FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 3, 2008
CONTACT: Josh Dorner, 202.675.2384
                 David Willett, 202.675.6698

Coincidence???
'Grand Oil Party’ Takes in $3.6 million From Oil Industry,
Spends $3 million on Ads Attacking Obama on Energy Issues 

Washington, D.C.—The media is reporting that an arm of the Republican National Committee (RNC) is poised to launch $3 million in ads attacking Barack Obama on the issue of energy security.  The ads are due to begin on Sunday in the battleground states of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Campaign finance records indicate that through June 2, 2008, the Republican Party had received $3,652,286 from oil and gas interests.¹  Through June 2, John McCain himself had received $791,777 from the oil industry and media reports indicate that he has since raised millions more at fundraisers held in Houston, Dallas, and elsewhere.² 

Statement of Cathy Duvall, Sierra Club Political Director

"It looks like John McCain and the Republican Party have really hit a gusher when it comes to Big Oil's bank account.  While Big Oil is helping to bankroll attacks ads using some of its billions in record profits, it has American consumers over a barrel.    
 
"It's ironic that the very same special interests John McCain claims to dislike are now funding millions in attack ads on his behalf.  It's no surprise that Big Oil would be so eager to help John McCain, considering that he went straight to Houston to announce his dirty and dangerous plan to drill off our beaches.  Even the Bush administration and McCain's own campaign advisors admit that this misguided plan wouldn’t do a thing to lower gas prices today, tomorrow, or even a decade from now.

"When Americans hit the road this weekend and pay over $4 a gallon for gas, they should consider whether they want their next president to be Big Oil’s best friend.  It's the failed policies of Bush, Cheney, and Big Oil that have wrecked our economy and left us at the mercy of the oil companies and hostile foreign regimes.

"This Fourth of July, Barack Obama is offering us a real plan for energy independence while John McCain is merely offering more of the same recycled rhetoric."

1. http://opensecrets.org/parties/indus.php?cycle=2008&cmte=RPC
2. http://opensecrets.org/pres08/indus.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00006424
   
     "McCain reschedules Midland visit with $1.5 million already collected," June 15, 2008, Midland Reporter-     Telegram. 
     http://www.mywesttexas.com/articles/2008/06/15/news/top_stories/doc4855134f3c4c5977465576.txt

     "McCain Raises Money the Hard Way," June 19, 2008, Washington Post.
     http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/06/19/mccain_raises_money_the_hard_w.html

Paid for by the Sierra Club Political Committee, http://www.sierraclub.org/, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

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