Gas price grabs attentions all the time, although Europeans always laugh at Americans' complaints over the "high price".
Middel East was/is/will always be talked about when gas price is discussed.
But, are you sure there is only one voice in US, and that voice is blaming Middel East only? Or you just make a conclusion based on one article?
There are lots of polls about "who's to blame for the gas price hike", any time there is price change. Usually, the big oil companies and the wall street speculators get the most blame. Yes, Americans actually get blamed by Americans.
Last May, the CNN poll actually resulted in 90% Americans participated the poll believed that Big US oil companies and Wall street are to be blamed.
