As gas prices creep to $4 per gallon around Syracuse, and in some areas around the country even higher, the Republican presidential candidates have decided to use gas prices to attack President Barack Obama. Though Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney are trying to persuade voters that they are the most conservative, their attacks are anything but.

For the past few weeks, the candidates have used rising gas prices to appeal to voters’ feelings of uneasiness about the economy. Some believe the price of filling up their cars is a valid way to gauge the economy.

But the importance of gas prices has been exaggerated. Santorum went as far as to say, ‘We went into a recession in 2008 because of gasoline prices.’ While most economists would disagree, he continues to gain supporters.

One of the candidates who have most dramatically supported criticizing the president over gas prices is Newt Gingrich. About a month ago, he began campaigning on $2.50 per gallon gas. He argues if domestic energy production were encouraged, the United States would be better off.

Another viewpoint that some conservatives believe is that Obama actually wants higher gas prices. Gingrich subscribes to this belief. ‘This president and his secretary of anti-energy, Dr. Chu, have as a goal getting us to pay European-level prices of $8 or $9,’ Gingrich told ABC News.

Romney also thinks Obama wants high gas prices and proved this when he said, ‘There’s no question but when he ran for office, he said he wanted to see gasoline prices go up.’

But Chu sees gas use as an opportunity to reduce the United States’ dependence on fossil fuels. ‘America has reached a crossroads and members of Congress have a big decision to make: We can play to win in the clean-energy race – investing in America’s workers, industries, and innovations – or we can wave the white flag and cede leadership to other countries that are investing in these industries,’ he said, according to CNN News.

True conservatives would not be criticizing Obama on this point. Holding the president as responsible for gas prices is, in itself, supportive of a much more involved federal government. Conservatives prefer the free market be remained untouched, without the intervention of the president. Perhaps with less regulation and increased competition, prices would somehow become lower.

The president micromanaging every political or economic problem was arguably not what was intended for the office. Congress would be better equipped to deal with these issues. This way, the president would not be as active as he is demanded to be.

Many who identify with Romney and other Republican candidates also forget the United States’ gas is quite cheap when compared to other countries. In Amsterdam, the average price is $6.48. In Frankfurt, Germany, the average price is $5.57. Some of this is the result of higher taxes placed on gas. Drivers contribute more directly to road maintenance. Owners of inefficient cars pay more in return for causing more environmental damage

In many of these countries, a much more sophisticated public transportation system has eliminated the need for a car. Gas prices may be high, but cars and air travel are unnecessary. Unfortunately, the United States will be slow to catch on to modernizing the transportation system.

If Santorum and Romney, along with other GOP candidates, continue attacking Obama for not doing more to reduce gas prices, they expose themselves for what they really are – actors trying to appear conservative. Unfortunately, their acting is not up to par.  

Harmen Rockler is a junior newspaper journalism and political science major. His column appears every Monday. He can be reached at horockle@syr.edu.  

Published on March 25, 2012 at 12:00 pm