Gas tax holiday pandering

[BlackVelvet04]

"He said drying up gas tax collections would batter highway construction, costing North Carolina up to 7,000 jobs, while saving consumers little.

“We're arguing over a gimmick that would save you half a tank of gas over the course of the entire summer so that everyone in Washington can pat themselves on the back and say they did something,” said Obama.

“Well, let me tell you, this isn't an idea designed to get you through the summer, it's designed to get them through an election,” said Obama. He said his call for middle-class tax cuts would be far more beneficial than suspending gas tax collections.

Obama took a different view on the issue when he was an Illinois legislator, voting at least three times in favor of temporarily lifting the state's 5 percent sales tax on gasoline.

The tax holiday was finally approved during a special session in June of 2000, when Illinois motorists were furious that gas prices had just topped $2 a gallon in Chicago.

During one debate, he joked that he wanted signs on gas pumps in his district to say, “Senator Obama reduced your gasoline prices.”

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/29/politics/main4056059.shtml?source=RSSattr=Politics_4056059


Well, well, well.....I guess what's good for the gander isn't good for the goose.

[Bensthename]

1. And he said Illinois tried it and it didn't work.. Hillary wants 300,00 jobs cut.

[BlackVelvet04]

3. he said what suits his current agenda.....n/t

[Bensthename]

4. Again he has more experience on this then her.. Not one expert agrees with Hillary on this.

When asked how this will work she just says polls favor it.. What a joke.

[rodeodance]

7. PBS tonight--they could not get one 'expert' to come on and defend their position-not even

by remote.

ha ha. wimps!

[VolcanoJen]

11. Remember all those silly 'experts' who warned us about the Iraq War?

Hillary didn't listen to them, either.

[rodeodance]

13. Mind your manners and stay focused on the OP

[VolcanoJen]

24. Don't lecture me, and I said nothing untoward.

"Experts" is a relevant term, rodeo.

[rodeodance]

26. stay focused on the topic ---that is obama pandering

[VolcanoJen]

30. I'm responding to your 'expert' quote

I'm focused on the OP, and I was responding to you, directly.

But if 'experts' can't persuade you, how could I? ;-)

[rodeodance]

43. you brought in the Iraq war.

[VolcanoJen]

63. You're oh so right. We shouldn't be talking about that pesky war that nobody cares about.

Look over here!!! Gas Tax Holiday!! Shiny.

[rodeodance]

65. go start your own thread if you want to discuss the war. Show some respect for the OP and stop being

interrupting her topic. It is very impolite.

[VolcanoJen]

67. No, Miss Manners. This is an open discussion board, and I'll bring up 'experts' each time you do.

Sorry about that pesky war, and all.

[rodeodance]

69. then relate it to the OP topic.

[VolcanoJen]

70. Ya know I love you....

.. but sometimes I think you just don't get it.

[mckeown1128]

68. Don't you post on that rival site that has a forum....

called "DUmp"... how did that boycott and spam-a-thon of DU work for you guys/gals? Did you stick it to us Obama supporters? Go back to the "DUmp" forum.

[rodeodance]

15. where do you get the cutting of jobs??

[Bensthename]

19. That is what the experts say

I can probably dig up a link if you want. They say the gas tax pays for federal jobs that take care of the roads and bridges right now.. So, they will be laid off and roads will fall further behind.

[Auntie Bush]

21. That's pure political BS i.e. pandering!

[Bensthename]

23. Yup, Hopefully the voters wont fall for her bull.

[LulaMay]

36. YOU are BULL. Make a point.

[rodeodance]

28. obama lied about that. hillary is off setting the tax with a windfall profit tax on

the oil companies. NO jobs loss.

[Bensthename]

39. And congress and Bush will jump right on that because she says so,..

[rodeodance]

42. hillary introduced the legislation to Congress today.

[Bensthename]

44. I will bet my house it does not go through

No one likes this except for her and her surrogates. She can not find one expert to back her on this.

[JerseygirlCT]

46. And it will go exactly nowhere. Which she knows full-well

But it gives her some more to pander with, so what the heck?

