Conservatives ripped California Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman for suggesting that Saudi Arabia increase its oil production so that nations around the world can reduce their dependence on Russian oil exports.
“Saudi Arabia – now is your chance to be an ally or an enemy of those standing against Russia’s attack on #Ukraine,” Sherman tweeted. “Saudi Arabia must open taps and produce more oil so the world can turn its back on Russian oil. Otherwise, the blood of Ukrainians is also on Saudi Arabia’s hands.”
Saudi Arabia – now is your chance to be an ally or an enemy of those standing against Russia’s attack on #Ukraine. Saudi Arabia must open taps and produce more oil so the world can turn its back on Russian oil. Otherwise, the blood of Ukrainians is also on Saudi Arabia’s hands.
— Congressman Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) February 25, 2022
Sherman’s comments come amid growing concerns that gas prices will continue to climb because of the economic fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Oil prices briefly crossed the $100 per barrel mark early Thursday morning after news broke that Russia had launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia was the second-largest producer of oil in the world in 2021, and Russian imports make up 7% of U.S. oil imports annually. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden terminated the Keystone XL pipeline on his first day as president and suspended new oil and gas drilling after a federal judge struck down the use of the “social cost of carbon” in pollution assessments.
Conservatives on Twitter slammed Sherman for deferring to more oil imports, rather than increasing U.S. domestic energy production.
“Does that apply to Joe Biden who cancelled Keystone XL pipeline that would have more than replaced all US oil imports from Russia?” American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Marc Thiessen wrote.
Does that apply to Joe Biden who cancelled Keystone XL pipeline that would have more than replaced all US oil imports from Russia? https://t.co/9Rdy2rxXEB
— Marc Thiessen 🆓🇺🇦 (@marcthiessen) February 26, 2022
“Hey Brad, remember this?” said Sherman’s Republican colleague, Texas Congressman Chip Roy, pointing out that Sherman voted in 2019 to shut down drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and offshore.
Hey Brad, remember this – wherein you and your Dem colleagues unilaterally disarmed by shutting down ANWR & Offshore Drilling? https://t.co/anHhGLQgxg #EnergyFreedom https://t.co/5LNMGyupkG
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) February 26, 2022
“Wrong @BradSherman,” said Florida Republican Congressman Mike Waltz. “Unleashing AMERICAN energy (cleaner & creates jobs) is the answer, not begging OPEC to pump more!”
Wrong @BradSherman. Unleashing AMERICAN 🇺🇸 energy (cleaner & creates jobs) is the answer, not begging OPEC to pump more! https://t.co/ipRsuD37fr
— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) February 26, 2022
Lee Smith, journalist and producer of the Daily Wire original documentary “China: The Enemy Within,” pointed out that a number of Saudi Twitter users called out Sherman for blaming Saudi Arabian policy while ignoring the shortcomings of Obama-Biden energy policies.
Check out excellent comments from Saudis calling out this obscene clown blaming Riyadh for Obama-Biden faction policy to strengthen Putin, impoverish Americans and usher in green new deal. https://t.co/LbOAAyD7qG
— Lee Smith (@LeeSmithDC) February 26, 2022
The Biden admin war on American energy is so bad that we have Democrat Congressmen twitter-begging Saudi Arabia to produce more oil. https://t.co/Kfw166VmsW
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) February 26, 2022
Other responses to the tweet can be found below:
It’s incredible what $4 per gallon of gas will make American politicians say these days. https://t.co/LS6TS0AG28
— Ayman (@AymanM) February 26, 2022
California Congressman would literally rather beg Saudis to produce more oil than have America use its own https://t.co/XVp1LNNKIv
— Lauren Chen (@TheLaurenChen) February 26, 2022
The Saudis absolutely should indeed release more oil, but the Biden Administration has gone out of its way to hinder American energy production and should reverse that policy and allow U.S. energy producers to drill baby drill to limit domestic & international reliance on Russia. https://t.co/bP4hhbUaqA
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) February 26, 2022
Republicans in recent days have called for the United States to increase its domestic energy production. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley and Colorado Congresswoman Lauren Boebert issued statements demanding that the Biden administration revitalize American energy production to ease costs for Americans and strengthen American leverage against Russian aggression. “President Biden must act now to hit Vladimir Putin where it hurts, beginning with Russia’s energy sector. The Biden Administration should sanction Russian energy production to a halt, and help arm the Ukrainians to defend themselves,” Hawley said. “At the same time, the White House should reopen American energy production in full. This is the time to show Russia and the world that America will not reward aggression and it will not be dependent on its enemies.”
“Putin has been emboldened by Joe Biden’s destructive policies and weak leadership. By killing the [Keystone XL] pipeline on day 1 and lifting sanctions on Nord Stream 2 last May, Biden has allowed Russia to weaponize its energy on the world stage,” said Boebert. “Rather than exporting freedom and natural gas to the world, the Biden regime is importing nearly 600,000 barrels of oil per day from Russia… American strength is imperative. We should regain our strength through energy dominance and ramp up American energy production on American soil, stop cowering to not in my backyard extremists and stop filling the coffers of tyrants.”