Energy

Democrats Blaming Trump For Gas Prices, But Sang Different Tune With Obama

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The Democratic Party has begun its campaign of tying President Donald Trump to rising gas prices, but the ads appear to contradict statements made during the Obama era.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee released a brief ad Thursday suggesting big oil companies won big with GOP tax cuts while still charging drivers more to fill up their cars.

More is likely to come as Democratic aides have made clear they plan to hang the issue around President Trump’s neck as part of their 2018 midterm strategy.

Are you creeping along on fumes because #GasPrices are so high? I’ll join @SenatorCantwell @SenatorMenendez & @SenMarkey to push @POTUS to start fighting for lower gas prices for hardworking Americans LIVE in a few minutes: https://t.co/1xHPApFyIr

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) May 23, 2018

“The rising gas prices will, as one economist put it, roughly cancel out the 2018 consumption boost from tax cuts,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, alongside House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, at a press conference earlier in May. “Whatever meager benefit working families might have seen from Trump’s tax scam for the rich is being wiped out by the gas prices that President Trump is responsible for.” Schumer also blamed the Republican president for walking away from the Iran Deal — an international agreement Schumer famously did not support in the Senate.

However, the idea that a U.S. president can unilaterally change the price of oil was roundly rejected by Democratic members during Obama’s eight years in the White House.

Six years ago, Nancy Pelosi didn’t blame Obama or the Democratic-controlled Senate for pain at the pump, but pointed the finger at Republicans. “Supply is going up, demand is going down, and the price is going up,” Pelosi said during a 2012 press conference, attempting to explain the intricacies of the oil market. “So how do you explain that? You explain it by recognizing that Republicans are protecting Wall Street speculators responsible for driving up the pain at the pump.”

A double standard is also evident in left-wing media.

A Vox article made the case the Trump could single handily raise the price of oil for the world by withdrawing from the Iran Deal, but a 2015 Vox article explained that Obama had nothing to do with international oil market fluctuations.

Other Democrats argued it would be deceitful to claim that a unilateral action could change the price of oil.

[A]nyone who suggests that there’s a single action that you can take as a politician and candidate or a member of Congress that will suddenly reduce the price of oil, and therefore the price of gas at the pump, is blowing hot air,” stated former Obama White House Press Secretary Jay Carney during an April 2012 press conference.

Republicans, of course, made similar charges during the Obama years, but their main point of contention was Obama’s reluctance to drill on American shores — something Trump has very much supported. Nevertheless, experts say numerous factors impact the price of a barrel of oil.

Jeanette Casselano, the public relations director for AAA, told The Daily Caller News Foundation that a combination of vacation travel, a switch to summer blend, global events, decreased supply and a number of other factors are at play.

“Last year, 96 million barrels consumed a day. This year, pushing towards 98 million barrels a day, with much of that due to increased economic activity outside of North America,” Dan McTeague — a senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy — said Wednesday to TheDCNF.

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