McCain's Energy Plan: Improved Light Bulbs

The McCain campaign and conservative talk show hosts have been mocking Obama all week for suggesting that filling up your tires will promote fuel efficiency. Of course, it will, but the truth has never slowed these guys down before.

Many people have pointed out how silly and wrong this argument is already. Even NASCAR agrees that the right tire pressure is one of the most important elements to fuel efficiency. And I think they would know what they're talking about. Imagine the McCain car running out of gas in the last lap because they didn't bother to fill up their tires.

But I'll leave the facts to others. I'm a talk show host, so I'll counter with more mockery. I went back to a speech John McCain gave in April, 2007 (actually one of our listeners, Tim Coney, pointed it out originally) and found that, lo and behold, John McCain is also in favor of doing small things around the house to improve fuel efficiency. You don't say!

Here is my favorite part: Improved light bulbs!

"Energy efficiency by using improved technology and practicing sensible habits in our homes, businesses and automobiles is a big part of the answer, and is something we can achieve right now. And new advances will make conservation an ever more important part of the solution. Improved light bulbs can use much less energy; smart grid technology can help homeowners and businesses lower their energy use, and breakthroughs in high tech materials can greatly improve fuel efficiency in the transportation sector. We need to dispel the image of conservation that entails shivering in cold rooms, reading by candlelight, and lower productivity. Americans have it in their power today to contribute to our national security, prosperity and a cleaner environment."

I can't believe John McCain's entire energy policy is improved light bulbs! Maybe he needs to improve his own dim bulb! This is so unbecoming of a presidential candidate. He needs to have big and bold ideas, like more drilling. This light bulb idea is so small and petty. What a loser!

Now, of course, I don't believe that. It's a totally fine point made in the middle of a large energy speech. But if the press is going to take their asinine points seriously, maybe they'll take our asinine points seriously as well.

The McCain team is now going around passing out tire gauges at Obama rallies. So, let's call their tire gauges and raise them a light bulb. Let's pass out light bulbs at McCain rallies. This has the additional advantage of being perfectly emblematic of their lack of ideas. They need a light bulb over their head to get that more oil drilling is not the answer. Improved light bulbs -- exactly what the McCain team needs.

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Comments

[ashenthorn]

The irony is that the 2008 McCain would probably mock the 2007 McCain position on light bulbs. The official right wing position that I've heard expressed many times on talk radio is that compact fluorescent lightbulbs are "librul".

[kpowman]

The Jed Report has a fantastic find on this:

http://www.jedreport.com/2008/08/mccains-austeri.html

[ihavenobias]

I just heard a clip from a John McCain speech on CNN and it was mocking Obama over his small practical suggestion of keeping car tires properly inflated.

Great piece Cenk, and I was happy to see Gore Vidal come on the show last night, very cool: http://youngturks.wmod.llnwd.net/a591/o1/8-4-08Vidal.wmv

Also very cool that Rachel Maddow was on with you Friday for Meet The Bloggers: http://meetthebloggers.org/

[jubal8]

What, no comments!?!

Great catch and great post, Mr. Uygur... and great idea.

[larry278]

Cenk, NASCAR always promotes the efficient use of fuel among its racers. Some call it the racer's edge. NASCAR has lost some racers since the price of fuel has sky rocketed. Race fans will avoid NASCAR sanctioned races if the field of racers shrinks. Those guys at NASCAR are called conservation nuts.

[cynicalgirl]

Since John McCain told us all to wear sunscreen to prevent skin cancer, the Democrats should characterize that as his "health care plan".

Obama should be handing out bottles of sunscreen with "McCain Health Care Plan" written on it.

What *is* McCain's "health care plan" anyway?

[ihavenobias]

Tax breaks and cuts. That's the Republican "plan" for EVERYTHING.