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Conservative Group Speaks Out About Controversial Billboards

by KREX News Room
by Cori Coffin

Story Created: Aug 8, 2012 at 12:04 AM MDT

Story Updated: Aug 8, 2012 at 7:12 AM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- The leader of a conservative group is speaking out to the Grand Junction community ahead of President Obama's visit to the Western Slope. Billboards around the Grand Valley compare Obama to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. They were put up by Compass Colorado.

Tyler Houlton, president of Compass Colorado, says that Obama is no different than Ahmadinejad. "We've seen from Obama down to even Sal Pace, that they have pursued policies that are almost identical to that of the Iranian president when it comes to oil production," said Houlton.

Billboards popping up around the Grand Valley assert that both men favor higher gas prices and are opposed to U.S. energy independence. Other billboards accuse local leaders of the same thing.

"Sal Pace sent a letter to the federal government asking them to postpone more oil and gas drilling in Colorado. That's not what we need right now," added Houlton.

But some would argue that the president's hesitation with certain energy development is based on energy impact assessments and the potential risk of any environmental damage; they say that using these billboards as a fear tactic is inappropriate.

But Houlton stands by his ads.

"I don't think it's an unfair comparison. How long are we willing to wait? That's really the question ... I mean, they blocked the Keystone Pipeline, which would have created anywhere between 25,000 and up to 100,000 or 200,000 jobs. And it's all these smaller parts that become a larger foreign policy towards getting our domestic energy resources under control," he said.

The billboards are being placed in heavily populated areas like North Avenue at Fourth Street. In total there are seven billboards up around town. Houlton says that simply by getting attention, they're working. "When we start talking about free market politics and free market policies, people are very receptive to that."

Houlton classifies Compass Colorado as a nonpartisan group that prefers to focus on the issues rather than the politician.

Their next set of attack ads will focus on Obamacare.

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Imust B. Inwonderland said on Wednesday, Aug 8 at 7:18 PM

Interesting idea about building a refinery near the source of the oil. That seems to be more efficient and it would address the criticism about regulations getting in the way of over-regulation inhibiting new refineries. Howev1er, I'm certain that the oil business does not want a refinery at the border rather than a pipeline to the Gulf Coast. 1)it is, indeed, easier to manipulate gasoline prices, with less than a moment's notice. if the supply of gasoline is on a thin margin); and 2)it is easier to export gasoline if it is refined at refineries on the coast--yes, EXPORT! Surprisingly,the U.S. is a net EXPORTER of gasoline at present for the first time in many decades--it's true! A refinery in the middle of the continent would make export less profitable than a pipeline (paid for with tax support and the hidden costs to the residents of those states who would have to sacrifice their beloved lands for the oil industry). In this scheme, we compete to bid higher on a world market.

Imust B. Inwonderland said on Wednesday, Aug 8 at 7:01 PM

Interesting idea about building a refinery near the source. There has been this criticism about an insufficient number of refineries because of regulations. There are, indeed, two reasons big oil does not want more refineries: 1)a supply-line that is on the edge makes pricing much easier to manipulate very quickly without any sort of notice; and 2) the pipeline going to the refineries on the Gulf Coast makes it easier to export refined products such as gasoline--that's right, EXPORT

fearless said on Wednesday, Aug 8 at 3:34 PM

Would you give me a building permit without knowing where the building is going to be built? This is the problem with the pipeline, there is no definitive as to where the project is going to take place. A republican congressmen in the midwest is holding up the project because he refuses to allow the pipeline to be built through his state without knowledge of exactly where it will go through. Who told you it was because Obama wanted to manipulate gas prices, O'Reilly, Hannity, or Beck?

Cheesesteak said on Wednesday, Aug 8 at 9:40 AM

If the oil from the sands were that important, the smart thing to do is build a new refinery just over the border, but that will never happen because a low number of refineries makes it easier to manipulate gas prices. The oil companies are already exporting our domestic oil. The pipeline is bread and circuses.

distracted/decieved said on Wednesday, Aug 8 at 6:50 AM

You are delusional - the "pipeline" would only offer "Transient/temporary" jobs AND Dirty Expencive Oil for OFFSHORE consumption.....

Disgusted said on Wednesday, Aug 8 at 12:12 AM

Can we bring back the "cartoon Obama" billboard? That one was funny!

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