Over at National Review’s Planet Gore blog, Henry Payne noticed a photo of Barack Obama and family exiting onto the tarmac at a Chicago airport on Tuesday from a rather large vehicle. Knowing Obama’s position on energy and CAFE standards, Henry researched the vehicle and discovered it to be … a dreaded SUV:

Good gravy! What is that behemoth from which SUV-slaying Barack “Speak Truth to Horsepower” Obama and his family are emerging on the Chicago airport tarmac Tuesday? It’s. . . it’s . . . a 13-mpg Chevy Suburban sport ute!

Do as I say, not as I do.

What exactly does Obama say that the nation must do in order to solve our energy crisis?

Set America on Path to Oil Independence

Obama’s plan will reduce oil consumption by at least 35 percent, or 10 million barrels per day, by 2030. This will more than offset the equivalent of the oil we would import from OPEC nations in 2030.

• Increase Fuel Economy Standards: Obama will double fuel economy standards within 18 years. His plan will provide retooling tax credits and loan guarantees for domestic auto plants and parts manufacturers, so that they can build new fuel-efficient cars rather than overseas companies. Obama will also invest in advanced vehicle technology such as advanced lightweight materials and new engines.

As Henry notes, Obama peppers his speeches on energy with reminders that “every American has the responsibility” to force Detroit to produce more efficient, lightweight vehicles to reduce our use of oil. He claims that our national security and our planet depends on all of us doing our part. Apparently, his emphasis on every American takes a certain poetic license.

Now, I’m going to defend Obama here. He has certain requirements for security that necessitate larger vehicles. In this photo, he’s traveling with his family, and certainly the Secret Service wants them to be safe on their way to the airport. This car may not even be his.

However, everyone wants to travel safely and keep their children from getting injured in accidents. CAFE hikes reduce choices to the consumer for vehicles which will do that, and in fact creates more injuries and deaths on American roads. Obama’s own policies will force parents to select vehicles that reduce safety for passengers, instead of letting normal market forces determine consumer choice. And Obama could certainly insist on a vehicle that gets better than 13 MPG from the Secret Service, if that Chevy Suburban doesn’t belong to the Obamas.

If Obama wants every American to do their part for fuel efficiency, then he can start with himself.