Deval Patrick defends President Obama on energy policy
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, one of several co-chairs of President Obama’s reelection campaign, today defended the president’s positions on energy and government bailouts.
Republican candidates – particularly former House speaker Newt Gingrich – have recently attacked Obama for policies that lead to rising gas prices. If gas prices continue to increase, the issue will be important to voters in November.
Patrick, speaking today on ABC’s “This Week’’ together with Republican Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, said rather than blaming Obama for high gas prices, the Democratic president should be credited for emphasizing energy efficiency and clean alternative energy. “It’s right to credit him with taking the steps that have to be taken in the long term to break us from dependence on foreign oil,’’ Patrick said.
All the Republican candidates have said they oppose government bailouts, for example of the auto industry, and have painted Obama as a president who supports the use of big government to solve private industry’s problems. Patrick tried to refute that claim.
“It’s not about government solving every problem in everybody’s lives at the federal or state level,’’ Patrick said. “It’s about government helping people help themselves.’’ Patrick called the Republican position that government should never get involved “foolish and impractical.’’
In one instance, Patrick may have actually helped former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. In his Republican presidential campaign, Romney has stood by the health care overhaul he implemented in Massachusetts, while saying he opposes Obama’s overhaul nationally. Romney has said the Massachusetts reform worked for the state – something his successor agrees with. Patrick said the program has been “enormously important and successful’’ in Massachusetts, noting that 98 percent of residents have health insurance, including 99.8 percent of children, while 90 percent of residents have access to primary care. Patrick said the reform added just 1 percent to state spending.
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