President Obama Blames You for High Gas Prices

Rory Cooper / April 07, 2011

President Barack Obama deflected blame for high gas prices yesterday, by blaming American consumers for their automobile choices. According to the AP, at an event at a wind turbine plant, “Obama needled one questioner who asked about gas prices.” Obama laughingly said: “If you’re complaining about the price of gas and you’re only getting 8 miles a gallon, you know…you might want to think about a trade-in.” (The AP later scrubbed this quote from its stories)

For most Americans, however, high gas prices are no laughing matter. And for the president to suggest that a taxpayer’s inability to buy a new $40,000+ hybrid vehicle (that still requires gas) is the root problem, rather than his price-increasing oil policies is shameful.

Later in the evening, at an event hosted by Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, Obama quickly tried to dispel the notion he is “out of touch” by saying: “I remember what it was like pumping gas. [Obama laughs] I remember.” So do we, Mr. President.

Before President Obama took office, his personal vehicle of choice was a Chrysler 300C sporting a V8 engine averaging 17 miles-per-gallon in the city. The president’s campaign vehicle was a GMC Yukon, which was “flex-fuel” averaging…17 mpg. So it appears the president’s personal fuel standard is 17 mpg. But of course, this is a ‘do as we say, not as we do’ activist administration. You must live by a different set of rules. (more…)