Political Punch

Food for Thought - when Obama voted for the Illinois state gas tax holiday, I lived in Illinois. The economy was entering a recession. The state budget had its largest surplus in HISTORY that year. It made sense for the gas tax to be suspended, because it would help keep the transportation industry strong in Illinois. But in that case, the oil companies raised prices and so it didn't matter that the tax was reduced. We still had to pay just as much. I remember. I was there. I support Obama. We are now in a HUGE federal budget deficit. We just gave an income tax rebate to all Americans. We don't need more handouts - we need to get back to work. And the windfall tax has already been allocated by Hillary Clinton for investment in green-collar jobs. (Did she forget? Or did you?)

The oil-gas industry supports the gasoline tax holiday because it will drive up demand by lowering cost. They are willing to pay a "windfall profits tax" because ... well, they'll be earning a windfall profit from the increased demand due to lower costs.

Foodforthought,

Obama voted in favor of the gas tax holiday in Illinois, only to see the oil companies raise prices to compensate for it. Consumers didn't save any money and the government lost revenue. The only ones to benefit from it were the oil companies.

This is exactly WHY he opposes it today. He learned from his mistake.

IT'S FACT-MAN, not quite!

President Bush did not lie. Nor did he lie to get the support he needed for the War in Iraq. The fact REALLY IS that Saddam Hussein wanted his neighbors to believe that he had WMDs. Therefore, there was no way that he was going to prove to the UN Security Council that he no longer had WMDs. The intelligence that the Bush Administration had in 2002 was the same intelligence that the Clinton Administration had in 1998. If you recall, Congress gave President Clinton the authorization for regime change based on the 1998 intelligence. Also if you recall, during the debate for passing the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 many of the Democrats said the Saddam Hussein had WMDs, and some even said that the threat was imminent.

Pres. Bush lied about WMD's... to get the support he needed for the War in Iraq.

Hilary Lied about sniper fire... to get the support she needed to say she has "experience". Hey Hilary, those Holiday Inn express commercials aren't serious. Staying in one does not make you qualified.
Hilary needs to go home and stay there! She has already been bought by the Lobbyist. This lady has never experience poverty in any form. She has never been broke. Yet Obama is the one that is deemed out of touch. Out of touch with whom! That statement is suspect, but clever.

Obama is a hypocrite. He took a different view on the gas tax 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.”

He felt 5 cents was a big enough savings. Why isn't 18 cents a savings?

Diane Lander-Simon,

Great "label" supporters of your opponent, can people just believe in someone who's inspiring, encouraging and not status quo. If Hillary would run her campaign on her own merits, there wouldn’t be much to discuss. But she constantly mentions; her judgment, character, courage and experience. Well, she didn’t have the judgment, character or courage to vote against a senseless war, plus how honorable is Hillary when she’s determined to undermine the DNC rules to benefit her campaign. I don’t even want to discuss her experience, traveling to foreign nations as “First Lady” doesn’t constitute experience in my opinion.

jacksmith,

Knowing what’s best for America, Hillary will do and say anything to win your vote and the Democratic nomination! First, let’s distract voters and complain about the disenfranchised voters of Florida & Michigan, when the DNC established the rules everyone agreed but now since she’s not winning make that an issue. Seriously, if the situation were different Hillary wouldn’t care or even commit on their vote. Second, fabricating your experience to give people a false impression is exactly what this nation needs. Didn’t you get enough from the current President? If you lie, say it consistently then eventually it becomes “your truth” and voters will mindlessly believe excellent strategy and psychology.

I find it astonishingly funny that the person talking about how smart Hillary is includes the tagline "TEXAS VOTED FOR HILLARY". Newsflash: HRC LOST TEXAS

The only thing she can run right now is her own campaign into the ground.

DEBATE! DEBATE!! DEBATE!!!

It's time for everyone to face the truth. Barack Obama has no real chance of winning the national election in November at this time. His crushing defeat in Pennsylvania makes that fact crystal clear. His best, and only real chance of winning in November is on a ticket with Hillary Clinton as her VP.