[hokies4ever]

78. the biggest rushed piece of legislation

in our generation. I wonder if Hillary had enough time to spellcheck it before putting it through. Just wait till people start reading it and laughing their ass off. The problem with many laws today is that lawyers can find loopholes in them. Rushed legislation is just encouraging loophole-finding by lawyers.

[hokies4ever]

77. You should have listened to Obama's press conference

about the gas tax holiday yesterday. He made it clear that unless Congress could magically enact the legislation immediately, the Highway Trust Fund would be depleted this summer. Jobs loss this summer and roads in more disrepair, but it's okay because the oil companies will add some more money into it next year. Are the people still supporting the gas tax holiday even thinking anymore?

[LulaMay]

35. That is a lie. LINK to where she asks 3,000 jobs cut. You can't. LIE.

[bronxiteforever]

2. McClinton strikes again

[rodeodance]

8. if you have to be so immature and insulting you do not deserve a response

[bronxiteforever]

32. I confess that I read this quickly and obviously incorrectly-the present proposal makes me see red

Obama's record is fine to criticize-I feel the same way about his lowering rates in his states-at some point taxes are necessary for roads etc-so i apologize for the tone

[rodeodance]

49. peace-and thanks for your response.

[bronxiteforever]

54. Thanks rodeodance

:hi:

[hokies4ever]

79. Quit being a prick

to people who disagree with you. This is about the 10th post by you on this SINGLE thread attacking other DU members.

[Catchawave]

18. His state senate record is off limits ?

:shrug:

[bronxiteforever]

29. No you are right, his record is important-my point of anger is the present proposal

[hokies4ever]

80. Hello?

He said that Illinois tried it and the oil companies just ended up increasing the price and that there was no evidence that the savings were passed on to the consumers. His experience has taught him that this is a bad idea. Who's inexperienced now?

[JohnnyLib2]

5. K & R

[L0oniX]

6. Pandering to the LIV

[Autumn]

9. Do as I say,not as I do.

Good post.

[kikiek]

10. Oops..caught him flip flopping again!

[BlackVelvet04]

14. New politics....

LOL

[rodeodance]

60. Wright is right. Obama will say anything to get elected.

[qnr]

12. Wow, There was actually something he didn't vote "Present" on in Illinois? n/t

[LulaMay]

38. Brilliant! Spot-on.

[scheming daemons]

64. Out of 4000 votes in Illinois, he voted "present" 130 times... that's 3%.....

[DawgHouse]

16. He was for it before he was against it?

[JerseygirlCT]

17. I like a person who can learn from mistakes

Does anyone here seriously think this idea of a gas tax "holiday" has any merit whatsoever?

Seriously... is there anyone here who buys this bunk?

It's a bad idea, it's a stupid idea, it's a counterproductive idea. It's base pandering for votes, and pandering to the lowest common denominator - the people who don't want to think for themselves. Clinton exposes herself as a rank opportunist.

[Catchawave]

20. Then why didn't Obama say it was a mistake when he

supported it in the state senate?

[JerseygirlCT]

22. I don't know.

Perhaps he didn't realize the ramifications then. Perhaps from a state point of view he saw it differently than looking at it as a federal official.

In any event, he's now seen the truth of it. Where's Clinton?

I don't believe for one small moment that she's stupid enough to believe this will help anyone -- anyone other than her, that is. It's a bad idea, it's bad government, it's bad for the country.

So why is she pushing it?

[Catchawave]

31. Wouldn't it be better for him to mention this little fact?

Rather than just agree with Bush's position and disapprove of Hillary's?

Maybe she's thinking about the working folks who need a break from high gas prices. May save enough to take the family on a little vacation? That's what Obama was thinking of when he did support it.

[JerseygirlCT]

45. If you can do a vacation on about $30, you're a superperson

She's not thinking about working folks; this will hand them chump change, and take away some of those jobs that are so needed. She's thinking about elections. And saying anything, however stupid, to get elected.

