sizable town had a reactor the size of an aircraft carrier reacter, the problems would be smaller and the utility would be greater. Building great big reactors may be what the government and the power companies want, but they are no good for local areas..... Now, as for the main premise of your argument, that Mr. Obama hides behind staff, while Mr. Mccain engages. Why don't you democrat haters just call Mr. Obama the n-word, and count on that winning the election rather than all this Garbage. I mean, a real insult is to compare Mr. Obama to G.W.Bush, deliberately isolated, and insulated from the demands for a redress of grievances. We have a grievance: Too little is the need for Justice observed, and we are willingly involved in an illegal war in Iraq. Mr. Bush does not want to hear it so he does not. I don't think Mr. Obama has got one reason on this earth to make Mr Mccain look good. He has no obligation, or desire to debate him in his favorite environment. Clearly, Mr. Obama has to define himself, or Mr. Mccain will, with every bit of rot that soup kitchens toss. Now, Mr. Obama is being compared to Britany Spears, or Paris Hilton. The meaning of this is: Slander and insult is all the republicans have left, Maybe it is all they ever had. I can't imagine that even with your fair and balanced help, that Mr. Mccain can escape being called a republican, which is to say, all the mud he is tossing to see what will stick could likely hurt him and the party more than anything Mr. Obama could do. You know, that the republicans will always have some support, mostly because in some places, democrat is a dirty word. I have a cousin who had to choose between her happy home, and being the one person in her county in South Dakota to register as a democrat. No democrats, no primary, no problem. It is too bad she folded to intimidation. It is too bad for you folks that much of your insult will fall on deaf ears. It is too bad that all those people who tried in vain to tell Mr. Bush how they felt about things still have their votes, even if he is gone. You republicans may hope that the country will not confuse the republican Mccain, with the republican Bush; but you must admit that to do so is natural enough. What do you think. Sweeney

Comment: #1
Posted by: James A, Sweeney
Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:01 PM