FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 24, 2008CONTACT: Josh Dorner, 202.675.2384                 David Willett, 202.675.6698                      Bush-McCain Plan for High Gas Prices:                             Jedi Mind Tricks  Washington, D.C.--During an appearance today in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania,John McCain credited President Bush for the recent drop in oilprices—saying that the President's call for offshore drilling had had apsychological impact on world oil markets.  McCain has also similarlyclaimed that the misguided Bush-McCain call for offshore drilling wouldoffer consumers "psychological relief." Yet, even the Bush Administration'sEnergy Information Administration acknowledges that offshore drilling willdo absolutely nothing to lower prices today, tomorrow, or even a decadefrom now.  Just today Big Oil started reporting yet another quarter of billions inrecord profits, with ConocoPhillips alone raking in $5.4 billion.  Thecompany’s quarterly revenue went from $47 billion to $71 billion--even asit produced some 200,000 fewer barrels of oil each day.           Statement of Cathy Duvall, Sierra Club Political Director  "John McCain seems to think that we can rely on Jedi mind tricks to get usout of today's energy and economic crises.  John McCain's 'psychological'war on high gas prices is likely to work about as well as consumers tryingto pay for their gas with smile coupons.  "It's a sad day when we celebrate oil that still costs $130 a barrel. It'seven sadder to credit the decrease to President Bush, the man whose twoterms of failed policies have caused energy prices to skyrocket and oureconomy to crumble.  Saddest of all would be four more years of thesedisastrous policies—and that's what John McCain has to offer.  "Instead of the plan for $1,000 in real relief for hardworking Americansthat Barack Obama has proposed, John McCain wants to offer Big Oil aTexas-sized tax cut of $3.8 BILLION.  And instead of a real plan for energyindependence, John McCain and George Bush want to allow the oil companiesto begin the 'exploitation' of our coasts.  Even the Bush Administrationadmits that this would do absolutely nothing to lower gas prices today,tomorrow, or even a decade from now.  "Instead of offering real solutions to today's crises, John McCainunfortunately seems more interested in playing mind games with the Americanpublic by running attack ads that have been called 'misleading on nearlyevery substantive point.'"                                     # # #
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