Hillary Clinton seemed almost somber at her Pennsylvania victory speech. As if part of her was hoping Obama could have proved he had some chance of winning against the republican attack machine, and their unlimited money, and resources.

But it is absolutely essential that the democrats take back the Whitehouse in November. America, and the American people are in a very desperate condition now. And the whole World has been doing all that they can to help keep us propped up.

Hillary Clinton say's that the heat, and decisions in the Whitehouse are much tougher than the ones on the campaign trail. But I think Mr. Obama faces a test of whether he has what it takes to be a commander and chief by facing the difficult facts, and the truth before him. And by doing what is best for the American people by dropping out of the race, and offering his whole hearted assistance to Hillary Clinton to help her take back the Whitehouse for the American people, and the World.

Mr. Obama is a great speaker. And I am confident he can explain to the American people the need, and wisdom of such a personal sacrifice for them. It should be clear to everyone by now that Hillary Clinton is fighting her heart out for the American people. She has known for a long time that Mr. Obama can not win this November. You have to remember that the Clinton's have won the Whitehouse twice before. They know what it takes.

If Mr. Obama fails his test of commander and chief we can only hope that Hillary Clinton can continue her heroic fight for the American people. And that she prevails. She will need all the continual support and help we can give her. She may fight like a superhuman. But she is only human.

Sen. Hillary Clinton: "You know, more people have now voted for me than have voted for my opponent. In fact, I now have more votes than anybody has ever had in a primary contest for a nomination. And it's also clear that we've got nine more important contests to go."

Sincerely

Jacksmith... Working Class :-)

@ HoosierSue,

Good comment.

Hill & Bill the smartest liars.
Master degrees in "PANDERING"

Fox Cable & other Political persons on CNN think Indiana people are stupid and say "By the time they figure out the Gas Tax is bad they would have already voted" & "Pandering is good Politics".
Isn't Pandering Lying and add that to Sniper Fire ???

Hillary the smartest? I don't think so. After graduation she took and passed the Arkansas Bar, one with one of the lowest standards in the nation. When she took the Washington, DC Bar, another one near the bottom in standards, she had to take it THREE times before she passed. The California, New York and Hawaii Bars are reputed to be the most difficult.

Bishop, you wrote: "I bet If Hillary is President gas prices will go down."

If either Sen. Clinton or Sen. Obama become President of the United States, gas prices will be going up. That's because the Democrats want to raise the federal tax on gasoline $1-$3 per gallon.

....Hillary should join forces with Joe Lieberman and form the perfect ticket for '08....Hillary/Lieberman. They are both Republicans in Democratic clothing...now that would be the true DREAM TEAM.....OBAMA...08

Cindy in nc

Please let’s talk judgment and character for Senator Clinton; she didn't have the judgment, knowledge or wisdom to vote against the Iraq War and lying about events as First Lady to strength your claims of foreign policy experience, definitely describes her character. Hillary will do or say anything to become the Democratic nominee and she knows Americans are naïve and easily persuaded when they hear words repeated consistently. Does “mushroom clouds, weapons of mass destruction, mission accomplish and 35 years of experience sound familiar. What 35 years of experience, you’ve only been in the Senate for approximately 8 years?

Cindy in NC, it's obvious that African Americans and millions of other do care about Obama's judgment, that's why he's leading in every real metric used to decided the Democratic nominee. And it's also why Hillary is losing. People are looking at her judgment and personality. Is it shocking that 60 percent of Americans polled said they don't trust her? No. Bosnia just solidifies in many minds that she will do and say anything to get elected. Look at the gas tax holiday. Hillary knows a windfall tax on oil companies is DOA with the current congress. Yesterday she promised full citizenship rights to Guamanians. She and Bill had eight years to get that done. Why promise it 24 hours before an election? She is the panderer in cheif. Are you aware that before the primary season started, African Americans were polling about 50-50 but when Hillary, Sheehan, Bob Johnson and especially Bill went off the deep end, only then did you see the AA numbers completely shift to Obama? Well, it's true.

