"we have 3% of the world's oil reserves and we use 25% of the world's oil. So what that means is that we can't simply drill our way out of the problem."

He has said it a few times and it has become a standard Democrat talking point . But is it the truth ?

Well his assertion about the usage is generally correct . We do use about 25% of the oil consumed worldwide. That is largely because we produce about 28% of the worlds goods and service.

But his numbers about our reserves are completely out of date and McCain should challenge them on the stump and in the next debate .

Current estimates that the US has 20 billion of the 1.3 trillion barrels of the world's crude reserves do not include the 1.2 trillion to 1.8 trillion barrels of shale oil in the Green River Formation ;200 billion barrels of oil below shale in the Bakken Formation ,the 130 billion barrels off our coasts that Congress had placed off limits;and 10 to 20 billion barrels untapped in ANWR .Currently, the United States is the only industrialized country in the world not actively seeking to explore new offshore resources.

Once Canada was locked in as the 21st largest Oil reserves. Then when they began to tap into the 175 billion barrels from the Alberta tar sands they jumped to 2nd. Canada is now our largest oil supplier.

Now I agree that drilling is only a part of the solution to the goal of energy independence . But it is a step we could begin to take immediately . The Democrats should not be allowed to make their claim to a national audience unchallenged.

I'm sorry if I offend someone, but Obama has said so many different, sometimes contridictory things that I have no confidence in anything that he says. It is all to get elected, and then all promises will be forgotten. All a voter can do is observe what he HAS done and remember that the past is prologue. Of course, that can be said of any politician. So CHECK THE RECORD.

I truly believe that Obama has spent his entire career with one goal in mind.
He did not "decide" to become president just recently.
All of the choices he has made were steps to where he is today.
McCain on the other hand is tired of politics as they are. He has decided to take a stand, and the strongest position for him to take the stand he knows this country needs is President.
McCain doesn't want to become President of the United States of America to further his career, he wants to make an impact on his world. He wants to leave America better for his grand kids grand kids than what has been left for us!
Obama just wants that feather in his hat. He'll say whatever he needs to (different things for different circumstances)in order to win over VOTES. McCain wants votes too, but only so that he can take the position of the ultimate "Maverick"
It's what our country needs.

Oh... and I agree, I hope McCain does a better job of rebutting Mr. Career Enhancing Politician Obama's eyerolls than he has been.
Want four more years of beurocracy at it's finest?
( BUREAUCRACY. The abuse of official influence in the affairs of government; corruption. This word has lately been adopted to signify that those persons who are employed in bureaus abuse their authority by intrigue to promote their own benefit, or that of friends, rather than the public good. The word is derived from the French.)

Or someone who will step up to the plate, and open up the doors and curtains of the White House... Congress... and the Senate, so that politicians will make real informed decisions for the benefit of the country? Rather than a nay or aye in representation of the highest bidder!

The statement is true according to the Energy Information Administration. However, personally I thought, perhaps you did too, that the three percent figure was considering proven oil reserves, not all our oil reserves. Anyway, as for McCain going after Obama, it's just not an easy subject to convey to an audience during a debate. Quite frankly, I don't think McCain truly understands this anyway and therefore his handlers know better than to encourage him on it. Besides it wouldn't help his argument when pushing to get free of oil altogether is the focus of Obama's view.

Your right McCain doesn't understand it or else he would not stubbornly still oppose exploration in ANWR .