Obama's SUV-Laden Motorcade Demonstrates His Climate Change Hypocrisy

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I encourage all people to be happy and buy as many cars/SUV's as possible - really crunch down on that pedal nice and hard. Blast out all that nice pollution and enjoy yourself.

Don't listen to any form of authority whatsoever. Distrust and pay no attention to them. Laugh, mock and deride them at every given opportunity - just as I do.

Doug of AL 12:31PM March 02, 2013

A previous comment remarked that would someone really want the 'President of the United States riding a bike down the street'. Why not? He's got legs hasn't he? I am sure his elite security guards could run on the go, whilst simultaneously forming a circle around him so nobody get's the chance to pull him off the bike and beat him up. Even the security guards would benefit from the tremendous exercise of protecting the 'NUMBER ONE' man! As for someone shooting from the rooftops - I am sure with a bit of careful management and planning - they could find ways around this. They do everything else, after all!!

Please, spare me the National Security line; this passes as an excuse for anything under the Sun!

At the end of the day, our political leaders or should I say the political elite - have to be held accountable for their words and actions.

I get the impression from what you're saying, that it's perfectly excusable to justify his hypocrisy because he is special and far superior to the little insects who crawl about beneath him. He is Lord of our lives and therefore retains special status as an individual and therefore the normal rules which apply to absolutely everyone else on the face of the planet - he's exempt from!

I would sooner argue that it is precisely people like Obama, and the many political leaders like him of a similar disposition, that are the problem in life. It's also the reason why the whole climate change issue is now dying by the day. The public are not stupid. They may not possess scientific knowledge, but guess what - they can smell a dead fish a mile away!

Leigh Harwood of AL 6:13AM July 11, 2011

Leaders should lead by example - PERIOD! I could'nt care less if GOD was driving an SUV down the road as opposed to OBAMA. Hypocrisy is still hypocrisy, regardless of the reasoning to justify it! Expecting others to do what one does not do themselves can only signify one thing P.S. they don't really believe what they're saying themselves.

Typical, isn't it! A typical example of 'AUTHORITY' and it's self-righteous belief that 'daddy knows best'!

There's an old saying: 'Always judge people by what they do and not by what they say'. WORDS are cheap, people. Abraham Lincoln once defined a hypocrite: 'the man who murdered both his parents; pleaded for mercy on the grounds that he was an orphan'. Sums it up, doesn't it?

Leigh Harwood of AL 12:39PM July 01, 2011

Do you really want our number one man, the President of the united states, riding a bike down the street? I want every president, regardless of political persuasion to be protected. Our national security depends on it - you moron!

sara press of VA 12:13PM March 05, 2010

it will never change nor will the elementary bullying( simple)yet forever unfair(life)

bella of NY 10:33PM July 01, 2009

So the president has an SUV motorcade. I actually call them trucks. Chevy Suburbans are like a half ton pick up truck. SUV's are something else. And yes many other American families need them too...and need not have to explain "why". I think liberals and environmentalists living in their fantasy world forget that everything in their homes including food purchased at the grocery store or local hippy mart is there because of a truck. You need something repaired in your home or delivered to you? It involves a truck. I am in the horse business, I have 2 trucks one is a Yukon 3/4 ton (GMC equivalent to a Suburban). I get sick of liberals asking my tiny wife why "...a little thing like you needs to drive such a big vehicle" So much for their liberal minded thinking.

R. Tomassi of MD 4:14PM June 25, 2009

I WORK IN THE DC AREA PART TIME AS A VALET, AND OFTEN SEE SECRET SERVICE WORKING. EVERY VIP GETS AT LEAST 2 LARGE SUVS (BILL CLINTON AT THE DLC DINNER LAST WEEK, HAD 2 SUBURBANS & A FULL SIZE BUICK) THE SEC OF HUD AT ANOTHER EVENT HAD A FULL SIZE GMC ENVOY & A TAHOE THAT WERE BOTH RUNNING THE WHOLE TIME HE WAS INSIDE. THE ONLY THING THAT COULD BE DONE WOULD BE MAYBE HAVE THE AGENTS WHEN PARKED AT LEAST STAY IN THE SAME VEHICLE, BUT ANYTHING ELSE IS JUST NOT PRACTIAL. NOTE AT THE DLC EVENT MOST SENATORS & CONGRESS PEOPLE JUST HAD STAFFERS DROP THEM OFF IN FRONT IN THEIR PERSONAL VEHICLES (MOSTLY NORMAL SIZE CARS & SMALL SUV'S, BUTH THEY JUST WENT AROUND THE CORNER TO IDLE WHILE WAITING FOR THERE BOSS TO COME OUT)

JAY WASSERMAN of VA 1:31PM June 24, 2009

those secret service guys need to get with the program and figure out how to armor Smart cars

for the presidential caravan

bozozozo of VA 9:09PM June 23, 2009

Actually, many environmentalists don't want to "forbid" SUVs: they just want their pollution to be appropriately priced. If someone thinks they need an SUV enough that they are willing to pay $20 or more a ton for the extra CO2 emissions, then OK. (Well, mostly ok. I also think SUVs reduce driving visibility, increase danger for other drivers + pedestrians, and have other issues, but...)

Under a cap and trade program, the invisible hand of the market will lead to "wasteful" CO2 emissions disappearing while "valuable" reasons to emit CO2 stay around (but pay for it).

Marcus of DC 6:36PM June 23, 2009

Seriously?

Am I the only one who watches the discovery channel? Those SUVs are loaded with plating and armor equal to or more than the original vehicle weight. Maybe hybrid batteries will advance enough to tow that weight, but we're not talking about standard factory-showroom Chevy Tahoes.

Pete's way off when he talks about the need to transport large numbers of people as the only reason for the large vehicles. That is certainly a small part of it, but the main reason is safety.

And idling engines? Um, you would rather they shut off the gas, roll down the bulletproof windows, park in the shade and listen to tunes while our nation's leader eats?

This entire post is the same as bashing a General or Admiral(who conservatives don't like) for having the audacity to use a gas-guzzling humvee when on a military base or in a warzone. If Obama's security detail thought it would be safer to tool around in minivans or sedans they would do it.

The large vehicles Obama's security team uses (you forget he doesn't choose - it's those responsible for protecting him), serve a PRACTICAL PURPOSE. The 7-seater suburbans that people with few or no kids drive are not practical. The half-ton 4WD pickups that people drive around Northern Virginia are not practical.

Gus of VA 1:53PM June 23, 2009

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Peter Roff

Peter Roff

Peter Roff is a contributing editor at U.S. News & World Report. Formerly a senior political writer for United Press International, he’s now affiliated with several public policy organizations including Let Freedom Ring, and Frontiers of Freedom. His writing has appeared in National Review, Fox News’ opinion section, The Daily Caller, Politico and elsewhere. Follow him on Twitter @PeterRoff.

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