In recent days, Rush Limbaugh and other rightwingers have accused the Obama administration and environmentalists of trying to exploit the BP oil spill for political gain—even suggesting that they caused the disaster or let the leak continue in order to undermine plans for expanding offshore drilling. This is wacko stuff, showing that the soundbite scoundrels of the right will exploit anything to score political points. But there are those on the right who are also trying to exploit the BP oil spill the old-fashioned way: for financial profit.
This morning I received an email from Townhall.com, a prominent conservative site that features the writings of well-known conservative pundits. The subject head: “Obama may cancel ALL oil drilling, wants Lithium. LTUM stock could triple.” Townhall had rented out its email list to a stockpicking newsletter that was pushing lithium stocks—and attempting to make a buck off the paranoid conservatives who soak up Limbaughian lies. Well, if rightwingers really do believe that President Barack Obama will cancel all offshore drilling, then they ought to be easy marks for Townhall’s partner. They might also be interested in purchasing some swamp land in Florida.
