America Speaks Out: Scores of Americans Join the House GOP's Nationwide Gas Price Protest
As the GOP Leader Blog Gives America a Glimpse into the House Floor Revolt, Americans Share Stories of How the Energy Crunch Impacts Their Lives
Washington,
Aug 5, 2008 -
As the House GOP’s nationwide gas price protest continues, Americans across the country are joining in as well – in the House chamber, on the talk radio airwaves, at townhall meetings, and elsewhere. At a news conference earlier today, House Republican Conference Secretary John Carter (R-TX) explained that the uprising is gaining incredible momentum both inside and outside of the Washington Beltway because of its “all of the above” energy message:
|
“Our message is very simple, it’s not complex. We are proposing that we come back into session and have an up or down vote on an energy package that includes everything including drilling for additional oil and gas. This is not just about oil and gas, it’s about a comprehensive package… We have got to get the price of energy down to an affordable level again, and we only do that by a comprehensive that covers all of the energy.”
|
The nationwide gas price revolt has also become a fixture in the blogosphere. House Republican Leader John Boehner’s (R-OH) GOP Leader Blog has been following the events unfolding on the House floor, providing Americans a window into the House chamber, where Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has cut off microphones and cameras in an attempt to silence Republicans’ message on American energy. Thousands of Americans have flooded Boehner’s blog to read the regular updates – and to provide their own stories about how the energy crunch has impacted them and their families. Overall, the blog has been visited 10,000 times since the GOP’s floor revolt began spontaneously last Friday. Following are just a handful of comments left by visitors to the GOP Leader Blog in the last day:
- Tammi writes, “Our daughter attends college on the other side of the country and we cannot afford the $2,000 airfare to bring her home for the holidays.”
- Sandra explains, “I live in an economically depressed rural Tenn. where the higher food/gas costs are dramatically affecting our elderly and young families. Some people have to drive 35 miles plus to work, they are carpooling when they can but some are now making the hard choice of working at barely above min. wage and filling the gas tank.”
- “Duty Honor Country” suggests, “It’s time for the Democrats to listen to the American People and the People are tired of $4.00 gasoline. While they turned off the lights and [cameras] to shut down dissent, they started their 5 week vacation, I had to cancel mine because I couldn’t afford to go anywhere.”
- “LSimmons” says, “Enough talk from the [D]emocrats about tapping our STRATEGIC oil reserves and slapping windfall taxes on ‘big oil.’ That’s not a solution! We need to drill, research alternative energy that won’t compete for foodstuffs, and build more refineries.”
- Kathie comments, “I would like to stand with everyone else here and thank every single Congressman/woman who has stood with, and on behalf of, the American people – It’s nice to have our voices being heard in the House again!! Pelsoi CALL CONGRESS BACK NOW so America can VOTE for the American Energy Act – You work for the People and we want this passed!!!”
In an urgent memo sent last weekend to House Republicans, GOP leaders wrote, “The passion for freedom is a defining aspect of the American character. It thrives in the souls of our people. And when brought to bear on a common goal, it is a formidable force. Republicans stand with the American people. We share their passion and determination for energy independence, and we’ve pledged to fight boldly until Congress heeds their will.”
That passion and determination for energy independence is on full display this week- on the House floor, in the blogosphere, and in communities across the country. How much longer will Speaker Pelosi and her Democratic colleagues ignore it?
READ MORE:
