----- Original Message -----
From: DNC Rapid Response Team
Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 8:16 AM
Subject: Exxon John poses on oil rig

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Yesterday, John McCain staged a photo-op on an oil rig partially owned by ExxonMobil to promote his Big-Oil-First energy plan.

This rig was a perfect metaphor for his plan, since it took 10 years to produce a single drop of oil.

That's the same 10-year lag that non-partisan energy experts and scientists say it may take before McCain's "Drill here! Now!" energy plan produces any new oil.

So why does McCain want an energy plan that puts Exxon first?

How about two million bucks in campaign contributions from Big Oil?

Check out the "Exxon John" video our team made to expose John McCain for being in the pocket of Big Oil:

http://www.democrats.org/page/invite/exxonjohn

For nearly 30 years, Exxon John has stood with Big Oil and voted against alternative energy.

Just months ago, John McCain was the only Senator who skipped a vote on an energy bill to channel $13 billion in tax breaks for Big Oil into alternative energy development. The bill came out one vote short -- but Exxon John's friends in Big Oil came out one vote ahead.

John McCain is still playing energy politics the way they've been played for decades in Washington. Well-connected lobbyists and special interests get everything they could want while hardworking families get left behind.

Let's make sure the public knows John McCain really puts Big Oil first. Pass the Exxon John video on to your family and friends today:

http://www.democrats.org/exxonjohn

Keep up the good fight,

DNC Rapid Response Team

The DNC Rapid Response Team is a grassroots rapid response group for Democrats to push back on misleading media, spread the truth, and take positive action.

Forward this email to your friends and family and invite them to join the DNC Rapid Response Team today.

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Associated Press Video: From Oil Platform, McCain Touts Drilling

People will bite at anything that promises lower gas prices...again, a short-sighted "solution" to what people currently believe is a problem.

Quite simply, life, liberty and cheap gas prices is not a part of the American promise. People just need to deal with the price of gas, hopefully by using less. The actual problem as we all know is global warming and foreign oil. Drilling for more oil could possibly lower the price of gas an insignificant amount, but drilling will never do anything about global warming.

Now is the time to solve the problem of the bigger picture. Striking while gas prices are high should help people realize that real longterm solutions are needed. Drilling for more oil is a very slow process and if done in parallel with the development of alternative energy sources, could prove to be a waste of time and money and a very bad investment.

I have yet to complain about the price of gas--for two reasons. 1. I have always made sure I live close to work. 2. I have always driven the most fuel efficient car I can fit into. I currently use less than 5 gallons of gas per week. (And yes, I check the air pressure in my tires twice per week.)

If or when, safe, dedicated bike paths are built or sidewalks are installed, I will once again bike or walk to work. Unfortunately, having walked on the shoulder of the road for 2 months when I didn't have a car, I know exactly how dangerous it is and I currently refuse to walk/bike. This is where our great elected officials need to step up and plan for a very, very different future especially where it concerns energy and transportation.

By placing such a strong focus on prices and drilling for more oil, McCain paints himself as an opportunist trying to get votes with the promise of lower gas prices. But more important, he paints himself as a fossil, just like a fossil fuel, because he isn't looking towards a new and different and cleaner and healthier future.