There isn't going to be a break from high gas prices. We've put ourselves in this position with bad tax policy (tax breaks for oil companies instead of for solar and other renewable energy) and horrible energy policy. We don't need a few pennies back, we need a whole policy that points us pretty strongly in a direction away from our national addiction to oil. Cheaper gas just enables us, frankly.

Meantime, that chump change per person will result in billions to the gov't that would be used to fix our roads and other transportation needs. I hear there are a few bridges in bad repair... they won't get fixed without that money. And those billions lost result in jobs lost. Won't matter much to the person w/o a job if they save a few pennies. And I mean pennies literally.

They tried it in IL; it failed. So he's taking a principled stand.

Again, what's Clinton doing?

[rodeodance]

50. at a time when Obama is trying to show he is not elistist--he comes across as not caring

[JerseygirlCT]

71. Only if you want to see it that way

Or if you stolidly refuse to look at the facts.

This is the problem that gave us Bush, you know. People who refuse to look at the situation, and hear what they've been told they want to hear. Electing people because you're told they'd be the ones you want to "have a beer with", not the people who can actually get something done, and will tell you the truth on the way.

You simply can't look at the situation with our gas prices and our gas usage and come up with this flimsly and already soggy bandaid. No thinking person can investigate the matter and arrive at the conclusion that this is the right move. And yet, people will sell it as "good for working people" and all of the usual salt of the earth advertisement. It's not true. It won't. And while not helping anyone, it will HURT all of us, badly. Very badly. Billions needed for road and bridge repair, thousands of jobs in those industries... gone. For pennies a person.

Obama is the least "elite" of the three candidates if you're looking at history. Because he's willing to speak the truth on this, you'd like to label him such. That says more about you and your candidate than it does about him, I'm afraid.

[rodeodance]

59. I want a candidate who shows she cares about people. Her name is Hillary

[JerseygirlCT]

72. But this shows nothing of the sort

It shows only that she's perfectly willing to sacrifice what's good for this country to her ambitions.

[zabet]

25. Kick and Recommend...

:hi:

[mtnsnake]

27. OUCH! How hypocritical of Obama. Wow, they're gonna call him on that for flip-flopping

Great find, BlackVelvet

K&R!

[quantass]

33. .

[mdmc]

34. Say no to the gas tax holiday

[LulaMay]

37. That's a joke, right?!!!

[mdmc]

41. no

But I do relish the thought of writing something that someone could construe as humorous, let alone interesting.

[Hoof Hearted]

56. You can donate yours to me. I'll take cash or check. That offer is open to everyone.

ATTENTION EVERYONE:

If you DO NOT WANT your gas tax relief, I will be happy to help you with that burden. I just want your conscience to be clear. Send it to me. That way, both of us feel better.

[LulaMay]

40. K & R for Exposing O bama's 'Political Convenience'. I want my gas tax relief!

[mdmc]

51. I see why you thought my other post was funny.

I was working on an article about this issue. The general gist of my idea is that high fuel costs will prompt Americans to conserve and improve green public transportation.

I work in the human service industry in NYS. I don't earn a living wage for the area and struggle to make ends meet. Me, my mom, and my girlfriend all live in the same city, but work in another city 25 miles away.

We have always taken our own cars. We drive 150 per day. If we carpool we would drive 50 miles per day (a little more cause of different home and job sites).

We would lose some freedom by carpooling, and a lot of convenience. It is getting worth it to do it. $4.20 gas will require us to do it.

Full disclosure - I am a full bloody bleeding heart liberal - a true big government (read regulation) tax and spend liberal. The kind of liberal that has made the democratic party unelectable.

But that is why I oppose the gas tax holiday. Its just gonna get eaten up by Mobil Exxon anyway. But if we conserve and reduce, Mobil Exxon will give it to us cheap in order to get us to drive 150 miles per day instead of 50.

America loves the automobile!

[Hoof Hearted]

55. So DO I. My gas tank is almost on E and the prices are KILLING us.

For all you out there who DON'T want your gasoline tax break, I will accept your donations, cash or check.:thumbsup:

[ms liberty]

58. would you like that as $9 a month or $28?

because that's about what it works out as. mr liberty knew that about 5 seconds after the first time we heard about this silly idea of McSame's. He's good at mental quick math, better than me anyway, and when he calculated that we'd save about $25-$30 over a 3-month period he was a bit perturbed at the duplicity of McSame, trying to make it sound like it was real money. Then later Hillary picked up on the idea, and he really blew a gasket.

