State Sen. Tom McClintock blasted Democratic congressional opponent Charlie Brown Wednesday for what McClintock called Brown's changing stance on offshore oil drilling in his interviews with PolitickerCA.com.

McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) said that Brown opposed offshore oil drilling in areas where it wasn't already allowed, such as off California's coast, in a July 22 article.

That contrasted with Brown's position more recently, McClintock said, pointing to a statement last Friday by Brown campaign manager Todd Stenhouse that said Brown backed energy plans with elements from both parties. In a press release, McClintock pointed out that the Republican's energy plan includes offshore oil drilling in new locations.

"It was politicians talking out of both sides of their mouths that got us into this predicament," McClintock said in the release, pointing out that Democrats have opposed new domestic drilling for years, on the basis that it wouldn't provide price relief for years to come.

"The fact is, they were wrong then and they're wrong now.  And, if we had rejected them then we wouldn't be in this mess now," McClintock said.

Stenhouse responded Wednesday that McClintock is the one who changed his stance on offshore oil drilling, saying in the 2003 gubernatorial recall campaign that there was no reason to drill off California's coast if there was no expanded drilling off Alaska.

"We've said, there's no partisan solution to the energy crisis," Stenhouse said, adding that McClintock has been inaccurate on several points, including whether China is drilling for oil off Cuba's shores and near U.S. territorial waters.

"Charlie Brown has an open mind to all the ideas, but he takes his cues from the experts," Stenhouse said, pointing out that many experts have said expanded offshore drilling won't appreciably affect gas prices and couldn't begin quickly because of a lack of necessary equipment.

"Charlie Brown was the first candidate to release a comprehensive energy plan. Tom McClintock released a sound bite," Stenhouse said.

Brown, a Roseville Democrat, is vying with McClintock, a well-known conservative California politician, to represent the 4th Congressional District. Plagued by scandals, current U.S. Rep. John Doolittle (R-Roseville) opted not to run for re-election this year.

EARLIER on PolitickerCA.com:

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