Under the headline “Barack Petroleum,” the Drudge Report is highlighting recent comments made by oil and gas executives expressing support for comprehensive energy reform to connect the Obama administration's support for energy reform legislation to BP. But Obama's support for comprehensive reform long predates the comments -- made at a June 15 congressional hearing -- Drudge is amplifying, and he provides no indication of why industry support for reform is problematic.

From the Drudge Report, accessed June 15:

Not only did Drudge give no indication of why BP's support for comprehensive energy reform is problematic, but only by bending time could he suggest that Obama's support for reform is connected to BP's -- or anybody's -- June 2010 comments. During his June 15 address from the Oval Office, Obama noted:

When I was a candidate for this office, I laid out a set of principles that would move our country towards energy independence. Last year, the House of Representatives acted on these principles by passing a strong and comprehensive energy and climate bill - a bill that finally makes clean energy the profitable kind of energy for America's businesses.

Now, there are costs associated with this transition. And some believe we can't afford those costs right now. I say we can't afford not to change how we produce and use energy - because the long-term costs to our economy, our national security, and our environment are far greater.

Indeed, Obama's support for comprehensive energy reform long predates the comments Drudge cites.