One more word about family Obama.
Obama/Axelrod made a serious miscalculation about introducing the girls.

Every voter now gets to wonder anew "How on earth did he expose those two beautiful girls to the rants of that anti-american, racist minister. Some people might even equate this with child neglect or abuse.

If Obama is smart, he'll get them back to Chicago as quickly as possible.

So we see that all these candidates are insincere and the winner will become very much part of the Washington political system aimed to diminish true democracy. Although I think all of them are already part of the cheating political system.
The main question to ask is who is more insincere in claiming to change the political climate; and whose unsaid agenda would be more dangerous to USA.

Ron, you wrote: "...then I remembered Lush Rhimbaugh and his operation..... It seems to me that the Republicans are going out of their way to get Hillary nominated..."

You miss the point of Rush's Operation Chaos. It's purpose is to keep the fight going all the way to the convention, thus the word "Chaos." If it's purpose was to get Sen. Clinton nominated it would be called Operation Clinton.

To the people of Guam: please do not let Hillary or her husband, Bill and their campaign to "hoodwink" you for a vote. She is just saying things to make you happy! Your voting in U.S. elections when did she think of it? When she was in front of the camera? Sen. Obama has worked many years helping the poor, the disenfranchised, he's responsible for getting millions, and millions of young voters to the polls. Why did they go? They're tire of Washington and their "dirty tricks". Obama wants to speak to the young people, our future leaders of the world. We want a united party, not a divided party. We want someone to discuss the issues and not get personal. With your help, Obama will be the nominee for president of the U.S.

I cast my vote for Sen. Obama 2008

Obama knows he can do anything and still get 90% of the black vote....and probably 30% of those that hate Hillary.

It is very obvious they don't care about his judgement or character.

Hoosier Sue

Evan Bayh voted for the same energy bill as Obama as it was good for Indiana -- as well as Illinois -- these are elected officials

Now Evan Bayh stands next to Hoosier Hillary while she lies about the energy bill, the gas tax, the closing of the Indiana plant (that went to China and Bayh is on record disagreeing with then Pres CLINTON who approved this move) - and so much more

So Hoosier Sue - you and your comrade Hoosier Hillary have one thing in common - you think the public is dumb

You may be right - but you still have to live with yourself

How do you do that?

Of course Obama doesn't support the Gas Tax Holiday. For one, he couldn't be last to jump on the bandwagon so now is left to ridicule and hurl insults at Hillary and McCain over it. Secondly, as was proven by his "Yes" vote for Cheney's Oil Bill, he's in the pocket of big oil (which reaped billions in taxpayer subsidies through the bill). He's also beholden to Exelon which wants to build 16 nuclear power plants throughout the USA, also included in the Oil Bill.

Obama is a sham. And frankly, he's getting real old, real fast. Time to crawl back in his hole. His new politics is just the same old same old.

owen, and ortega
if you are not one and the same person
what don't the two of you get together and discuss it.
you keep asking can anyone explain to me.
well you have all of the links, you can read. so go to it and get you own explaination.
and stop bothering us with it.

s valenti, this was actually McCain's idea. And Hillary jumped on his bandwagon.

Remebber Clinton's TV ad at Christmas when she was wrapping up all those presents for under the tree? It was for real. Slicing and dicing special interests is her definition of politics and government. Period.

Guam, here's voting rights (which won't actually happen, but I need your vote NOW).

Drivers, here's a gas tax holiday which I'll claim will be paid for by a windfall profit tax (which won't actually happen, but I need your vote NOW).

Just keep adding to the list. She lies, she panders, she makes promises she has no intention of keeping.

As Molly Ivins used to say, "When people tell you who they are, believe them!"