It's a bullshit idea.The phrase "tax holiday" is the shiny object distracting you, making it sound like you're going to get real relief, but it hides the fact that it's only the federal gas tax of 18.5%, IIRC.

[mdmc]

62. I hear that

check my reply up a bit on this thread. We need to conserve and reduce.

[JerseygirlCT]

73. Exactly.

Bread and circuses.

No, I take that back. They probably got more out of the bread and circuses in Rome.

$28 a person. Revel in it. And then enjoy those wrecked roads and dangerous bridges. If you haven't lost your job as a result of this shiny "holiday".

[Bensthename]

47. BS.. Obama has said he/they tried it in Illinois and it did not work.

[rodeodance]

52. Hillary is talking to people in IN and NC.

[ileus]

48. gas tax holiday...what a load of georgebush.

[barack the house]

53. Of course this is how he knwos it don't work. The reatilers just rasie the price to former level to

profit more. THen the politicians gets the blame for no discount. He's giving a wage tax cut to meet affordable gas.

[sueragingroz]

57. K & R

[RBInMaine]

61. Yes, and he actually learned something from the experience, AND states are different than FEDERAL !!

[rodeodance]

66. The voters of IN and SC like the idea. Too bad for obama

[BlackVelvet04]

86. If that's true....

(yeah, I believe it....NOT) why didn't he just say it wouldn't work instead of calling it political pandering? Why, because he's a typical politician...nothing new, nothing hopeful and damn sure nothing that is a change.

[Dogmudgeon]

74. It's the Irony Primary

If you accuse your opponent of doing something bad, you can do the exact same thing about 48 hours later.

Whether it's the timing to a dirty trick, or a news embargo, the rule holds; only the timing is flexible.

--p!

[hokies4ever]

75. Did the kitchen sink hit your big toe?

As Obama said in his SCATHING press conference yesterday, this gas tax holiday was tried in Illinois and it resulted in the oil companies increasing the gas price and pocketing the profit. His experience in the state Senate taught him that. Right in your face Hillary! Obama is able to tell a story about how his experience leads him to the better judgment on this issue, siding with the vast majority of Americans. Should have done your research before commenting.

Here's what Hillary's campaign should have done. Focus on the home mortgage crisis. She would have had more people on her side than with the gas tax holiday. Plus now Obama is able to add in the Illinois gas tax holiday into his stump speech as an example of how his experience leads him to his judgment on his decisions. Bad move by the Hillary camp.

[ecdab]

76. A politician that can actually learn from mistakes - how refreshing.

This Obama guy sounds better all the time.

[Catchawave]

83. How did he learn ?

Wasn't it politics as usual when he supported this in Illinois? He needs to explain why it didn't work instead of trashing the other candidates.

Maybe we'll learn something ? All I know is that he's taking Bush's position, and that's worrisome.

[ecdab]

84. If that's all you know, maybe you should learn some more about such an important

topic. Your worry would shift to Hillary if you did.

[onenote]

85. In fact, Obama voted against making it permanent in Illinois

And yet you probably think that was a bad thing, don't you?

[pecwae]

81. K&R

[pdxmom]

82. And Hillary opposed a repeal of the gas tax in 2000, because of the

costs to her state. That, too, is flip-flopping.

And don't tell me that her windfall profits tax is the difference. She's making that proposal knowing full well that they tried to get that through Congress already and failed miserably. Dems don't have the numbers to get that through. She may as well offer sunny skies and rainbows every day. She has just about as much a chance of that happening as a windfall profits tax.

The gas tax holiday is a joke and pandering in its purest form. Many of the replies here show that.

[Hansel]

87. Obama learns from experience. Excellent.

Clinton doesn't. She voted to designate Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist org even after her disastrous vote on the Iraq war resolution. And now, shock of all shock, the drumbeat for war with Iran is getting louder and louder.