Perino: It’s ‘Irresponsible To Suggest’ That There Is ‘A Short-Term Response’ To Gas Prices

Last week, White House spokesman Tony Fratto said that anyone who was promoting a quick fix to high gas prices “is trying to fool people.” Today, press secretary Dana Perino echoed those claims, emphasizing that “there is no magic wand” to dealing with gas prices. She also stated flatly, “There’s not going to be a short-term response,” calling it “irresponsible” to suggest there could be:

PERINO: So the important thing that we need to do is…find ways that we can continue to express to the American people not to expect a short-term response. There’s not going to be a short-term response. And it would be irresponsible for anybody to suggest there would be.

Watch it:

Perino acknowledged that “there’s not a real good short-term answer to high gas prices,” claiming, “we have been very explicit about that.” In fact, Bush and his allies have repeatedly insinuated that expanding domestic drilling would offer a near-term solution to America’s energy crisis.

– In his radio address this weekend, Bush explained that “the fundamental problem” with high oil and gas prices is supply and demand, adding, “One obvious solution is for America to increase our domestic oil production.”

– Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) — whose call for offshore drilling was embraced by Bush one day after he announced it — explained last week that, in favoring offshore drilling, he was seeking to “address the concerns of Americans, who are struggling right now to pay for gasoline.”

– House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) stated unequivocally that expanding domestic drilling “will reduce gasoline prices in the short term.”

As made clear by the Energy Information Administration — and McCan’s own economic adviser — expanding offshore drilling “would not have a significant impact” on oil prices. Will Perino tell Bush, McCain, and the conservative leadership in Congress to act more responsibly?