FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 24, 2008
CONTACT: 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 oil
prices—saying that the President's call for offshore drilling had had a
psychological impact on world oil markets.  McCain has also similarly
claimed that the misguided Bush-McCain call for offshore drilling would
offer consumers "psychological relief." Yet, even the Bush Administration's
Energy Information Administration acknowledges that offshore drilling will
do absolutely nothing to lower prices today, tomorrow, or even a decade
from now.


Just today Big Oil started reporting yet another quarter of billions in
record profits, with ConocoPhillips alone raking in $5.4 billion.  The
company’s quarterly revenue went from $47 billion to $71 billion--even as
it 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 us
out 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 trying
to pay for their gas with smile coupons.


"It's a sad day when we celebrate oil that still costs $130 a barrel. It's
even sadder to credit the decrease to President Bush, the man whose two
terms of failed policies have caused energy prices to skyrocket and our
economy to crumble.  Saddest of all would be four more years of these
disastrous policies—and that's what John McCain has to offer.


"Instead of the plan for $1,000 in real relief for hardworking Americans
that Barack Obama has proposed, John McCain wants to offer Big Oil a
Texas-sized tax cut of $3.8 BILLION.  And instead of a real plan for energy
independence, John McCain and George Bush want to allow the oil companies
to begin the 'exploitation' of our coasts.  Even the Bush Administration
admits 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 McCain
unfortunately seems more interested in playing mind games with the American
public by running attack ads that have been called 'misleading on nearly
every substantive point.'"


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