Obama's Solution to the Oil Spill: Raise Taxes?

Day 52 of the oil spill!

Obama summoned Congressional leaders to the White House on Wednesday. Was the meeting called to discuss stopping the oil spill and cleanup efforts? Sort of. But in Obama's statement after the meeting he made it clear that his focus was on how to use the spill to force through higher energy taxes. As White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is fond of saying: never let a crisis go to waste!

President Barack Obama takes part in meeting with bipartisan members of Congress June 10, 2010 in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC. From left: House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, House Minority Leader John Boehner, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

After the meeting, Senator Mitch McConnell(KY), leader of Senate Republicans and House GOP Leader John Boehner(OH) made a joint press appearance on the White House lawn:

McConnell, joined by House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), said Obama and Democrats are "seizing on the oil spill in the Gulf and using that as a rationale, if you will, to pass a national energy tax referred to down here at the White House as cap and trade."

McConnell said Obama "continues to support" the legislation that the minority leader says "has absolutely nothing to do with the environmental disaster we're facing in the Gulf."

Americans are out of work in record numbers, the Gulf oil spill is destroying the environment and our foreign policy, especially as it regards Iran, is in tatters. And Obama's bright idea is to raise taxes? Oh goody!

I guess it should be no surprise that Obama's approval rating hit an all time low in the Gallup poll with 48% disapproving and only 44% approving of the job he is doing. 2012 can't come soon enough so we can put this nightmare behind us!