With great respect to some of my fellow Kossacks: If you'll please recall, during the general election, beginning in August of 2008, then Presidential candidate Obama repeatedly said that while he was against off-shore drilling as the only strategy, he was open to off-shore drilling if it were part of a larger energy strategy - which is precisely what this is.
This is not a "reversal", much less a "broken promise".
This is nothing new.
This is following through on what he repeatedly said he was open to doing.
To wit:
Here are just a few examples of him talking about being open to shore drilling as part of a larger energy policy:
CNN, August 2008:
Obama said Friday that he would be willing to compromise on his position against offshore oil drilling if it were part of a more overarching strategy to lower energy costs.
Washington Post, August, 2008:
Sen. Barack Obama suggested he could accept an expansion of offshore oil drilling today if it is in a broader package of energy measures that would free the logjam on energy bills in Congress. "If, in order to get that passed, we have to compromise in terms of a careful, well thought-out drilling strategy that was carefully circumscribed to avoid significant environmental damage -- I don't want to be so rigid that we can't get something done."
Environment.com, 2008:
Obama opposes more offshore drilling and does not favor ending the federal moratorium that has protected most U.S. waters since the early 1980s, but he has said he would be willing to compromise on that position if offshore drilling were included as part of an overarching strategy to lower energy costs.
And here's MSNBC's First Read, on the recent announcement, calling back to when he said he'd be open to it in late 2008:
September 2008, First Presidential Debate:
Obama Said Part Of America’s Energy Strategy Should Include Increasing Domestic Production. "That means that we, as one of the biggest consumers of oil -- 25 percent of the world's oil -- have to have an energy strategy not just to deal with Russia, but to deal with many of the rogue states we've talked about, Iran, Venezuela. And that means, yes, increasing domestic production and off-shore drilling, but we only have 3 percent of the world's oil supplies and we use 25 percent of the world's oil. So we can't simply drill our way out of the problem."
October 2008, Second Presidential Debate:
Obama Said, "I Believe In The Need For Increased Oil Production. We’re Going To Have To Explore New Ways To Get More Oil, And That Includes Offshore Drilling." "And let's take the example of energy, which we already spoke about. There is going to be the need for each and every one of us to start thinking about how we use energy. I believe in the need for increased oil production. We're going to have to explore new ways to get more oil, and that includes offshore drilling. It includes telling the oil companies, that currently have 68 million acres that they're not using, that either you use them or you lose them. We're going to have to develop clean coal technology and safe ways to store nuclear energy. But each and every one of us can start thinking about how can we save energy in our homes, in our buildings. And one of the things I want to do is make sure that we're providing incentives so that you can buy a fuel efficient car that's made right here in the United States of America, not in Japan or South Korea, making sure that you are able to weatherize your home or make your business more fuel efficient."
And here's VIDEO of him saying it repeatedly throughout the general election, both campaigning and in the debate.
We can all debate whether or not it's the right thing to do as part of a larger, comprehensive energy strategy that also includes renewable energy sources - but the president is just doing what he said he was open to doing, beginning in August of 2008.