McCain calls for energy conservation

Republican John McCain called for a clean break from Bush administration energy policies, saying the time has come for the United States to make a "great turn away from carbon-emitting fuels."

In a speech in energy-producing Texas, McCain said the United States needs more oil than during the Arab oil embargo of the 1970s, yet produces less. Now, he warned, a single successful terror attack at an oil installation could plunge the country into an "economic crisis of monumental proportions."

He called for reform of the laws governing the oil futures trading market and for greater use of nuclear power, alternative energy sources and greater conservation measures. He said he would outline specific measures in the next two weeks.

Democrats said McCain was not credible on the issue. "How can we trust John McCain to confront soaring gas prices or break America's dependence on foreign oil when he caved in to Big Oil on drilling and tax breaks ... and he has repeatedly opposed incentives for green jobs and renewable energy?" said Karen Finney, a Democratic National Committee spokeswoman.

Democrat Barack Obama said he would take no lectures from Republicans on which candidate would keep the United States safer, a rebuke to McCain's aides who said Obama had a Sept. 10 mind-set toward terrorism. "These are the same guys who helped to engineer the distraction of the war in Iraq at a time when we could have pinned down the people who actually committed 9/11," Obama said.

McCain criticized Obama's call for a windfall profits tax on the oil industry, despite leaving the door open to the same idea last month. He said of Obama's plan, "If the plan sounds familiar, it's because that was President Jimmy Carter's big idea too."

However, on May 5, McCain said he was willing to consider the same proposal. Jill Hazelbaker, McCain's communications director, said McCain "is willing to look at all ideas."

Tuition tax credit: Obama said he would give students a $4,000 tax credit to help pay tuition and fees in exchange for 100 hours of community service. The campaign said it would cost $10 billion a year.

Public financing: Democratic Party officials plan to file a lawsuit next week to compel federal regulators to investigate whether McCain violated election laws by withdrawing from public financing. It will ask the court to order the Federal Election Commission to examine, within 30 days, the legality of McCain's decision to reject $5.8 million in taxpayer funds.