Despite Cheney's reported correction on China drilling claim, Hannity asserted China is "drilling 60 miles off our shores"
SUMMARY: Sean Hannity claimed on his radio show, "[W]e've got China, you know, joining with Cuba, they're drilling 60 miles off our shores of Florida." But Vice President Dick Cheney has reportedly issued a correction for making the same claim, as has George Will, whom Cheney cited as the source of his claim.
On the June 16 edition of his nationally syndicated radio program, Sean Hannity claimed, "[W]e've got China, you know, joining with Cuba, they're drilling 60 miles off our shores of Florida." But as Media Matters for America has noted, Vice President Dick Cheney has reportedly issued a correction for making the same claim. Cheney cited a column by The Washington Post's George Will in a June 11 speech to assert that "oil is being drilled right now 60 miles off the coast of Florida. But we're not doing it, the Chinese are, in cooperation with the Cuban government." According to the Associated Press, Cheney issued a correction on June 12, saying, "It is our understanding that, although Cuba has leased out exploration blocks 60 miles off the coast of southern Florida, which is closer than American firms are allowed to operate in that area, no Chinese firm is drilling there."
Will issued a correction to his column on June 17.
From the June 16 edition of ABC Radio Networks' The Sean Hannity Show:
HANNITY: The biggest obstacle to putting more domestic oil in the pipeline is not economics or technological hurdles. You know, it's the pro-OPEC Democratic majority and the irrational U.S. Congress and the attacks against the oil companies. It's become totally irrational. And what they have successfully been able to do politically, they've been able to navigate the projection of blame from themselves, where it belongs -- because liberals are to blame, liberals are the cause -- and they focus people's anger on the oil companies and their profits. What about the profits the government makes every time we fill up at a gas station? It is -- it's pretty -- they've been very successful at all this propaganda. But if we drill here, drill now, we will pay less.
I mean, we're supposed to take great comfort in the news over the weekend and earlier today that, oh, Saudi Arabia is going to raise oil production to record levels within weeks in an attempt to avert an escalation of social and political unrest around the world. Well, why are we bowing at the altar of the Saudis and the -- you know, you look at the instability, the political instability of the Middle East, you know, why don't we become energy independent? And for whatever reason, Senator McCain's not on board with drilling in ANWR [Arctic National Wildlife Refuge]. I don't get it. It could be the single biggest, best defining issue in this campaign. Now I think, and I would suggest, that he change his mind on it, based on the high price of energy, and he can compare and contrast Barack Obama, who wants to raise taxes on coal and natural gas, and this windfall profit tax on oil -- who doesn't want to drill anywhere, and you can compare and contrast and see who the people go along with.
I mean, you know, we've got China, you know, joining with Cuba, they're drilling 60 miles off our shores of Florida.
But we can't drill there. And any effort that we've ever had, the Democrats have rejected any attempt to expand offshore or any drilling anyplace, anywhere, or any attempts to become energy independent. I'm telling you, it's nuts out there.
You're gonna need a bigger drill, Tommy. Jean Schmitt and Mary Matlin continue to spew that lie as well, while here you will find other republican office holders actually defending that lie.
The right-wing slime machine is in overdrive controlling the message on gas prices and oil drilling. They need to shift the blame to environmentalist, and thus, onto Democrats. After all, it's an election year and there's some pretty p***ed off consumers out there.
What does the right-wing slime machine want to obscure from the public in regard to this issue?
These are the kinds of facts and figures presented by Democrats on the floor of Congress that will make it onto C-Span, but you'll hear very little about them on cable crap news.
The oil cartel is stockpiling leases, and the right-wing slime machine is performing its sworn duty to cover their @$$es.
This raises the question.... is McBush getting his talking points from PigBoy, or vice versa?
I think the next time the Onion writes something about Obama I am going to send Hannity the link to see if he'll read it on the air. Amazing, but good on George Will to write a correction.
