Democrats in Congress complain that Republicans are seeking "political advantage" by calling for more domestic oil drilling.

Imagine! Politics in Washington!

Well, few motorists paying $4-plus a gallon will disagree we need more oil.

But if Republicans are seeking political advantage from that fact, so what? Besides, the only way they will get that political advantage is if most Americans agree with them.

Well, it turns out they do. Polls show as many as 75 percent of Americans favor more offshore drilling -- and nearly 60 percent favor drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Fact is, some wonder if oil prices dipped last week as a result of Americans merely making noises about drilling here for our own oil. Think of what may happen if we actually follow through on it!

Actually, the executive ban on offshore drilling has been rescinded, and the congressional ban ends Sept. 30, absent congressional action. It will be fascinating to see how Democrats explain their desire to prevent more drilling to Americans who are hurting greatly already from high gasoline prices.

Some think Democratic leaders will be willing to threaten a government shutdown -- in other words, to not pass bills necessary to keep the government running -- before they'll allow any new drilling.

Again, it would be interesting to see how such a "Read my lips -- no new energy!" platform would play just prior to the November election.

We need to do a number of things as a country to ensure our energy and national security future: alternative fuels, nuclear and so on. But drilling for oil needs to be one of the first things. Most Americans know this intuitively.

Yet, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., seem to be afraid of even a floor debate on the issue.

Rep. Gresham Barrett, R-S.C., took to the floor Thursday to challenge Democratic leaders to hear the concerns of their constituents and open the debate to more drilling.

"Drill now. Drill everywhere," Barrett quoted one South Carolinian as telling him in a survey of his constituents.

"Is the majority party not hearing what I'm hearing?" said Barrett on the House floor. "Worse, if they are, are they not choosing to help these people and bring energy legislation to the floor?

"Mr. Speaker, we need energy legislation on the floor and we need it now."

He could not be more right or more timely.

If Democrats foolishly stand in the way of energy exploration, voters will know precisely whom to blame.