What About the Gas Tax?
Obama alleges it is all smoke and mirrors and a political trick to shave the federal tax on gas. He again sounds like the elitist he most certainly is. He can't bring himself down to a level where he can see that there are folks who drive old cars because they can't afford new ones, who are compelled to get around in gas guzzlers and in some instances have wheelchair vans and when you drive one you can hear the sucking noise from all the gas it uses for which there is no choice if you are in a wheelchair and then there is the really big savings that a federal tax holiday translates into for truckers - who also have no choice. They won't save a small amount for gas, they'll save hundreds of dollars and the industry will save billions with a tax holiday. And that will also translate into a savings for consumers because higher pump prices are always reflected in higher cost for those goods transported in those trucks. But just like Obama opposed giving money to stimulate the economy because he can't bring himself down below the clouds. Remember he is a politician who has a net worth in the millions and lives in a $1.6 million dollar mansion which is not too shabby for someone who is a freshmen U.S. Senator and was in the Illinois legislature only a short time (a politician who gave favors and got favors). He also opposes insurance for everyone which under the Clinton plan would be mandated coverage for everyone. Obama is an elitist. Neocons are more liberal than Obama - which is the problem with much of the left today. They are less liberal than the neocons, who they so despise for advocating a strong defense *, and many of the "politically correct" liberal left are also elitists because they are a privileged middle-class, who also do not feel the pain of others and a natural constituency for Barack Obama.
* If they were only for a strong defense, that would be understandable, but others in this Bush administration also manufactured false information, i.e. the fabricated Nigeria nuclear false flag information - exposed by Ambassador Wilson but to this day there are still those who advocate on that basis - that centrifuges and the attempt to obtain nuclear material are fact, basing their proof on fake documents. The neocons may have been good intentioned, which I accept is a matter of opinion and debate, yet arguments which supported their premise were in fact lies even as many of those lies did not come from neocons themselves, but those ready and willing to be influenced by neocon rationale and a right wing zeal for war.
Notice that in the Illinois legislature, Obama not only wanted the gas tax, he wanted to make sure his name was attached and he received credit for it. As usual, he flips when it is politically expedient, and now is opposed to it for all the same reasons he previously favored it in Illinois. He is not only an elitest, he is an opportunist and a liar.
Even the RNC favors a tax break and says this about McCain's federal tax holiday on gas (which in principle also applies to Clinton) - so who is more liberal about this (and more honest), the RNC (and McCain and Clinton) or the so-called "liberal" left?
Hank Roth
RNC: Why Does Barack Obama Continue To Distort
His Own Record And The Facts
On Gas Tax Relief For Americans?
Published: April 29, 2008
WASHINGTON, April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following release was issued today by the Republican National Committee:
Americans Continue To Confront High Fuel Prices:
Today, April 29, 2008, The Average Price For A Gallon Of Regular Gasoline Is Over $3.60. (AAA Website, www.fuelgaugereport.com, Accessed 4/29/08)
The Average Price For A Gallon Of Regular Gasoline In Indiana Is Over $3.61. (AAA Website, www.fuelgaugereport.com, Accessed 4/29/08)
The Average Price For A Gallon Of Regular Gasoline In North Carolina Is Over $3.59. (AAA Website, www.fuelgaugereport.com, Accessed 4/29/08)
Truckers Protested High Fuel Prices Yesterday InWashington, D.C. "As angry truckers encircled the Capitol in a horn-blaring caravan and consumers across the country agonized over $60 fill-ups, the issue of high fuel prices flared on the campaign trail on Monday, sharply dividing the two Democratic candidates." (John M. Broder, "As Clinton Seeks Gas Tax Break For Summer, Obama Says No," The New York Times, 4/29/08)
Sen. John McCain Has Proposed Immediate Gas Tax Relief, Which Would Save Americans Over $6 Billion:
