“Talk is cheap—gasoline is not”

“Talk is cheap—oil/gas/gasoline is not” is a popular saying with the public and with politicians whenever they try to combat high gas prices. “Talk is cheap and oil is not” has been cited in print since at least 1978 and “talk is cheap, gas is not” since at least 2000.
 
Conservative media figure Bill O’Reilly wrote in a syndicated column in 2001, “But talk is cheap and gas is not.” Liberal media figure Keith Olbermann was quoted in a 2006 “Fuel for Thought” as having said, “Talk is cheap. Gasoline is not.” In March 2012, Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla.) called this “an old saying in America.”
       
 
30 December 1978, Galveston (TX) Daily News, “What Other Newspapers Are Saying” (United Press International), pg. 9A, cols. 3-4:
Wheeling (W. Va.) News-Register:
(...)
We have practically “talked to death” the energy issue but talk is cheap and oil is not.
 
Paul Harris Online
Wednesday, June 28, 2000
Talk Is Cheap, Gas Is Not
The headline in the paper said, “Leaders agree to suspend gas tax.”
 
15 May 2001, Washington (DC) Times, “Paying the price for a legacy” by Bill O’Reilly: 
But talk is cheap and gas is not.
   
Peak Oil Forums
by MicroHydro » Thu Jun 30, 2005 11:21 am
In March, Lynch said oil would be $25 by now. Talk is cheap, oil is not.
 
12 February 2006, The Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA), “Bush’s plan on energy just words”:
His latest budget request reminds us once again that, when it comes to addressing our dangerous reliance on foreign fuel, talk is cheap, and oil is not.
 
Captain Future’s Dreaming Up Daily
Thursday, May 04, 2006
“Fuel for Thought”
“Talk is cheap. Gasoline is not.”
—Keith Olbermann
 
The Everyday Republican (CT)
23 May 2007
House Republicans Try to Cut Gas Tax - Democrats On the Run
(...)
“Tax cut talk is cheap but gasoline is not. That’s why the Democrats should have voted to do for this immediate 25-cent per gallon tax cut,’’ Cafero added.
   
Reuters
U.S. senators ready dueling energy plans
By Chris Baltimore
WASHINGTON | Fri May 2, 2008 3:04am IST
(...)
“Talk is cheap, but gas is not,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, flanked by 11 other Republicans.
   
The En-Pro Blog
Talk is cheap, oil is not…
This entry was posted on January 7th, 2011 at 11:42:01 am
There has been a lot of cheap talk lately of oil breaching the $100/bbl level and repeating the stratospheric climb of 2008 that culminated in a price of $147/bbl in July of that year. In our view, this is “the sky should fall, shouldn’t it?” trash talk initiated by wishful thinking “specuvestors.”
 
The Hill’s Congress Blog
Keystone project imperative — now
By Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla.) - 03/22/12 10:20 AM ET
There’s an old saying in America that comes to mind when I think of the President’s trip to Oklahoma this week to share his vision for domestic energy policy: talk is cheap. Gasoline is not.