Ok, ok - now I'm starting to blush - I missed you all too (I'd start listing names but I know I'll leave someone out). Many people probably wish they had a medical excuse to just drop-out for a few months, I know.:) It's about the only thing good about my "condition" - LOL. I followed a lot of stuff here reallly - just not up to writing.:(
Thanks again - and a big "hello again" to all!
I have to mention... We dropped cable TV for over 3 months as part of a little money-saving experiment. I suppose that adds a little to my truancy excuse - and what might have helped lead to my "No Woman, No Cry" state of mind as far as MMFA goes. :) I finally couldn't take it anymore once the Primary ended.:( I'm trying to start a campaign to get the local TWC affiliate to carry at least one of the numerous gay-oriented cable channels available (which have been available on any extended basic cable package in any other city I have lived). This way my house partners might be willing to share the extended cableTV bill again. Ahhh, The Bible Belt.:(
Once again, the typical right-wing talking poing M. O.
Even after it's been proven to be a lie, the right-wingers, (in this case, Sean Hannity,) still run with it.
Does Hannity not know it's false? No. He knows darn well it's a lie, but he has to continue with the lie, to pander to his fanboys.
Does Hannity not know it's false?
Sean Insanity would never let the fact that a story is false stand in the way of using it if it supports his narrow-minded, racist, xenophobic, gay-bashing, lily-white agenda.
It's irrational to oppose our tax dollars being spent to build oil their refineries? It's irrational to oppose spending our money to protect, with the military, the further enrichment of a handful of oilmen?
Love that conservative logic.
If we started drilling today in ANWR the petroleum there wouldn't be gas in our tank until 2018. There is no reason to wait to invest in a green economy.
"and they focus people's anger on the oil companies and their profits. What about the profits the government makes every time we fill up at a gas station?"
Simple. The government gives it to the oil companies as subsidies.
Promoting propaganda is Hannity's premeire priority. Fallacious facts are fomented for his fanatical followers. Tenacious truth is too tenuous for this truculent toady.
Hannity asserted China is "drilling 60 miles off our shores"
Hannity's brain is 60 miles off our shores......
I really feel for Tommy and Jeter, it must suck knowing the conservative party has been hijacked by a bunch of lying racist bigots. Speaking of, love this pin that was for sale at the GOP convention:
That's right, I forgot. Them republicans are such jokesters!
Yep. Responsibility.
Yes, we are wrecked. Actually, I'm not speaking for Jeter although he may agree.....since we are not inextricably joined at the hip to any political party, but rather our principles, we have no problem criticizing any politician or "racist hijacker", as we do here quite often, unlike many on the left who don't dare speak ill of any liberal Democrat or their sainted party.
It's liberating to free yourself from the chains of political party affiliation and its confines, freedom reigns! Try it.......(up and up and awaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy)
No you will say? Then why the partisan dig? ("unlike many on the left who don't dare speak ill of any liberal Democrat or their sainted party.")
Not very convincing, Tommy.
Perhaps if you slowed down and actually read what you are responding to, instead of your knee-jerk replies. I said I wasn't invested in any political party, which I am not. That is why I don't get so defensive when the Republican party is criticized, like many of you do when it's your Democratic party - it's like one of your children are being attacked or something.
As for conservatism, that is not a political party, and the Republicans of late hardly are conservative - so I have my principles and my beliefs and my values, which are far more important to me than some pandering politician or defending some political party which first and foremost wants my vote, often times at the expense of principles.
Which are very conservative. You are a partisan conservative. Deal.
And why don't you read what I wrote? I never said you were invested in one political party. I simply pointed out how divested you are of the other political party.
Also, if you'll ever notice, I am not enamoured of the Democratic party. I am a partisan liberal, I am a populist progressive. I am the anti-Tommy.
