Obama speech on BP oil spill a call to action for clean energy
| Washington
Within days of Barack Obama鈥檚 election as president, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel memorably announced Rule No. 1: 鈥淣ever allow a crisis to go to waste. They are opportunities to do big things.鈥�
In late 2008, the crisis was economic. Now it is environmental, as the estimated rate of oil flow from a damaged well in the Gulf of Mexico has once again been ratcheted upward. President Obama did not use the word 鈥渙pportunity鈥� in his on the Gulf disaster, but he conveyed that meaning as he spoke of America鈥檚 century-long 鈥渁ddiction鈥� to fossil fuels.
鈥淭he tragedy unfolding on our coast is the most painful and powerful reminder yet that the time to embrace a clean energy future is now,鈥� Mr. Obama said somberly. 鈥淣ow is the moment for this generation to embark on a national mission to unleash America鈥檚 innovation and seize control of our own destiny.鈥�
IN PICTURES: The Gulf oil spill's impact on nature
Comprehensive energy and climate-change reform represented a key element of Obama鈥檚 agenda when he ran for president, but it took a back seat to health-care reform in his first year. With Republicans sensing their own opportunity 鈥� major gains in the fall midterm elections 鈥� and with Democrats fearful of taking risky votes, now would not seem to be the time to push another major reform through Congress. But Obama showed with his passage of health reform that he is capable of muscling through legislation on an issue that has long defied comprehensive action.
In an address long on big picture and short on detail, Obama did not reveal whether he would push for the kind of 鈥渃ap and trade鈥� provision the House has already passed, which would limit carbon emissions 鈥� and which opponents call a tax. He mentioned the word 鈥渃limate鈥� only once in the speech, when referring to the House bill.
Instead, Obama focused his sights on a larger call to American action, summoning memories of Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and John Kennedy.
鈥淭he one answer I will not settle for is the idea that this challenge is somehow too big and too difficult to meet,鈥� Obama said. 鈥淵ou know, the same thing was said about our ability to produce enough planes and tanks in World War II. The same thing was said about our ability to harness the science and technology to land a man safely on the surface of the moon.鈥�
With nearly one-third of Obama鈥檚 17-minute speech devoted to long-term energy reform, critics complained that the president gave the immediate crisis short shrift and provided no new details. He repeated his assertion that the US will make British energy giant BP, the company behind the disaster, pay for the damage. And he reminded viewers that the US is requiring BP to put money aside to compensate workers and business owners who have been harmed 鈥渁s a result of the company鈥檚 recklessness.鈥� Obama did not mention figures, but Senate Democrats have discussed a $20 billion escrow fund.
BP and US officials have already been negotiating the terms of the fund, including who would be eligible for compensation. BP objects, for example, to paying the lost wages of oil workers sitting idle due to the administration鈥檚 six-month moratorium on deep-water drilling. On Wednesday, Obama will hold a closely watched meeting with BP executives, including the company鈥檚 chairman, at the White House.
BP responded positively to Obama鈥檚 speech, saying the company shared the president鈥檚 goal of cleaning up the oil and helping those affected. Regarding the White House meeting, the company said it anticipated 鈥渁 constructive discussion about how best to achieve these mutual goals.鈥�
Some pundits commented ruefully that if BP was happy with Obama鈥檚 speech, then the president had failed. But presidential scholars counsel perspective.
鈥淲hat everybody wants from him may be more than is realistic to expect,鈥� says Bruce Buchanan, a political scientist at the University of Texas, Austin. 鈥淧eople want a chapter-and-verse battle plan, right down to the crossed t鈥檚 and dotted i鈥檚, with deadlines, and that is just unrealistic. It鈥檚 the classic presidential dilemma, exaggerated by emotions.鈥�
Related:
- Obama鈥檚 Oval Office moment: Now he owns Gulf oil spill
- Obama launches BP oil spill offensive
- BP oil spill: with escrow plan, Obama races to claim BP's money
IN PICTURES: The Gulf oil spill's impact on nature
