Warner’s energy ad endorses offshore drilling

By JR Hoeft

I could have sworn Mark Warner said in this ad that he would advocate for offshore drilling.

Now that’s not going to make his Sierra Club supporters too happy.

But, more importantly, is this the same Mark Warner who in 2005 vetoed offshore drilling?

Apparently, it is, because according to Warner’s veto:

Senate Bill 1054 would permanently place in the Code of Virginia a requirement to advocate for lifting the moratorium on offshore exploration and development of natural gas. There is nothing to prevent individual legislators or groups of legislators from advocating for these or other policies.
….
We need consensus on a national energy policy, and the contemplated federal legislation raises significant public policy issues on which I am willing to keep an open mind. However, it is inappropriate for the state to commit to a position on the legislation until such time as it has actually been introduced.

So, I suppose you can say that Warner the governor prefers to be dictated to by federal government, but he would be for it as a U.S. Senator doing the dictating?

It is apparent that Mark Warner senses a “shifting wind”.

Del. Jeff Frederick, RPV Chairman, wasted little time in criticizing the ad that appeared during last night’s All-Star game and all across Virginia:

This commercial is an insult to Virginians’ intelligence. Once again Mark Warner has read the polls and changed course. He may try to erase peoples’ memories, but he cannot erase his sorry record on energy independence.

Oh well. Just Drill.