Last week he came at me with the "Democrats block drilling here" meme. I responded with Cheney's Cuba-China falsehood, and pointed out that Cheney had acknowledged it wasn't true (even if he didn't actually apologize for it).
That was before all these other bobbleheads picked up on it. So I'm hoping that if he sees all these people lie to him and this time he knows they're lying to him, maybe he'll start to resent getting lied to and stop taking all this crap at face value so quickly.
It's not likely, but it IS a hope.
Bear in mind, drilling off of the coast of Florida has been opposed by, Jeb Bush, and subsequently his republican replacement as well. Also, by the republican led Florida state Congressional members.
I found this little tidbit in the archives demonstrating how far a pair of absolutely crazy unhinged left wing liberal enviro-nuts would go to stop drilling in Florida:
"Governor Bush Joins President At White House To Take Historic Action Protecting Florida From Drilling -- Agreements protect Florida's beaches and the Everglades --WASHINGTON D.C.-- This morning at the White House, President George W. Bush made an unprecedented commitment to Florida Governor Jeb Bush, protecting both Florida's beaches and the Everglades from oil and gas drilling"
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/news/2002/02-govdrill.htm
And this:
"But environmentalists and Florida Governor Charlie Crist oppose the idea of drilling off the coast of Florida.
Asked last week about the possibility of opening up the Continental Shelf to drilling--including the coastline of Florida--Crist said he couldn't support it even with rising fuel prices.
A spokesman for Crist says the governor still opposes offshore drilling despite President Bush's comments today."
http://www.wmbb.com/gulfcoastwest/mbb/news.apx.-content-articles-MBB-2008-06-09-0013.html
Yeah sure - let's just start drilling along the continental shelf? I mean what better place to start drilling mile deep holes into the ocean floor until it looks like polka-dots? - What the heck - I mean - It's only a shelf.
Geez, I give up on some of the stupid things you guys "support".
I did it again Moonbat - well at least now you know it's really me again.:) ROFLMAO
Anyhow, the idea remains - YOU GUYS.:)
"I'm telling you, it's nuts out there."
Actually, Sean, it's nuts "in there."
"What about the profits the government makes every time we fill up at a gas station? "
This is another one of Hannity's standard bits of repetitions, usually followed with a "for doing nothing" comment. At some point last week he repeated the false claim that 15% of gas prices is tax. So much lying it's hard to catch it all.
With the "for doing nothing" comment, and this applies to all the other radio wingnuts who call public transportation a subsidy, I have just one question: How did we get all these roads and how do we keep getting them fixed?
On his bizarrre claim of 15% of gas prices being tax, the Federal gas tax is a flat 18.4 cents per gallon, no matter what the price per gallon is. State and local taxes vary but are also flat in many states, though not all. This is just Sean making crap up as usual and then repeating it over and over again until it becomes lodged in the brains of his loyal followers to go out and repeat it.
Hey, Moonbat, I've been hearing that stuff too. Hannity actually says the Oil companies only make 4% on the gas.
I haven't been able to check it out, but I'm guessing he's divvying up exploration, refining, distribution and the profit made at retail. He may be telling his audience what the gas company who owns the gas station makes at the actual time of delivery into the car, I'm not sure.
I sent a "tip" to MMFA a while back regarding this issue, hoping that somebody knew more about the numbers than I do, but saw no response.
I was crushed, but am OK now, with my new official tipster status.
I just went over all this with a wingnut buddy. He regurgitated Hannity' numbers exactly. However, about 10 minutes in the web reveals:
The national average oil industry profit margin is approximately 8.3% after taxes. ExxonMobil’s were 10.4%. And that was for 2007, well before the prices shot over $4/gal. Not too shabby. A hell of a lot better than my 401k has ever done since Bush was in office. And way way WAY more than my house has appreciated in the 21 years I’ve been there (about 3.5% after the last appraisal, about 4.2% before it).
The Federal Government’s take is a flat 18.4 cents/gal. At $4/gal that works out to be 4.6%.
