Last night, President Obama addressed the American people from the Oval Office regarding the BP Oil Spill. Considering that the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig occurred almost two months ago, I think the President’s attention to this disaster was long overdue. However, like many of you, I am concerned that the Administration has drawn precisely the wrong lessons from the spill and will use the crisis as an excuse to promote their liberal agenda of excessive regulation coupled with business-stifling taxation. Proposals for “cap and tax” are wrong, not just because they overburden the American economy and cripple the ability of our businesses to compete globally, but because they allow the government to control carbon – a natural element and one of the building blocks of life. This is a government power grab whose scale is unprecedented in our country’s history.
Our dependence on foreign energy is the single greatest security threat to our nation. No matter how powerful our military, as long as we depend on hostile regimes to import oil, we will never be completely secure. That is why I believe that we need an “all of the above” approach to pursuing energy independence. We must continue drilling and domestic production of oil, but we should also pursue nuclear, hydrogen, solar, coal, biomass, natural gas, fuel cell and wind options, as well as alternative sources. I believe that the First District of South Carolina, because of its seaside location, natural resources, and hard-working and skilled population has a key role to play in these efforts, and as your Congressman I will work to bring home these jobs.
Of course we must learn from the mistakes that were made in the BP oil spill. Oil companies should be held accountable for the safety of the people and the health of the environment in the areas where they drill. But we should not use this crisis as an excuse to punish big business and destroy good jobs. Democratic lawmakers seem to enjoy hauling CEOs before their committees so they can grandstand and condescend to them.
I say it’s enough with the finger-pointing, political posturing, and overreacting. We don’t need another tax. We need mature and responsible leadership which challenges Americans to solve their problems as they always have – with ingenuity and creativity.
Exactly the message Obama SHOULD have given.
Good Luck with your campaign! It is refreshing to hear from a candidate that shares so many of my own opinions.
Way to go Tim. You have put things in their proper perspective with sound judgment and leadership. You are truly an uprising Statesman and I am honored to know you and your family. Our President needs to be surrounded with more like you who can see the total picture and not just be passionate about the moment. Yes, this disaster is horrible – the death of our precious wildlife and the potential for further damage. However, it has happened – and we must deal with the issue and make the right decisions for future generations. I totally agree that we need to wean ourselves away from the dependence on others for our natural resources. We haven’t even begun to tap into the resources of this great country, or on researching other possibilities. We invented the automobile, etc., then we surely can stop being passive and invent new ways of doing things. I believe in America and I believe in the ability of its citizens to rise up and embrace our destiny once more. “In God We Trust”
Tim, i worked with you many yrs ago when you were just starting out with Allstate on James Island. You were an outstanding example then, as you are now. I no longer live in S.C. but i still follow your political career and think you can do great things for the Great State of South Carolina!! I tell all of my old friends and my family to Vote Tim Scott!!
Apart from Sarah I have not heard or read with such clarity a more common sense assessment on the oil disaster and what government’s role in dealing with it has been up till now. Thank you Mr. Scott, sincerely, John from Barbados.
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