Members of the left-wing chattering class are bending over backward to paint a rosy picture of the reality that everyday Americans now pay more at the pump in large part because of the Ukraine/Russia conflict. So far, they have thrown everything against the wall to see what sticks. But now, they are employing a rather peculiar form of gaslighting.

(Photo by Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)

It seems the Democrats’ latest strategy is to convince the public that most of their fellow Americans are fine with paying more for gas as long as it means putting the hurt on Russian President Vladimir Putin. During a recent broadcast, a CNN reporter said, “people we’ve spoken to over the last couple weeks are okay with paying higher gas prices if it means holding Russia accountable.”

Well, if those people say it’s okay, then perhaps exorbitant prices at the gas pump aren’t so bad after all. But despite what Democrats and their close friends and allies in the activist media would have you think, there is more to this particular issue than meets the eye.

Pain At The Pump

Currently, the national average price for gas is $4.17 per gallon, according to auto club AAA. This is the most expensive that fuel has been since 2000. But a Quinnipiac University poll published on Monday, March 7, revealed that about 71% of Americans would be willing to pay higher prices if it meant banning Russian oil. Sounds cut and dried, doesn’t it? If Americans are willing to endure higher prices to stick it to Putin, what’s the problem? Glad you asked. Democrats pushing this narrative are leaving out an important detail: Just because Americans might be willing to pay higher prices doesn’t mean they want to pay higher costs.

A HarrisX poll revealed that voters aren’t too happy about having to spend more to fill their tanks. Indeed, the survey found that “more registered voters blame President Joe Biden than they do his predecessor, Donald Trump – and they’re ready to punish Democrats for it in November.” Moreover, the survey showed that most voters – even Democrats – want Biden to focus more on drilling and less on moving away from fossil fuels. Of the poll participants, 36% said they are more likely to vote for GOP candidates, while 24% reported they are more likely to support Democrats. Among independents, 31% stated they would back Republicans due to Biden’s poor handling of the Ukraine/Russia conflict.

Missing The Message

While pollsters may be getting the message that Americans are willing to take a necessary financial hit, they are missing the point that folks expect their government to limit that impact. Tacit approval of short-term higher prices to help solve an international crisis is one thing, but an ongoing increase with no end in sight is entirely a different animal. The administration appears to be taking these polling numbers as a green light to push on with its quest for renewable energy and the decimation of the fossil fuel industry. But that is not the message respondents have been trying to send.

A major study carried out by the Competitive Enterprise Institute in October last year exposed the rift between government ideology and the people. The survey found that a stunning 40% of people would be unwilling to pay even $1 more at the gas pump to help with the administration’s green initiatives. Furthermore, when asked who should be responsible for deciding what type of vehicle people can drive (electric or gas), a mere 13% said that this should be the federal government’s purview.

As usual, the left’s narrative on gas prices leaves much to be desired. Indeed, it shows a remarkable lack of concern for everyday Americans affected by the issue. The emerging spin is indicative of an attitude all too prevalent among the far-left elite. They don’t care about rising gas prices because it has no impact on their deep pockets.

~ Read more from Jeff Charles.