For Immediate Release Sunday, November 2, 2008
‘With the campaign moving towards its close, Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin gave a speech denouncing America’s dependence on foreign oil. She also criticized the consequences ‘when foreign powers control our energy supplies,’ observes Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party candidate for president. ‘Yet Gov. Palin backs the export of Alaskan liquefied natural gas to Asia. That makes sense in an international market, but not when one’s official goal is energy independence.’
‘Even worse, Sen. John McCain is against opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge,’ adds Barr. ‘After years of opposing development of the Outer Continental Shelf, Sen. McCain finally came around after the recent oil price run-up. But he still won’t support opening up the small, oil-rich section of ANWR, which may contain up to ten billion barrels of oil. How can he and Gov. Palin talk about energy independence when Sen. McCain wouldn’t even allow exploration to determine the size of our energy reserves?’
Unfortunately, explains Barr, ‘neither the Republicans nor the Democrats are serious about solving our energy problems. The Republicans controlled the White House and Congress for six years, but did not lift the ban on drilling in either the OCS or ANWR. Desperate for a political issue this year, they campaigned to force the Democratic leadership to eliminate a law they could have repealed at any time before had they been genuinely concerned about energy security. The Democrats are no better, and may even try to reinstate the OCS ban next year.’
‘The status quo is no longer acceptable, but only Bob Barr and the Libertarian Party represent the kind of real change in Washington that the American people desire and deserve,” says Barr. “Only a vote for Bob Barr will send a message to the political elites who have spent years keeping Americans energy poor and dangerously dependent on foreign oil.”
Libertarian Party presidential candidate Bob Barr represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003. Barr’s name will appear before 95 percent of Americans when they vote on Election Day – more than any other third-party or independent candidate.
The Libertarian Party is America’s third largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting www.LP.org . The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.
