Nailing Down Mark Udall's Shifting, Cuban-Centered "Comprehensive" Energy Policy

As reported in today's Grand Junction Free Press, from last Saturday's Club 20 debate:

[Bob] Schaffer pounced on [Mark] Udall for supporting drilling in Cuban waters of the Gulf of Mexico, something Udall said he backed in order to give Americans the opportunity before someone else got to it.

In the interest of general consistency, doesn't Mark Udall also want to give Americans the first opportunity at ANWR, oil shale, and most - or even all - offshore drilling in American waters? No. Meanwhile, drilling in Cuban waters appears to remain Udall's idea of "responsible drilling."

Mark Udall's energy policy is "comprehensive" - if by "comprehensive" you mean "any energy source that won't soon be profitable nor help quickly lead to energy independence for the American people, plus a little bit from Cuba, plus whatever else absolutely has to be done to win a few extra votes." That's the best definition I can come up with after following the issue for months. Any alternative suggestions?

Contrast that with Bob Schaffer's reasonable comprehensive energy policy.

Another Lie from Udall Spokesperson

Yesterday we highlighted a Grand Junction news story in which Boulder liberal Rep. Mark Udall's campaign ineffectively tried to spin legitimate criticisms against his record. Upon closer review, we also should have included this snippet:

"It is very surprising it's happening this early," said [Udall campaign manager Mike] Melanson. "It's the only place in the country -- we're the only Senate race where negative attack ads have gone up."

What about these Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ads attacking Republican candidates in New Hampshire, Minnesota, Maine, and Kentucky? If he's going to speak so authoritatively about "negative attack ads" nationwide, shouldn't Melanson figure out what his own party is doing first? Of course, he's aware of what's going on from the DSCC, you say.

Once more, Udall's spokesperson spouts an easily disprovable lie. What's going on here?

Udall Spokesman Says Ad is False, Denver Post Verifies Ad is True

As documented by the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) blog, the spokesman for Boulder liberal Rep. Mark Udall (the would-be Senator from DailyKos) is not telling the truth. The dispute is over an ad posted by an independent group that highlights Udall's sponsorship of a bill to open offshore Cuba to the drills of American oil companies:



From NRSC:

The Denver Post says the ad is true:

Title: Cuban Hero Award

Sponsor: Common Sense Issues, Inc.

Type: Television

Message: Democratic senate candidate Mark Udall has introduced a bill that would allow American companies to drill for oil in environmentally-sensitive waters controlled by the Cuban government, potentially helping the economy of an American enemy.

Grade: True

Yet, Mark Udall continues to claim that the ad is false:

Udall campaign spokesman Mike Melanson called both ads false and misleading. (Rocky Mountain News, 12/4/2007)

Why is Mark Udall trying to mislead the people of Colorado?

An excellent question. Instead of explaining or justifying Udall's leading support behind this issue, his spokesman tries to deny a fact that can easily be verified. What's going on here?

Drilling Off Cuba, OK, Drilling In Colorado Nixed

In Mark Udall's consistent struggle to be inconsistent, he has sponsored a bill to allow US Oil Companies to drill for oil and gas off Cuba.

Wouldn't it be nice if he allowed the people and elected officials of Western Colorado the same opportunity to benefit from gas drilling that he is willing to give Castro?