LANSING – Saying Michigan’s automakers would not have to “beg and plead” to be heard at the White House, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama urged a Lansing crowd to support his proposal to change the nation’s energy system so that in 10 years it no longer needs imported oil from the Middle East and Venezuela.

In his first campaign stop in Lansing (and his first in Michigan since June) Obama laid out the proposal that would call for supporting development of new fuel-efficient vehicles, providing federal loans for retooling plants, boosting development in wind and solar energy, and urging more aggressive energy conservation while at the same time calling for new taxes on oil companies.

Obama also repeated his call for agreeing to some expansion of off-shore oil drilling as part of a short-term compromise to move the package forward.

The entire plan was nothing less than a complete restructuring of the U.S. economy, Obama said, and while it would be difficult it was achievable. He drew shouts of “Yes, we can,” as he ended his speech calling on those present and the nation to “draw hope from the improbable progress this nation has made.”

Obama (who was greeted by the estimated 1,500 people singing Happy Birthday on his 47th birthday) paid praise to efforts the state already had underway to boost its development in alternative energy industries, including the recently announced cellulosic ethanol plant to be built in the Upper Peninsula.

But he also said his proposal would help the auto industry develop new types of cars, and he pledged federal loans to help the industry retool its factories to produce higher mileage cars. And he said one goal of his proposal would be to see 1 million cars that could get as much as 150 miles to the gallon on the road in six years, cars that would be built in the U.S. by American workers in Michigan.

“We’re going to get the auto industry back on track,” Obama said to some of the biggest applause he got during the nearly 30-minute address.

Governor Jennifer Granholm called the proposal music to the state’s ears since it had already begun the effort to accelerate development in alternative energy and fuels.

U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Detroit) also praised the attention Obama gave to promoting manufacturing both in Michigan and the U.S.

Obama’s “beg and plead” comments seemed directed to the difficulties the auto industry had in even getting a meeting with President George W. Bush. (In the 2006 gubernatorial election, even Republican candidate Dick DeVos called on the president to meet with industry leaders.)

But Republicans charged that the proposal failed to meet U.S. energy needs, and state GOP leaders, along with Republican leaders nationwide, announced efforts to pass out tire gauges that would symbolize Obama’s energy plans.

For his part, Obama blasted presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, saying that his focus on expanded off-shore oil drilling was short-term in nature and would do nothing to prepare the U.S. for dramatic changes in energy needs and use through the upcoming century.

And while Republicans ridiculed his proposal on saving energy, a 15 percent reduction in electric use over 10 years would actually produce enough savings to reduce the need for “all the oil we import from the Middle East.” It would also help provide millions of new jobs as the country develops new industries to meet the alternative energy needs, Obama said.

Failing to enact this type of proposal will mean that other countries will gain the jobs in new technologies that should go to Americans, Mr. Obama said, “and leave our children a planet that grows more dangerous and unlivable by the day.”

Obama’s proposal also drew a critical reaction from the County Road Association of Michigan, which said that developing industry in the state will require improvements to the state’s infrastructure and that will require additional revenues.

REPUBLICAN RESPONSE: In a telephone conference call before Mr. Obama’s address, Republicans explained the reasoning behind the tire gauges they were giving out as a protest to the Democrat’s energy proposal.

“It’s just another silly approach that shows Sen. Obama doesn’t have the solutions,” Michigan Republican Party Chair Saul Anuzis said, explaining why tire gauges symbolized what they said was Obama’s lack of a comprehensive energy program.

“We’ve got four dollar gas problems because we don’t have the supply,” Anuzis said.

He said just announcing an openness to off-shore oil drilling, as Obama did last week and Mr. McCain did last month, does have an effect on supply and demand.

Criticizing an Obama plan for 70 mpg or higher standards: just witness “what the domestic industry’s response was to the last CAF� increases,” Anuzis said, which was criticism and a plea to roll the standards back.

“It shows a lack of experience,” Anuzis said.

This story was provided by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on Gongwer.Com

a>>