Not sure why but I find myself doubting the sincerity of his change of heart.

(The Hill) — Energy Secretary Steven Chu on Tuesday disavowed his 2008 comments about increasing gas prices to European levels, remarks that Republicans have pounced on in recent weeks.

“I no longer share that view,” Chu said during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, adding that he wants to lower gas prices.

Chu, who just four years ago talked of boosting the price of gasoline to the levels of Europe, on Tuesday said higher gas prices could slow the economic recovery.

“Right now there is real hardship that Americans are suffering at the gasoline pump. We have gone through a terrible recession and a worldwide recovery, but the recovery is fragile and so, as I’ve said, another spike in gasoline prices could put that recovery in jeopardy,” he told reporters after the hearing.

“There are many, many reasons why we do not want the price of gasoline to go up, we want it to go down.”

Chu’s disavowal of his earlier comments is the latest sign of concern from the Obama administration over how rising gas prices could hurt the president’s reelection changes.