Oil Drilling Yields First Spat Between Gore, Obama

President Obama's decision to allow offshore drilling in the Atlantic has resulted in his first public disagreement with Al Gore. The former vice president's environmental group issued a statement critical of the policy, asserting that we "cannot simply drill our way to energy security." In the past, Gore and his group have either been enthusiastic boosters of Obama policies or have remained silent, notes the Hill.

"The statement is significant because it marks Gore’s first break with Obama on his signature policy issue, nearly two years after Gore’s enthusiastic endorsement gave the Illinois senator a jolt of momentum following the divisive Democratic presidential primary," writes Russell Berman. Speculates one former Clinton official: “They could have been looking for a way to demonstrate their independence." (More Al Gore stories.)