Whacha Driving at?

Resident Bush has attacked John Kerry for being hypocritical about owning SUVs.

Here's an excerpt from his speech:

THE PRESIDENT: He's been in Washington for quite a long time. He's been there long enough to take both sides of just about every issue. (Applause.) He voted for the Patriot Act. He voted for NAFTA. He voted for No Child Left Behind. And he voted for the use of force in Iraq. Now he opposes the Patriot Act, NAFTA, the No Child Left Behind Act, and the liberation of Iraq.

AUDIENCE: Booo!

THE PRESIDENT: He's been on both sides of big issues. And if he could find a third side -- (laughter and applause.) He recently gave us another example of his technique. Last winter, my opponent was in Michigan and somebody asked him about the cars he had. (Laughter.) Here in the great auto-producing state, he said, quote, "We have some SUVs." He was talking about having a couple of mini-vans and a big Suburban. Last month, on Earth Day, Senator Kerry had a different description of his fleet. (Laughter.) He said, and I quote, "I don't own an SUV." To clear up the confusion he said, "The family has it. I don't have it." (Laughter.) In other words, he doesn't have an SUV except when he's in Michigan. (Laughter.) Now, there's a fellow who's getting a lot of mileage out of his Suburban. (Laughter and applause.)

Whatever he drives, the voters this year will have a clear choice.

So, W., what do you drive? To criticize somebody else for hypocrisy, one ought not to be hypocritical yourself. What has the country done to wean its dependence on oil during the last four years? What ever happened to that network of hydrogen cars, ignoring the fact it's the least favorable of any of the alternatives and would likely benefit (gasp) existing oil companies?

What kind of gas mileage does a Presidential limo get? How about that power boat y'all use off Kennebunkport?

Ha ha, Al Gore said he invented the internet but he didn't. Remember how important that issue turned out to be.

So let's look at SUBSTANCE, issues: here's what Kerry is actually proposing -- helping speed Hybrid SUVs to market. This would seem to be recognizing the fact Americans like their big cars, and using the government in cooperation with the private sector to move the market towards something that would be acceptable to consumers and help solve the problem of overconsumption of oil.

Kerry: U.S. Needs to Lead in Auto Innovation

April 23, 2004

Associated Press

by John McCarthy
Columbus, OH

America's automakers should take the lead in developing hybrid-powered cars, a move that would create good jobs and save families at the gas pump, Sen. John Kerry said on Thursday.

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, in a conference call with reporters in four states he plans to visit next week, said development of vehicles that run on alternative fuels will restore some of the hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs lost during President Bush's administration.

Hybrids draw power from two energy sources, typically a gas or diesel engine combined with an electric motor. Small cars made by Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. are the only versions available in the United States, but nearly every automaker is investing in hybrid technology.

"I would like American companies to be competitive globally and I would like American companies to be first and foremost in the marketplace with these innovations," Kerry said from Houston. "We can in fact grow more jobs and save families a heck of a lot of money on fuel bills."

The Honda and Toyota models cost more than comparable gas-only cars, but they get more than 45 miles per gallon.

Ford Motor Co. plans to introduce a hybrid version of its Escape sport utility vehicle this summer, while Lexus also plans a hybrid SUV. Ford says the hybrid front-wheel-drive escape would get 35 to 40 miles per gallon in city driving compared with 20 miles per gallon for the gas-only version.

So, spend a billion dollars on research that will go to big oil companies and may or may not produce technology 20 years from now...or work now to build American factories to build hybrids using present-day technology AND work towards alternative fuels from many sources, not just the dubious hydrogen proposal?

But John Kerry drives an SUV! Then he doesn't! Don't you see the REAL issue?