President Barack Obama is interviewed by The Associated Press on Friday in Chicago. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama tried to deflect criticism over rising gas prices on Thursday, as he accused Republicans of cheering the bad economic news and asked for patience from Americans anxious about the cost.
“It’s the easiest thing in the world to make phony election-year promises about lower gas prices,” Obama told a crowd at the University of Miami. “What’s harder is to make a serious, sustained commitment to tackle a problem that may not be solved in one year or one term or even one decade.”
The president’s remarks were his first on an issue that has emerged both as a potential threat to the nation’s increasingly upbeat view of the economy and as a cudgel for his political opponents. Amid concerns over the access to oil from Iran, prices in the U.S. have jumped to an average of about $3.60 per gallon for regular gasoline, up from $3.20 a year ago.
Analysts note that such price swings are generally driven by the cost of crude oil on the global market, leaving a president with few options. Still, the White House is mindful that presidents inevitably are blamed for things they can’t control.
Administration officials say they believe Americans are tired of the cycle of blame and contend any political damage will be limited once prices recede. In the meantime, Obama is moving to counter the critics.