The self-styled Iron Lady of the Left revealed earlier this week that she’s not as strong-willed—or arrogantly obdurate—as was once thought. In an interview with CNN’s Larry King on Monday night, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) made national news upon indicating that she would actually consider allowing a vote on offshore drilling.
Said Madame No:
“So there are things that Congress can do, and we have voted on this over and over again. But the Republicans and the president have resisted. Instead, they have this thing that says drill offshore in the protected areas. Well, we can do that. We can have a vote on that.”
Before Republicans claim victory, however, one must remember that this is Nancy Pelosi and, as always, there is a catch. Despite her apparent caving in, the Speaker reassured her audience that she would only allow such a vote if it was part of a larger energy package which includes a host of other policies:
“But it has to be part of something that says we want to bring immediate relief to the public and not just a hoax on them…
“If we can get some great things, in terms of renewable energy resources: a renewable electricity standard, wind, solar, biofuels and the rest in that context, because if you make a decision only to go with the offshore drilling, you are increasing our dependence on fossil fuels, and you will never free yourself of that addiction unless you invest in the renewable energy resources that are good for the environment, cheaper for the consumer and will reverse global warming.”
Clearly Mrs. Pelosi does not actually believe the “hoax” of expanded domestic drilling would help the energy starved American people. Nevertheless, she appears to be willing to go along with the “hoax” if it would expedite her own agenda for getting the “addicts” (as she portrays her constituents) to go on windmill methadone.
Regardless of her reluctant compliance, Republicans in the House ought to be applauded for their stalwart efforts to address the current American energy crisis and force the Speaker of the House to the table. What was once viewed to be an impregnable line of left-wing defense by the likes of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid has now officially been breached.
Vigilant Republican leaders of this offensive, including Mike Pence (R-IN), John Boehner (R-OH), Tom Price (R-GA) and others, deserve the sincerest gratitude of an American public sick of paying $4 per gallon at the pump—and even sicker of being portrayed as wild-eyed junkies.
Currently, Republican leaders have pledged to keep working on the issue through Congress’ August recess and thereafter until they get an up-or-down vote on the American Energy Act.
Pelosi’s caving, however, carries with it a stark warning. Republicans must refuse to let the Speaker of the House and her left-wing counterparts control the discourse of this debate. The moment Republicans abandon their vigilance and cede control of the agenda is the moment Republicans surrender their advantageous high ground.
A vote on energy independence must be on Republicans’ terms—not on Mrs. Pelosi’s. Specifically, GOP House members must continue pressing for a vote on H.R. 6566, also known as the American Energy Act. In addition to opening up domestic drilling, this Bill would also pursue more nuclear energy, gasoline refineries, oil shale exploration, coal-to-liquid, and a more generally market-based approach to the increasingly escalating demand for energy. Mrs. Pelosi says she wants “renewable energy resources”—and nothing is more reliably renewable than the free market system and American ingenuity encouraged by H.R. 6566.
As Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson warns:
“I suspect that Speaker Pelosi is attempting to push legislation that would only allow for partial access to the outer-continental shelf. Americans may just be better off just letting the current moratorium expire. But the real objective is to secure an up-or-down vote on the American Energy Act. The House GOP must accept no substitutions.”
Ironically enough, Madame No has even suggested that her apparent willingness to vote on drilling is entirely disingenuous and wholly political. Like a political forecaster, the Speaker alluded in the same CNN interview that after the looming November elections, she and the rest of her Big Government cohorts will no longer be forced to answer to the Republican Party—and the American people:
“In the next election, I know that we will strengthen our majorities, increase their numbers, and we will have a Democratic president in the White House, and we will be able to address more fully really what I think is the challenge to our generation — energy security and global warming.”
Her ruse is out in the open and the GOP must not be fooled. Her acquiescence is merely a ploy to circumvent the Republican agenda and salvage a leftist victory amongst the debris.
As Speaker Pelosi caves in, Republicans must make sure they do not do the same.
http://www.getliberty.org/content.asp?pl=37&contentid=37#Pelosi_Caves_in_on_Drilling
