Hagan Campaign to Dole: You Can't Have It Both Ways, Wants President Bush to Protect the Same Coral Reefs She Wants To Drill into for More Oil

July 3, 2008

GREENSBORO, NC- Elizabeth Dole’s campaign this week touted the letter she sent to President Bush asking him to protect the deep sea coral wilderness off the coast of North Carolina, designating it as a marine monument. Dole wrote that the corals may contain “new biomedical breakthroughs” urging its protection because it “cannot be replaced once disturbed and damaged.”

Last week, Elizabeth Dole’s campaign touted the bill she cosponsored which would allow drilling off the coast of states, including North Carolina, where part of the deep sea coral wilderness is located.

Today, the Charlotte Observer’s Bruce Henderson wrote that the corals off of North Carolina’s coast, “could potentially be damaged by offshore drilling and deep-sea trawling.”

“You can’t have it both ways,” said Hagan Campaign Communications Director Colleen Flanagan. “Elizabeth Dole wants President Bush to protect the same coral reefs she wants to drill into for more oil – that is completely hypocritical. Dole wants us to believe she’s in favor of protecting North Carolina’s coral reefs but what she’s really in favor of is protecting Big Oil and Gas’ bottom line. Offshore drilling continues to pad their profits while doing nothing to help middle class North Carolinians, and nothing to help us invest in renewable energy on the path to true energy independence.”

After years of opposing offshore drilling, Elizabeth Dole said two weeks ago that she would consider a proposal if it came before her. Last week she came out in support of drilling off the coast of North Carolina once John McCain and George Bush twisted her arm. This week she wrote President Bush asking him to protect the reefs off the coast of North Carolina where she has said she would support drilling.

According to a report by the Bush Administration’s own Energy Information Administration, offshore drilling would do little to lower gas prices until at least 2030, and any new shore deposits now found would typically not reach the market until 2023. Drilling off the coast of North Carolina would negatively impact the tourism industry, a $16.5 billion boon to the state’s economy, and North Carolina’s coast would be susceptible to harm if Virginia or South Carolina decided to allow drilling off of their shores.

The Rocky Mount Telegram today editorialized about the issue, saying that more drilling is not the answer. “North Carolina’s coastal areas provide an environmental refuge for hundreds of species of waterfowl and other wildlife. Tidal areas provide habitat for shellfish, shrimp and a decent living for the state’s fishermen. And the coast also produces an economic bonanza each summer for the state’s travel and tourism industry. The meager benefits that might be realized by lifting the ban just don’t stack up to the potential environmental and economic costs such action would inflict on the state’s prized coastal region.”

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