McCain Flipflops on Keeping Tires Inflated

Is Forced to Agree with Obama, NASCAR, AAA, And Common Sense That It Does Save Gas...

Share article:

Guest blogged by Jon Ponder, Pensito Review.

“There are things you can do individually to save energy,” Barack Obama said last week “… Making sure your tires are properly inflated — simple thing. But we could save all the oil that they’re talking about getting off drilling — if everybody was just inflating their tires. And getting regular tune-ups. You’d actually save just as much.”

Despite the fact that even NASCAR extols the gas-saving virtues of proper tire inflation on its website, the McCain campaign spent the early part of this week mocking Obama’s assertion that keeping tires inflated conserves gasoline by selling tire gauges, for a $25 donation, labeled “Obama Energy Plan.”

On Wednesday night, however, during a conference call with supporters, McCain did a complete 180 on tire inflation:

“And could I mention that Sen. Obama a couple of days ago said that we ought to all inflate our tires, and I don’t disagree with that. The American Automobile Association strongly recommends it, but I also don’t think that that’s a way to become energy independent.”

Maybe not, but experts agree that properly inflating tires could make a big difference:

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “every pound per square inch of tire underinflation wastes 4 million gallons of gas daily in the U.S.” Survey information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 27 percent of the cars on the road have a significantly under-inflated tire…

“[The] production offset is … likely to approach 800,000 barrels per day -– a tidy sum and a worthwhile target for savings, but not equal to [Outer Continental Shelf] output,” [wrote Frank Verrastro, Director and Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).]

Keeping tires inflated would have a much longer term benefit than offshore drilling however, because it is a sustainable practice, whereas — despite Republican talking points to the contrary — U.S. underseas oil reserves would meet global demand for only seven months:

The Department of Energy estimates that there are eighteen billion barrels of technically recoverable oil in offshore areas of the continental United States that are now closed to drilling. This sounds like a lot, until you consider that oil is a globally traded commodity and that, at current rates of consumption, eighteen billion barrels would satisfy less than seven months of global demand. A D.O.E. report issued last year predicted that it would take two decades for drilling in restricted areas to have a noticeable effect on domestic production, and that, even then, “because oil prices are determined on the international market,” the impact on fuel costs would be “insignificant.”

Predictably, the media are letting McCain’s latest gaffe pass, but at least Obama took an opportunity to poke a little fun at his rival. Noting McCain’s change of position, Obama said, “It will be interesting to watch this debate between John McCain and John McCain.”

Share article:

Reader Comments on

McCain Flipflops on Keeping Tires Inflated

10 Comments

(Comments are now closed.)


10 Responses

  1. 3)
    Chris Hooten@work said on 8/7/2008 @ 5:11pm PT: [Permalink]

    Anything I ever *might* have liked about McCain has been compromised. He is now just another republican jackass. Not that I would have ever voted for the old coot.

    O B A M A
    One smart cookie.

  2. 5)
    Vipersdad said on 8/7/2008 @ 9:50pm PT: [Permalink]

    The worst part about this fumble from McCain is that proper tire inflation has been touted as a gas-saver for decades. It’s one of those things that grandfathers tell young people learning to drive (or at least mine did).

    So people heard McCain mocking Obama and it just looked like a man willing to say or do anything to get elected.

  3. 6)
    Pat Sutton said on 8/7/2008 @ 11:35pm PT: [Permalink]

    I haven’t been to this website for a few days, and while browsing, I watched “The One” ad and voted. I was appalled that the vote results showed that most people thought it was a plus for Obama. You couldn’t be more wrong. “The One” is code referring to the anti-Christ in the “Left Behind” series of Best Selling Books! It’s all a bunch of BS, but to those who’ve read them, this ad definitely speaks to them, painting Obama in the worst way, using his own words taken completely out of context. This is a very slick and damaging ad.

  4. 7)
    Kmac said on 8/8/2008 @ 6:27am PT: [Permalink]

    Anything I ever *might* have liked about McCain has been compromised. He is now just another republican jackass. Not that I would have ever voted for the old coot.

    Couldn’t hve said it better myself!

  5. 8)
    Smithy said on 8/8/2008 @ 3:47pm PT: [Permalink]

    Did a search using “John Edwards”. Got 37 hits for bradblog on google. Nothing recently however.
    If Edwards was a republican, you wouldnt be talking about tire pressure.

  6. 10)
    Soul Rebel said on 8/9/2008 @ 9:41pm PT: [Permalink]

    Smithy #8

    Actually, while I am personally disappointed with Edwards – mostly because of the political damage, I honestly don’t give a rip if he was having an affair – an affair is a personal matter between him and his wife. It doesn’t have doodly-squat to do with his policies, or his legislative or executive skills.