States vary. Michigan charges 19 cents per gallon road tax plus 6% sales tax (but not on the 19 cents). At $4/gal that works out to be about 10.5%.
Ah well, you really can't argue with the numbers.
The federal gas tax increased last year. It is now 24.4 cents per gallon.
Just an FYI
Well Col., if ya want to know how gas prices really work, check out this site.
You may also be interested in the house energy bill. Gee, no surprise there...
Carn, let me try to mind-meld with you:
You hear/see a man who obviously has no convictions. He doesn’t seem to believe himself what he says. You are not even vaguely persuaded by him. You wonder how gullible Fox must they think you are. You feel that your intelligence is being insulted.
The Outer Continental Shelf drilling moratorium has been renewed by Congress every year since 1981. It covers 85 percent of the country’s coastal waters — everywhere except the central and western Gulf of Mexico and some areas off Alaska.
1981 - hmm - what's familiar about that year. Oh yeah - Reagan was president! But by all means, let's blame the environmentalists.
And why does offshore drilling have such a bad reputation? Does Santa Barbara 1969 ring any bells? http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/~jeff/sb_69oilspill/69oilspill_articles2.html . Or is this what retirees in Florida want?
http://www.ead.ae/TacSoft/images/news/06_nt_oil5_5.jpg
This "fact" is a clear indication that Hannity is not even close to being a journalist. The problem is that real journalists understand that their profession is akin to that of a doctor. Telling the truth is part of their "oath" and must be followed uncritically. The harm resulting from an uninformed group of citizens is 4000 American deaths and many more deaths among Iraqis. The fact that Sean continues to spout such nonsense is a clear indication that his own professional and personal value system is seriously flawed and that he (personally) cares little for other people.
Frankly, it is a waste of time for MMFA to even document what he says...
...his own professional and personal value system is seriously flawed---Sluggo
I don't think he even has one.
At the least though, Hannity's unsuitability to the job of persuading people makes clear that he is a puppet of Murdoch and Ailes and company. They must have a good laugh at seeing their monkeys in the window (as O'Reilly once referred to himself) getting beaten up all the time in place of themselves. And I fall for it it too---it's a neat little trick---out of sight, out of mind.
George Will's "correction" is grossly inadequate. In point of fact, his grudging nod to the truth constitutes little more than a dishonest and irresponsible attempt to minimize his error. The phrasing is so fuzzy as to suggest that China is actually drilling, oh, 61 miles off the Florida coast, rather than 60. Here's the full "correction":
OK...China has entered a partnership with Cuba and leased out exploration blocks 60 miles off our coast. But they aren't drilling YET.
This is like objecting to someone saying Barack Obama is the Democrat nominee because they haven't counted the votes at the convention YET. Media Matters is truly PATHETIC!
Apparently, someone didn't read the article, because indeed, these folks did say that China was drilling. A couple of folks who made that claim took it back, and yet we have Hannity running with it. So what was so pathetic about exposing mis-truths being peddled by our news media again in some sort of attempt to scare people again?
See, the thing is, McCain is bumping for drilling off of Florida. I wonder how that's going to play with the voters in say, umm, Florida? Probably not too well, since the state is primarily republican, and yet, here they have their own guy saying, or asking for them to allow drilling off of their coast, which is something that keeps getting rejected time and again. I hear his numbers falling as we speak.
Sean "Everyday is the begining of history" : Liberals, Democrats oppose "attempts to become energy independent."
Jimmy Carter : Carter said on July 15, 1979. "Beginning this moment, this nation will never use more foreign oil than we did in 1977 -- never. From now on, every new addition to our demand for energy will be met from our own production and our own conservation. The generation-long growth in our dependence on foreign oil will be stopped dead in its tracks right now and then reversed as we move through the 1980s..." In addition, we needed to immediately begin to develop a long-range strategy to move beyond fossil fuel.