Sen. John McCain's Gas Tax Relief Would Last From Memorial Day To Labor Day. "Hard-working American families are suffering from higher gasoline prices. John McCain calls on Congress to suspend the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.4 cent diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day." (John McCain For President Website, www.johnmccain.com, Accessed 4/22/08)
"A USA TODAY Analysis Showed That McCain's Gas-Tax Proposal Could Save Motorists $6.8 Billion In Taxes During The Summer."" (Kathy Kiely, "Gas-Tax Holiday Among McCain's Plans For Economy," USA Today, 4/16/08)
OBAMA DISTORTION: Obama Distorted Sen. John McCain's Gas Tax Relief Plan:
Obama Distorted Sen. McCain's Gas Tax Relief Plan, Claiming That There Will Not Be Any Funding For The Highway Trust Fund. Obama: "He doesn't explain how it is that we are going to replace the highway trust fund -- that's where your gasoline tax goes, to rebuild roads and bridges and put people back to work right here inNorth Carolina." (Perry Bacon Jr. and Peter Slevin, "Clinton Joins McCain In Criticizing Obama On Gas Tax." The Washington Post's "The Trail" Blog, blog.washingtonpost.com, 4/28/08)
Sen. John McCain Has Already Said That Any Shortfalls In The Highway Trust Fund Would Be Offset By General Budget Revenues:
Any Shortfalls In The Federal Highway Trust Fund From The Gas Tax Holiday Would Be Offset By General Budget Revenues. "McCain policy adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin, in a conference call yesterday with reporters, said any shortfalls created in the Federal Highway Trust Fund, which is supported by the fuel taxes, would be offset by general budget revenues." (Brian C. Mooney, "McCain Calls For Summer Holiday From Gas Tax," The Boston Globe, 4/16/08)
OBAMA DISTORTION: Obama Called Immediate Gas Tax Relief A "Scheme" And A "Bad Idea":
Obama Called Gas Tax Relief A "Scheme." "Mr. Obama has previously dismissed Mr. McCain's proposal as a 'scheme.' 'Half a tank of gas,' Mr. Obama told his audience. 'That's his big solution.'" (John M. Broder, "As Clinton Seeks Gas Tax Break For Summer, Obama Says No," The New York Times, 4/29/08)
Obama Called Gas Tax Relief A "Bad Idea." "Earlier Monday at a community college in the Philadelphia suburbs, Obama rejected a tax holiday as bad economic policy. 'I've said I think John McCain's proposal for a three-month tax holiday is a bad idea,' Obama said, warning consumers that any price cut would be short lived before costs spike back." (Nick Timiraos, "Clinton Joins McCain On Gas-Tax Holiday," The Wall Street Journal's "Washington Wire" Blog, blogs.wsj.com, 4/21/08)
But In March 2000, Obama Voted For The Temporary Elimination Of The State Sales Tax On Gas:
As A State Senator, Obama Voted To Suspend The State Sales Tax On Gasoline. (S.B. 1310: Senate Third Floor Reading, Passed, 50-0-6, 3/8/00, Obama Voted Yea)
The State Of Illinois Suspended Its Five Percent Sales Tax On Gasoline. "After a whirlwind legislative session, Gov. Ryan signed legislation Thursday that suspends the state's 5 percent sales tax on gasoline. If that is passed on to consumers, fuel prices would drop by about a dime per gallon." (Dave McKinney and Fran Spielman, "Ryan Signs Suspension Of Gas Tax," Chicago Sun-Times, 6/30/00)
Obama Said He Supported The Gas Tax Suspension Due To The "Huge Hike" In Gas Prices. Obama: "I originally voted for the suspension because I thought that it was extraordinary circumstances, given the huge hike in prices, but I don't think that we have the evidence yet to make this a permanent three-hundred- or four-hundred-million-dollar hole in the General Revenue Fund." (Sen. Barack Obama,State Of Illinois 91st General Assembly Regular Session Senate Transcript, 11/15/00, www.ilga.gov, pp. 51-52)
And The Temporary Gas Tax Relief That Obama Voted For In The State Senate Helped Consumers:
In 2000, Gas Prices Suddenly Dropped Between 8 And 10 Cents A Gallon Overnight When The Tax Suspension Went Into Effect. "When the tax suspension went into effect July 1, the change in price was obvious, as prices suddenly dropped between 8 and 10 cents a gallon overnight." (Karen Mellen and Ray Long, "As Gasoline Prices Drop, Tax Debate Continues," Chicago Tribune, 7/20/00)
AAA Attributed Part Of The Decline In Gas Prices To Illinois' Temporary Suspension Of Its Gas Tax. "The price of gasoline inIllinois dropped 40 cents since its peak this summer, according to the latest survey Wednesday, a record decrease for one month. ... The AAA credited both states [Illinois and Indiana] for temporarily suspending their five percent sales tax on gasoline, and on an increased supply of cleaner-burning reformulated gas." (Robert McCoppin, "State Gas Prices Set Record One-Month Decline," Chicago Daily Herald, 7/19/00)
