Palin clueless about energy production

John McCain has bragged that Sarah Palin, "knows more about energy than probably anyone in the United States of America." He has also said that energy policy will be her focus if they are elected. Unfortunately it looks like Palin, the energy czar, needs a refresher course on energy.

Yesterday at a rally in Wisconsin, a supporter asked Palin if it was true that the U.S. shipped 75 percent of Alaskan oil overseas. Palin said that was impossible because Congress put "strict bans" on the amount of oil and gas that America could export. Too bad she's wrong.

Congress has never imposed outright bans on U.S. oil exports. In 1973, they did prohibit exports of Alaska oil when the pipeline was built. They lifted the ban in 1996.

Palin has had 12 years to discover that the ban on Alaska oil was lifted and never reinstated. Considering she was appointed as Alaska's commissioner of gas & oil after her stint as Wasilla mayor and is the sitting Governor of the state, you think she would have heard by now.

Palin has also stated on the campaign trail and in her interview with Charlie Gibson that as Governor, her job "has been to oversee nearly 20 percent of the U.S. domestic supply of oil and gas." Actually, Alaska is the ninth largest energy supplier in the United States and accounts for only 3.5 percent share of the nation's total energy production.

Since McCain has made a point of saying energy is Palin's single greatest area of expertise (besides being able to see Russia from Alaska), it's ironic, but not surprising, that she doesn't know the most basic facts.