AP news today:


Republicans are putting John McCain’s presidential prospects above their wish to drill for oil in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Members of the GOP platform committee voted Wednesday to stick with an energy plank that doesn’t mention drilling in the refuge, saying it would only highlight an area where they differ with the Arizona senator. McCain opposes drilling in that protected land, and some committee members said they would rather bring him around on the issue once he’s in the White House than widen their disagreement now.


Dr. Roy Cordato a week ago:


Republicans, who for years have been calling for lifting the ban on ANWR exploration and who have been supporting it in Congress are now getting behind proposals that rule out such drilling. Why?

Because there has been one Republican who has opposed it all along and continues to do so. His name happens to be John McCain, and it is his agenda on energy-related issues that appears to be driving the “conservative” party. No matter who is elected president or which political party takes charge of Washington in January, The Audubon Society’s priorities are safe.