May 01, 2008
HRC Challenges Congress To Weigh In On Gas Tax
Hillary Clinton in Jeffersonville, IN, just challenged members of Congress to weigh in on a gas tax:
"I believe it would be important to get every member of Congress on record," she said, per NBC/NJ's MIke Memoli. "Do they stand with the hard-pressed Americans who are trying to pay their gas bills at the gas station or do they once again stand with the oil companies? That's a vote I'm going to try to get, because I want to know where people stand, and I want them to tell us - are they with us or against us when it comes to taking on the oil companies?"
Yikes! Why would she pressure still uncommitted Super Ds to make their positions known on this contentious issue? It's one thing to fight Barack Obama over the merits of a gas tax holiday. But why ask members of Congress to join the feud as their constituents fret over dollars and cents with each stop at the pump?
The issue is a no win. Members know that supporting the gas tax holiday won't do a lick to help fix the country's energy crisis. And many economists say the summer tax break will provide taxpayers with spare change in their pockets. No more. But the issue is loaded symbolically, of course, and with times so tough, voters might appreciate the extra money -- no matter how meager.
Bottom line -- Seems a selfish move for HRC.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Posted at 06:00 PM
Comments
Seems a selfish move for HRC.
Seems like another boneheaded analysis by Hotline On Call. When in doubt, sling mud.
How will the average consumer respond? If I don't know anything about oil, energy or economics but I do know that the cost of both gas and groceries are going up, a suspension of the gas tax sounds pretty good. I can pay less at the pump, even if it's just for the summer. The green I'm more concerned with now is the green in my wallet.
If I were really paying attention, I might know that prices are also going up because everything is shipped/flown/driven and those costs are being passed on to the consumers.
Hillary is using a short-term change to move the conversation toward a long-term solution. It's better politics than you're giving her credit for.
Besides, in the great scheme of things the gas tax holiday is not much of an issue compared to universal health care, where her policy (based on Edwards') is the best of the 3 candidates.
corinne | 05.01.08 07:45 PM
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Hillary has gone from mere pandering to suicidal stupidity. What could she possibly hope to accomplish by putting this gun to her own head and asking Congress to pull the trigger? Write the bill, Hillary. Put forth the proposal. Let's see how many in Congress are willing to back the stupidest idea of the entire campaign season.
Hillary is hoping voters are too ignorant and self-centered to see the long-term damage hidden in this proposal. She's hoping we won't notice that it flies in the face of her own previously-expressed views on energy independence and lowering carbon emissions. And she's hoping we won't pay attention to the growing chorus of experts (including her pal Paul Krugman) who are asking her what the hell she's smoking.
Mark F | 05.02.08 05:54 AM
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In light of Hillary's recent remarks about obliterating Iran and the gas tax holiday and media's focus on the gas tax holiday, I post No. 8 of Atlantic Charter written by Roosevelt and Churchill after World War II. It speaks for itsself!
“Eighth, they believe that all of the nations of the world, for realistic as well as spiritual reasons must come to the abandonment of the use of force. Since no future peace can be maintained if land, sea or air armaments continue to be employed by nations which threaten, or may threaten, aggression outside of their frontiers, they believe, pending the establishment of a wider and permanent system of general security, that the disarmament of such nations is essential. They will likewise aid and encourage all other practicable measures which will lighten for peace-loving peoples the crushing burden of armaments.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Winston S. Churchill
So, I ask, are we and our leaders today living up to these ideals?
And, would the obliteration of Iran have a more devastating effect on our nation than whether or not we give a Gas Tax Holiday?
And is our Media ethically and morally giving us the real facts about these issues which could have a significnt effect on American daily lives?
Angellight | 05.02.08 08:53 AM
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