ORLANDO, FLA. — Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama defended his patriotism Tuesday, chiding rival Sen. John McCain for impugning his integrity and challenging the Republican to acknowledge that they can disagree without maligning each other.
"I have never suggested that Sen. McCain picks his positions on national security based on politics or personal ambition," Obama told 3,000 members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars here. "I have not suggested it because I believe that he genuinely wants to serve America's national interest. Now it's time for him to acknowledge that I want to do the same."
McCain, meanwhile, highlighted his focus on energy independence in a visit to an oil production facility 150 miles south of New Orleans in the Gulf of Mexico. Known as the Genesis Spar, the Chevron facility produces 15 million cubic feet of natural gas and 10,000 barrels of oil per day.
"When I'm president there will be a whole lot more like this, not only here in the gulf but also off of our East and West coasts," he said.
McCain faulted Obama for opposing offshore drilling. He said the nation's dependence on foreign oil was hurting families coping with high energy costs while sending $700 billion overseas.
"When I'm president that's going to stop," he said. "We're going to achieve energy independence, and we're going to do it by using every resource at our disposal to get the job done, including new offshore drilling."
Speaking late Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C., Obama said McCain wasn't a supporter of offshore drilling until he met with oil industry officials this summer and raised about $1 million for his campaign from oil employees. Then, he said, McCain's tone changed. "Suddenly, 'drill here, drill now,' " Obama said, as the crowd chuckled.
"We just don't have enough oil underground to drill our way out of this problem," he said.
Obama said he would consider expanding drilling if there were "intelligent approaches." He reiterated his call for $15 billion in investment in alternative energy sources. "If we don't handle this problem now, $4 gas is going to look good," he said.
Earlier, Obama defended his foreign policy positions at the VFW conference in Orlando. McCain spoke to the group Monday, and President Bush is scheduled to speak today.
Obama said the "calamity" under Bush's leadership was too great to "use the same partisan playbook where we just challenge our opponent's patriotism to win an election."
