Sarah Palin: Don’t retreat from ‘drill here, drill now’ following Gulf spill

Sarah Palin said Friday that the Gulf of Mexico oil rig explosion and spill should not sap efforts to expand offshore drilling.

"I repeat the slogan ‘drill here, drill now’ not out of naiveté or disregard for the tragic consequences of oil spills – my family and my state and I know firsthand those consequences," Palin wrote on her Facebook page, reviving a slogan from the 2008 presidential campaign, when she was Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) running mate.

"How could I still believe in drilling America’s domestic supply of energy after having seen the devastation of the Exxon-Valdez spill? I continue to believe in it because increased domestic oil production will make us a more secure, prosperous, and peaceful nation," the former Alaska governor wrote.

Her comments come as the spreading oil spill has provided new political momentum to opponents of expanded offshore drilling. Palin said strict oversight is needed and that companies must be held accountable if they are lax in taking measures to prevent accidents.

Palin recently alleged that Obama administration plans to expand leasing are far too limited.