"he preliminary plan would allow Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia to open up waters beyond 80 kilometers from shore to oil drilling. The measure would also repeal tax breaks for oil companies and devote $20 billion to converting cars and trucks to run on alternative fuels.

At a news conference in Florida Saturday, Obama said he still does not believe the United States can "drill its way" out of its energy problems, but said he is willing to compromise in order to get a comprehensive energy solution. "And if we can come up with a genuine bipartisan compromise, in which I have to accept some things that I don't like or the Democrats have to accept some things that they don't like in exchange for actually moving us in the direction of actual energy independence, then that's something I'm open to," he said.

Obama welcomed the bipartisan measure, but said he remains skeptical on the drilling provisions. On Friday, Obama also proposed a windfall profits tax on oil companies that would fund $1,000 emergency rebate checks for millions of Americans suffering under soaring gas and energy prices."

As you can see, he did not change what he believes -- just how he was going to discuss things in order to get cooperation on the more important aspects. EMphasis added for the benefit of those blinded by buttons.

A