Media report GOP attacks on Obama's energy comments without noting that EPA, McCain surrogates agree with Obama

Summary: The New York Times and The Washington Times uncritically reported that the McCain campaign "ridiculed" Sen. Barack Obama for encouraging people to properly inflate their tires to increase fuel efficiency without noting that the practice has been to shown to reduce fuel consumption or that two Republican governors and McCain surrogates have referred to the fuel economy benefits of properly inflated tires.

The New York Times and The Washington Times uncritically reported that Sen. John McCain's campaign "ridiculed" Sen. Barack Obama for encouraging people to properly inflate their tires without noting that the practice has been to shown to reduce fuel consumption or that McCain surrogates Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) and Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) have referred to the fuel economy benefits of properly inflated tires. Rather than reporting that proper tire inflation does indeed reduce fuel consumption, the media outlets referred only to Obama's remarks and the McCain campaign's "ridicul[ing]" of Obama's remarks. As Media Matters for America has documented, the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency have cited the fuel advantages of proper tire inflation.

In an August 5 New York Times article, reporter Larry Rohter wrote: "The McCain campaign distributed tire pressure gauges outside the event here in response to Mr. Obama's statement last week that Americans could reduce gasoline use substantially if they kept car tires at optimum pressure."

Similarly, Andrea Billups and Stephen Dinan reported in an August 5 Washington Times article: "Republicans, meanwhile, ridiculed Mr. Obama for suggesting last week that motorists keep their tires inflated as a way to reduce energy use."

But both articles failed to note that the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency have cited the advantages of proper tire inflation, as Media Matters documented. Indeed, fueleconomy.gov, a website maintained jointly by the EPA and DOE, states: "You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires." It further calculated a fuel economy benefit of 3 percent, or a savings of up to 12 cents per gallon, with properly inflated tires.

In contrast with The Washington Times and The New York Times, Michael McAuliff, in an August 1 post on the New York Daily News' Mouth of the Potomac blog, headlined "Inflated Tires: Hot Air?" wrote: "But if you've got under-inflated tires, said Dan Zielinski, of the Rubber Manufacturing Association, who pointed us to data from NHTSA and California's AAA and federal data, you could save yourself about $200 by pumping up your wheels. Is that a bad idea? And if everyone did it, that'd be 2.8 billion gallons of gas. Nothing to sneeze at. And it's free."

Moreover, Schwarzenegger and Crist, supporters of presumptive Republican presidential candidate John McCain, reportedly encouraged citizens to properly inflate their tires and tune up their engines. The Los Angeles Times reported on June 26: "Both governors appealed to those with the real power to make change -- average citizens -- to drive slower, keep engines tuned and tires properly inflated, to buy hybrids and lower overall consumption."

From the August 5 New York Times article:

Mr. McCain and his campaign have been increasingly tweaking Mr. Obama and his energy policy. The McCain campaign distributed tire pressure gauges outside the event here in response to Mr. Obama's statement last week that Americans could reduce gasoline use substantially if they kept car tires at optimum pressure. Mr. McCain has called Mr. Obama "Dr. No" and said that his energy policy could be reduced to the phrase "just say no" to proposals to increase energy production.

From the August 5 Washington Times article:

Republicans, meanwhile, ridiculed Mr. Obama for suggesting last week that motorists keep their tires inflated as a way to reduce energy use. Mr. McCain challenged Democrats to call Congress back into session to boost energy production.

—T.A.