Obama Says Energy Policy a Moral Issue

[Colobo]

WAVERLY, Iowa (Map, News) - Democrat Barack Obama said Saturday the country faces an "an urgent moral challenge" to reduce reliance on oil and needs a president willing to defy special interests in Washington that dictate energy policy.

Obama, casting himself an agent of change in a crowded field of White House hopefuls, suggested that he is voters' best bet to shake up the status quo.

"We've got to have a president in the White House who sets bold targets and sets broad goals and isn't intimidated by the barriers and the roadblocks and isn't driven by those who already have an investment in the status quo - somebody who can overcome the lobby-driven, divisive politics that characterizes this issue," Obama told about 300 people at Waverly Light and Power, the city utility.

Words like "divisive" and "lobby-driven" are used by Obama supporters to describe Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, a former first lady who is billing herself on the 2008 campaign trail as the only candidate experienced enough to make a change in Washington.

Obama did not mention Clinton or other rivals by name. But he did accuse the Bush administration of putting oil industry interests ahead of the public's.

"We've got an energy policy that doesn't just seem like it's written by industry lobbyists," he said. "It was written by energy lobbyists."

Vice President Dick Cheney led the administration's energy task force, which Obama said met once with environmentalists, once with renewable energy experts and 40 times with oil industry leaders.

http://www.examiner.com/a-888247~Obama_Says_Energy_Policy_a_Moral_Issue.html?cid=sec-promo

[JANdad]

1. Didn't B.O.say he was in support of nuclear energy?

I thought he mentioned that in one of the debates? What are some of the thoughts about that on DU?

[polichick]

2. It's smart to take the "moral" highground away from Reps...

Morality is about so much more than sex and right-wing faux Christianity.

[UrbScotty]

3. Excellent piece. Obama is right on.

It's too bad this didn't get better reception at DU.