When elected into Dennis Hastert’s old seat, Bill Foster raised real hopes that Illinois-14 would have a substantive and positive voice in the nation’s energy discussion. Foster once self-described himself as a “Scientist, Businessman, Democrat” but no longer, he is a “Scientist, Businessman, Independent Solutions”. The self-description isn’t the real problem, it is the policy that justifies it.
As part of his platform for the special election, in 2007, Foster made a point of emphasizing that “Ultimately, however, we cannot drill our way out of the energy crisis.” As the political winds seemed to be shifting, in the face of “Party of Stupid” Republican dishonesty and drillusion, building on Newt Gingrich’s truthiness, Bill Foster chose to follow an easy path of deception rather than seeking to educate and lead. In August 2008, as Republicans played stuntsmanship about Drillusion in a darkened House chamber, Foster made a point of emphasizing drilling for the general campaign.
As a former businessman, Bill knows the importance of finding efficient and affordable answers to our energy questions. Providing relief to high gas prices while alternative sources of energy are being developed is important. That is why Bill supports expanded domestic drilling that would increase the amount of oil produced in the United States.
While there is also discussion of efficiency and alternatives to gasoline, drilling merited first mention. First mention without an explanation that drilling is a 1 cent, 1 percent, 20 year from now ameliorative to today’s real problems.
A question for Bill: Is this “independent solutions” or simply pandering to drillusion?