The Karl Rove-helmed lobbying group Crossroads GPS (in conjunction with their parent group American Crossroads) has decided to double down on the debunked talking point that President Obama is to blame for the spike in gas prices. Their latest ad, titled โToo Much,โ specifically takes aim at the Presidentโs claim (based on facts) that domestic energy production is at a record high.
Take a look:
It is interesting to note that in this ad, when they attempt to โdebunkโ Obamaโs claim about domestic oil production, the source they cite as evidence is actually talking about only the oil production, a fact that they actually left in the ad yet convenientlyย ignored:
Politifact ranks this statement as โmostly true,โ but thatโs based on the words used in the ad. Yes, domestic oil production has fallen ever so slightly in the last year, but thatโs because energy companies have moved their efforts into other areas โ particularly hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and other forms of domestic drilling that doesnโt result in a barrel being filled with crude oil.
But because of Crossroadsโ clever language, they arenโt technically lying to the American public.
This isnโt the first time that Crossroads has taken a shot at the President over gas prices. An ad released in late March simply titled โGas Prices,โ tells their untrue story:
Numerous media outlets, including DeSmogBlog, have repeatedly reported on the real cause of the spike in gasoline prices, as well as the increases in domestic energy production. As weโve pointed out, the causes go far beyond, and are almost completely unrelated, to the Presidentโs policies; having more to do with international markets and practices such as oil speculation.
But it is important to note that American Crossroads, a separate arm of Crossroads GPS, has received millions of dollars from the oil and gas industries in the few short years that it has existed, including $2 million from Chief Oil and Gas, and $1 million from TRT Holdings.
As we inch closer and closer to this year’s elections, ads from groups like Crossroads are only going to get more aggressive, and probably moreย untrue.
