Obama uses Jimmy Carter's 1979 speech

[1bad65]

Obama's Oval Office speech brought back memories. Let's see what he said, and what Carter said.

"Energy will be the immediate test of our ability to unite this nation, and it can also be the standard around which we rally. On the battlefield of energy we can win for our nation a new confidence, and we can seize control again of our common destiny." -Jimmy Carter, 1979

"Now is the moment for this generation to embark on a national mission to unleash America's innovation and seize control of our own destiny." -Obama, 2010


"Just as a similar Synthetic Rubber Corporation helped us one World War II, so will we mobilize American determination and ability to win the energy war. These efforts will cost money, a lot of money, and that is why Congress must enact the windfall profits tax without delay. It will be money well spent. I will urge Congress to create an Energy Mobilization Board which, like the war production board in World War II, will have the responsibility and authority to cut through the red tape, the delays, and the endless roadblocks to completing key energy projects." Jimmy Carter, 1979

"One answer I will not settle for is the idea that this challenge is somehow too big and to difficult to meet. You know, the -- the same thing was said about our ability to produce enough planes and tanks in World War II. There are some who believe that we can't afford those costs right now. I say we can't afford not to change how we produce and use energy, because long-term costs to our economy, our national security, and our environment are far greater." Obama, 2010

[Drake]

I wouldn't call that plagiarism in the Ward Churchill sense of the word...

[David Jamieson]

so what? he's addressing a problem that america has still not solved.

If Carter said it in' 79 and Obama is saying it now, it speaks volumes to the apathy and negligence as far as the industry in question is concerned.

[1bad65]

I wouldn't call that plagiarism in the Ward Churchill sense of the word...

My point was that Obama and Carter both have alot in common. The only question will be which one will end up with more Fail after 4 years of being President.

[1bad65]

so what?

Call me crazy, but I think emulating failure is not a recipe for success.

[Hardwork108]

It seems that there are many in the US media who are still laughing at Obama's speech.

Others are just disappointed at the lack of his leadership and a general lack of "cojones"!

I guess that the fact is that he was not brought into power for his leadership abilities but for his SALESMAN qualities. He is here to sell the a borderless and socialist future for the Americans as a part of a "global community", read: New World Order.

However, it seems that many are waking up to this!

[Reality_Check]

Richard Nixon:

"Let this be our national goal: At the end of this decade, in the year 1980, the United States will not be dependent on any other country for the energy we need to provide our jobs, to heat our homes, and to keep our transportation moving."

"I am inaugurating a program to marshal both government and private research with the goal of producing an unconventionally powered virtually pollution free automobile within five years."

"At the end of this decade, in the year 1980, the United States will not be dependent on any other country for the energy we need."

Gerald Ford:

"Increasing energy supplies is not enough. We must take additional steps to cut long-term consumption. I therefore propose to the Congress: legislation to make thermal efficiency standards mandatory for all new buildings in the United States; a new tax credit of up to $150 for those homeowners who install insulation equipment; the establishment of an energy conservation program to help low-income families purchase insulation supplies; legislation to modify and defer automotive pollution standards for 5 years, which will enable us to improve automobile gas mileage by 40 percent by 1980.

These proposals and actions, cumulatively, can reduce our dependence on foreign energy supplies from 3 to 5 million barrels per day by 1985. To make the United States invulnerable to foreign disruption, I propose standby emergency legislation and a strategic storage program of 1 billion barrels of oil for domestic needs and 300 million barrels for national defense purposes."

"We must reduce oil imports by one million barrels per day by the end of this year and by two million barrels per day by the end of 1977."

Ronald Reagan:

"While conservation is worthy in itself, the best answer is to try to make us independent of outside sources to the greatest extent possible for our energy."

George H.W. Bush:

"When our administration developed our national energy strategy, three principles guided our policy: reducing our dependence on foreign oil …"

George W. Bush:

"Keeping America competitive requires affordable energy. And here we have a serious problem: America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world..."

"Breakthroughs on this and other new technologies will help us reach another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025. By applying the talent and technology of America, this country can dramatically improve our environment, move beyond a petroleum- based economy and make our dependence on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the past."