CosmicRocker

Clinton highlights Obama's objection to gas tax holiday By SARA KUGLER and MIKE GLOVER, Associated Press Writers


GRAHAM, N.C. - Hillary Rodham Clinton criticized Barack Obama on Monday for opposing proposals to suspend federal gas taxes this summer, a plan she and Republican John McCain have endorsed. Obama didn't take the bait. He ignored Clinton and focused on McCain.


"My opponent, Senator Obama, opposes giving consumers a break from the gas tax," Clinton said at a firehouse. "I understand the American people need some relief," she added, implying that Obama doesn't get it.

He has said motorists would not benefit significantly from suspending the gas tax.

"This is his solution to the problems of the energy crisis and your tax bills," Obama told several thousand at a noisy rally in Wilmington. "Keep in mind that the federal gas tax is about 5 percent of your gas bill. If it lasts for three months, you're going to save about $25 or $30, or a half a tank of gas."

The idea to suspend the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.4 cent diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day was first proposed by McCain, the likely Republican presidential nominee, as a way to lessen the pain at the pump for consumers this summer.

Clinton said she would make up the lost revenue by imposing a "windfall profits tax" on oil companies.

"If we suspended it and made up the lost revenues, that's the best of both worlds," she said.

Clinton also picked up a prized endorsement. North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley was expected to announce his support for the former first lady on Tuesday, persons close to the governor and Clinton told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because a formal announcement was pending. Easley is one of the superdelegates who are likely to choose the party's presidential nominee.Both Democrats canvassed the state Monday, pushing supporters to go to the polls early here and in Indiana before both states hold primaries on May 6. Obama is favored in North Carolina while the two are competing closely in Indiana.

"That's his big solution," Obama said of McCain. "He had the gall yesterday to tell me that because I don't agree with his plan, I must not be sympathetic to poor people. This is at the same time as he is proposing hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks for corporate interests, for the wealthiest Americans."

McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds noted Obama's support for suspending gas taxes when he served in the Illinois Senate.

"Senator Obama's arguments against John McCain's gas tax holiday are complete fiction," Bounds said.

Leading in convention delegates and popular votes, Obama sought to avoid the daily back and forth with Clinton. Before leaving Wilmington, he was asked about his longtime pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who said Monday that criticism of some of his fiery sermons is an attack on the black church. Wright's third public appearance in four days kept alive a story that continues to dog Obama's campaign.

Obama said the voters he talks to don't ask him about Wright. "It's not what I hear. What I'm hearing is concern about gas prices, people are concerned about their jobs being shipped overseas," he said.

At the rally, he said McCain's approach to the issue of high gas prices was typical of how Washington works.

"There's a problem, everybody's upset about gas prices. Let's fund some short-term, quick-fix so we can say we did something, even though we didn't do anything," Obama said. He argued that reducing consumption and increasing the use of alternative fuels represent real long-term solutions to rising gasoline and diesel fuel prices.

__________________

If I live to see the seven wonders
I'll make a path to the rainbow's end
I'll never live to match the beauty again
The rainbow's end
( "7 Wonders" - Tango in the Night)

CosmicRocker

Obama is correct that a gas tax relief is not an energy policy;
but I'll take what i can get for now.

Obama is on the wrong side of this ( politically).

I wonder how important this endorsement is in NC?

__________________

If I live to see the seven wonders
I'll make a path to the rainbow's end
I'll never live to match the beauty again
The rainbow's end
( "7 Wonders" - Tango in the Night)

Jonesy

Not important enough?

Aren't taxes under jurisdiction of the legislative branch?

CosmicRocker

didn't see It'smeee had already started the NC gov. thread.

Maybe this one can be used for comment on the Fed. gas tax holiday

__________________

If I live to see the seven wonders
I'll make a path to the rainbow's end
I'll never live to match the beauty again
The rainbow's end
( "7 Wonders" - Tango in the Night)

EvilMonkey

By giving this "holiday" it takes money from all the typical maintenance that it takes to keep our roads going, it also impacts the jobs of those who perform that maintenance. Why do you think this was proposed by a republican?

Environment Man

It is a meaningless reduction. A symbolic gesture. We need to be converting CO2 to gasoline. Now there is an energy plan.

I tried to get Obama to support a clean air program once. He simply didnt. But he did vote for the 2005 energy bill.

CosmicRocker

the money was to be replaced from general funds.
But yes, it is flawed, as is the current stimulus package.

the question of the day:
Who is on the winning side from a poliical ( not policy) p.o.v.?

__________________

If I live to see the seven wonders
I'll make a path to the rainbow's end
I'll never live to match the beauty again
The rainbow's end
( "7 Wonders" - Tango in the Night)

aloysious

If it comes down to HRC vs. McCain in Nov. and I want to exercise my right to vote, and not "throw it away" on some Libertarian or other
3rd party candidate, should I flip a coin to decide who to vote for? Or do I contemplate a 100 Year Iraq War vs. Nuke Iran?

Cookie

Why do you think imposing a windfall profits tax on big oil was proposed by a democrat? What does she think they will do, just deduct those taxes from the dividends paid to shareholders?

McCain admitted he doesn't understand the economy very well. Democrats demonstrate they don't understand it at all every day of the year.

__________________
Corgi butts drive me nuts.