    Here is the link that was posted here when Eliot Spitzer was busted. Again, I don’t give a hoot if Spitzer was frequenting prostitutes, it should be legal and regulated. The problem with Spitzer was that he was busting prostitutes and johns, in fact had made it part of his executive credentials. That’s hypocrisy. We don’t like it.

    I don’t like that Edwards lied about his affair, but it’s a question that was probably nobody’s damn business.

    You conservatives are so hell-bent on sticking your noses into other people’s private consensual business, it really mystifies me as the country is falling apart around you that you can be bothered with where John Edwards makes his bed.

(Comments are now closed.)


Please help The BRAD BLOG, BradCast and Green News Report remain independent and 100% reader and listener supported in our 23rd YEAR!!!

ONE TIME
any amount...

MONTHLY
any amount...

OR VIA SNAIL MAIL
Make check out to...
Brad Friedman/
BRAD BLOG
7095 Hollywood Blvd., #594
Los Angeles, CA 90028

RECENT POSTS

But Here’s Another Post That Comes AFTER the Stay-on-Top Test!

But is it really under the sticky post?

Trying Out Stay-on-Top Functionality

How does it work?

You tell me!

‘Dangerous Times’: Climate Scientist Warns Trump ‘Censorship’ Endangering National Security: ‘BradCast’ 3/6/2026

Guest: Dr. Peter Gleick; Also: Admin deported at least 50 legal Venezuelan migrants; Judge says South Sudan deportations violated court order

This is the Sub Sub title line. Have added it so that we can see how the spacing works everywhere with both sub headers...

TEST

Guest: Election expert Marilyn Marks on GA 2018 Lt. Gov. election contest as state moves to unverifiable barcoded ballots; Also: FL 2020 GOP power-grab update; IA Repubs vote to NOT count absentee ballots...

Investigators reportedly examining federal judge's long history of alleged domestic abuse, while Congressional impeachment looms...

The Attempted 2018 Voter Suppression Begins: ‘BradCast’ 8/20/2018

And other news, both good and bad, around the country and world, 78 days out from the midterm elections...

A New Test Post for Linux61

This is one of those famous sub-titles you've heard so much about, that have been so vexing

And this, believe it or not, is a sub-sub-title!...

Sunday ‘Cutting Corners’ Toons

THIS WEEK: Big Barbaric Bill ... Conman's Clowns ... Anti-Semitism ... In Memoriam ...

‘A World of Tyrants, Bribes, and Influence’: ‘BradCast’ 5/22/2025

Guests: Heather Digby Parton of Salon, 'Driftglass' of 'Pro Left Podcast'...

‘Green News Report’ – May 22, 2025

With Brad Friedman & Desi Doyen...

And Then They Came for Members of Congress…: ‘BradCast’ 5/20/2025

Guest: Attorney Keith Barber; Also: Noem doesn't know what Habeas Corpus means; Paramount owner wants CBS News to roll over to Trump...

‘Green News Report’ – May 20, 2025

With Brad Friedman & Desi Doyen...

Appeals Court Blocks Last Route for Voters to Challenge Violations of the Voting Rights Act: ‘BradCast’ 5/19/2025

Guest: Justin Levitt, former Dep. Asst. A.G. at DOJ; Also: Springsteen sounds alarm; Far-right loses in Romania; SCOTUS blocks Trump again...

Sunday ‘Now Hoarding’ Toons

THIS WEEK: From the Middle East ... to Capitol Hill ... and Across the MAGAVerse ...

Mad World: ‘BradCast’ 5/15/2025

Birthright citizenship and nationwide injunctions at SCOTUS; GOP tax and health care cuts in the House; Eliminating FEMA, dismantling NWS before hurricane season; Noem's surreal tattoo testimony; Souter's warning...

‘Green News Report’ – May 15, 2025

With Brad Friedman & Desi Doyen...

About Brad Friedman...

Brad is an independent investigative journalist, blogger and broadcaster.
Full Bio & Testimonials…
Media Appearance Archive…
Articles & Editorials Elsewhere…
Contact…
He has contributed chapters to these books…
…And is featured in these documentary films…

BRAD BLOG ON THE AIR!

THE BRADCAST on KPFK/Pacifica Radio Network (90.7FM Los Angeles, 98.7FM Santa Barbara, 93.7FM N. San Diego and nationally on many other affiliate stations! ALSO VIA PODCAST: RSS/XML feed | Pandora | TuneInApple Podcasts/iTunesiHeartAmazon Music

GREEN NEWS REPORT, nationally syndicated, with new episodes on Tuesday and Thursday. ALSO VIA PODCAST: RSS/XML feed | Pandora | TuneInApple Podcasts/iTunesiHeartAmazon Music

Media Appearance Archives…

AD
CONTENT

ADDITIONAL STUFF

Brad Friedman/
The BRAD BLOG Named...

Buzz Flash's 'Wings of Justice' Honoree
Project Censored 2010 Award Recipient
The 2008 Weblog Awards