AAA Chicago Motor Club's Steve Nolan: "The Temporary Repeal Of The State Gas Tax Has Helped [With Gas Price Drop]..." (Robert Manor, "Illinois Finds Dramatic Relief At Gas Pump," Chicago Tribune, 8/17/00)
The Decline In Gas Prices Was "Aided By The Suspension July 1 [2000] Of The State's 5 Percent Sales Tax On Gasoline." "State legislators had called for the hearings as pump prices soared well above $2 a gallon. The recent decline -- aided by the suspension July 1 of the state's 5 percent sales tax on gasoline -- took some of the political expediency out of the hearings." (Courtney Challos, "Legislators Now Irked Over Falling Gas Prices," Chicago Tribune, 7/13/00)
Obama Jokingly Wanted A Sign On Gas Pumps Acknowledging He Lowered His Constituents' Gas Prices:
Sen. Frank Watson (R-Greenville, IL): "This amendment [Amendment No. 3 to H.B. 3873] was discussed in the Executive Committee. We did not adopt it at the time, but it was kind of an agreement that this would be sent out to the Floor without any discussion -- or, without going to committee. And it would require the State of Illinois and the Department of Agriculture to place on a -- gasoline pumps the language that the State portion of the State tax on motor fuel and gasohol was eliminated by Public Act whatever, and that it was effective January 1st, 2001." (Sen. Frank Watson,State Of Illinois 91stst General Assembly Regular Session Senate Transcript, 4/15/00, www.ilga.gov, p. 80)
Obama: "I wasn't clear on -- on the response to the question, but are -- if the gas tax isn't going anywhere, what happens to this [amendment]?" (Sen. Barack Obama,State Of Illinois 91st General Assembly Regular Session Senate Transcript, 4/15/00, www.ilga.gov, p. 81)
Sen. Watson: "This is part of the gas tax language. This -- this is part of the reduction of the sales tax on gasoline. So if the gas -- if that passes, this is an amendment to it, and it would require that petroleum marketers have to put a sign on their pumps that this did, in fact happen." (Sen. Frank Watson,State Of Illinois 91st General Assembly Regular Session Senate Transcript, 4/15/00, www.ilga.gov, p. 81)
Obama: "I was wondering, can I -- in my district, can I have 'Senator Obama reduced your gasoline prices'? Is that possible?" (Sen. Barack Obama,State Of Illinois 91st General Assembly Regular Session Senate Transcript, 4/15/00, www.ilga.gov, p. 81)
SOURCED by the Republican National Committee
(Sometimes the right is right)
What is Different
between the McCain and Clinton plan:
Obama Ad Misrepresents Krugman Quote To Attack Hillary
Sen. Obama has a new ad which claims that "experts" believe
Hillary's plan for a gas tax holiday would "boost oil industry
profits." Their citation is an April 28 column by Paul Krugman,
which discusses Sen. McCain's plan, not Hillary's plan:
The impression that Mr. McCain's tax talk is all about
pandering is reinforced by his proposal for a summer gas tax
holiday - a measure that would, in fact, do little to help
consumers, although it would boost oil industry profits.
Hillary's plan differs from Sen. McCain's in that it is
financed with a windfall profits tax on oil companies. Krugman,
who does not support Hillary's plan, acknowledges that her plan
will not increase profits for the oil industry.
Krugman adds: "Just to be clear: I don't regard this as a major
issue. It's a one-time thing, not a matter of principle, Health
care reform, on the other hand, could happen, and is very much a
long-term issue - so poisoning the well by in effect running against
universality, as Obama has, is a much more serious breach."
5/4/2008
All quoting is in compliance with the
Fair Use Doctrine of Copyright law per
Title 17 U.S.C.
Section 107, Copyright Law.
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Today is Friday May 16, 2008
On the Internet since 1982
(I have been doing it longer - and I do it better)
While I don't use a standard blog (weblog software) mostly because I've been doing this too long - having been there with Ike when the precursor to the Internet, Arpanet got started and every step of the way since, I can't get into all the many fads over the years (now it is social networking), but I have been an observer and participant in events which shape the world since my time with NSA and with Army Security and as a voice security cryptologist in the White House for the President, and the War Room at the Pentagon for the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff plus two wars. You could say this site is one of the better kept secrets [grin] on the InterNUT. You are invited back as often as you would like to see what I and others, I trust, may be saying.
-- Hank Roth