GOP Freshman trend: Pumping gas for the cameras

In politics, two is a coincidence, but three is a trend.

And the trend this week among House Freshman Republicans seems to be getting gas.

For voters, that is, at the pump.

Newly-elected Republican Reps. Jeff Duncan (S.C.), Allen West (Fla.), and Todd Young (Ind.) have all had well-publicized, if brief, gas-pumping sessions this week, using them to speak to constituents about the energy legislation recently by the GOP-controlled House.

West and Young hit the pumps on Monday: West at a Chevron station in West Palm Beach, and Young at an unbranded station in Jeffersonville, Ind. But they stopped short of donning grease-monkey jumpers.

According to News Channel 7, Duncan stayed at his pump for 90 minutes, where he listened to “countless stories” from constituents about high gas prices.

West pumped gas for only 30 minutes, from 3:30-4 p.m. Monday, according to a media advisory. He then held a 15 minute press conference.

Young filled up tanks on Tuesday in Jeffersonville, Ind. where local news crews were all over the "congressman pumping gas" angle.