Former president Jimmy Carter predicted on August 27 that “oil companies will hold down oil prices a little bit, you know, to try to help the Republican ticket.”
Carter, who was talking to co-host Harry Smith on “The Early Show” that morning, also said that the economy would be the most important issue, “as it was when Bill Clinton was elected the first time.”
The former president also said it was “surprising and gratifying” when presumptive Democratic candidate Sen.
Greg Hunter, a CNN correspondent for “Your $$$$$,”made the same [1]prediction during a June 16 broadcast. “[T]hey're going to drive that price down, they're going to pop the dollar up, they’re going to drive the price down, they're going to work this, say, for the election,” Hunter said.
The conspiratorial prediction is old hat for CNN. Before the 2006 congressional midterm elections, CNN contributor Jack Cafferty [2]shot at oil companies:
“You know, if you were a real cynic, you could also wonder if the oil companies might not be pulling the price of gas down to help the Republicans get re-elected in the midterm elections a couple of months away … The interesting thing to watch on that story about gas prices is what happens to them right after the midterms, John,” Cafferty said on Aug. 30, 2006.
“In the Money” contributor Jennifer Westhoven reminded Cafferty Sept. 5, 2006, of his earlier comment and [3]suggested he rehash his “cynicism about the election” for the “In the Money” audience.
“Certainly the thought had crossed my mind. I mean, the oil companies have a vested interest in seeing that the Republicans remain in control of the federal government,” Cafferty said, adding facetiously (over laughter from his fellow panelists), “They wouldn't pull prices down before the mid-terms now, would they?”