Democrats Need a Better Message Than ‘Putin’s Gas Hike’ to Beat Back GOP Lies

Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM via GettyThe House voted overwhelmingly with more than 400 votes to back President Biden’s executive order banning imports of Russian oil and gas, but that won’t stop Republicans from blaming Biden for rising gas prices. Whatever gains Biden might make in his approval rating are likely to come tumbling down if gas reaches five or six bucks a gallon. History shows that the fortunes of presidents rise and fall with what the meter says at the pump.Democrats need answers to what’s already coming. Ohio Senator Rob Portman says Biden’s decision to cut off the Keystone pipeline cost 800,000 barrels of oil, more than the 600,000 barrels coming from Russia. But Keystone is not operational. The former president made a lot of noise about getting the permit, but he didn’t get the pipeline built. So, this is an imaginary 800,000 barrels.“Drill Baby Drill” was the GOP’s battle cry with Sarah Palin unleashing the slogan in her 2008 debate with then Vice President Biden. Republicans are pushing the same outdated policy to confront today’s energy crisis, and it won’t work. You can’t drill your way out of war with a nuclear power when global markets control the flow of oil, but you can place the blame on Russian President Putin for waging war like a barbarian and making the extra money at the pump the price we pay for our freedom.Read more at The Daily Beast.