Gee, what took Obama so long? Go Obama go!!! It's also funny, ironic, not ha ha, that Hillary was praised for that OReilly interview and all I could hear was what Obama has said from the very beginning, she sounded just like Obama in makeup and blond hair and earrings when she said what we have to do is get out of Iraq and focus on Afghanistan! And she had the temerity to say this after blasing Obama in the past for these words but now she copies him as usual. What a loser, this Hillary. If it weren't for her last name she surely wouldn't be where she is.

Clinton is desperate. The gas tax holiday is nothing more than so many "sniper bullets," a phantom piece of duplicity, a deficit of authenticity. She lacks the scope and courage to solve America's big problems and retreats to the spin approach. Such a shame. Her deviousness wont pay our bills, or make us less cynical about Washington.

Ed, I agree with you....that is why Democrats never win....they do not know how to unite. Republicans do.

You want someone strong on principles and flexible in policy making because the world changes and you have to improvise to survive.

Obama is just the other way:
He fixes himself in policy and weak in principles. His words always come back to haunt him.

He claimed that didn't take a dime from lobbyists and special interest group. Are these LIES?

His campaign are built on phonies like this and inspiration; what are the fruits, a bunch of mobs. Hollow as it seems, you have guys like Joe Andrew trying to put you on.

Are you inspired? Despicable slogans, hollow propaganda, Copy cat policies. High sounding nothing that do not connect to common sense and real people.

Take your college kids and the black community who is willing to sacrifice the coalition achieved for a phony.

The Silly thing about you democrats is that you self destroy. The elections ended one month ago by every measure. The rest is for the gallery. You destroy yourself even after finishing the race. Idiots!

Great ides, let's reduce our demand for oil by reducing the price via a tax break. Great thinking. And people in Europe and Britain laugh at us for complaining about gas price that are half of what they pay. Maybe there is a reason you don't see too many SUVs when you travel abroad.

Let's see why this is wrong.

First, Obama attacking Hillary when he claims he is above attacks and politics as usual.

Second, Obama has an ENERGY LOBBYIST running his campaign in Indiana. I thought he HATED lobbyists...whoops.

Sounds like NEGATIVE campaigning from Mr Obama?!

Everyone has forgotten about Health Insurance and the war in iraq. the big news of the week has been about suspending the gas tax... for the summer . It's called HUSH money and designed to keep you quiet for at least for a couple of months.At first I was I was concerned that perhaps there were a lot of Hillary supporters blogging.... then I remembered Lush Rhimbaugh and his operation..... It seems to me that the Republicans are going out of their way to get Hillary nominated, because they believe she would be the BEST opponent against McCain. That would be great ..... getting to pick your own opponent. That's what they do in wrestling... isn't it ?

Thank you jgaw - couldn't have said it better.

Indiana and NC, wake up and smell the coffee. Barack Obama, is the new Messiah, the son of God who was born amongst us, to unite and heal the US and the World, and to make divisions disappear. Barack Obama is the destiny and hope for Americans and the rest of the World. Hail to our new Messiah.Join Barack to heal the World. Get close to him and feel the love.It is now or never.It is never too late. Hallelujah! Amen

indy_voter: I'll explain why one would bring up Rev. Wright when it does not seem relevant to the article. When deciding upon which candidate is best, the issues of character and judgment are threshold issues, and must be addressed before issues relating to policy. Because if the candidate is deficient in areas of character and judgment, he or she will not make a good candidate. In Obama's case, he has shown, by his 20 year affiliation with his racist and anti-American "mentor and spiritual adviser," and his changing stories throughout this whole scandal, that he does not have the character and judgment of one who would make a good President. So, discussions of policy become less relevant.

So Senator Obama voted (how many times) to lower the gas tax in Illinois and now calls it a "shell game" when McCain and Clinton propose it nationwide. Bet, it would have been his "message of the week" if he had thought of it first. He is such a crock. This is just more political pandering on Obama's part. My guess he is looking out for the oil companies instead of people driving to work. And certainly, not all gas tax money goes to building roads and bridges.

Obama says don't trust the oil companies. He does. During the PA campaign he accepted over three hundred thousand dollars from the executives of big oil and more from their lowly employees. People you can check out the facts. He talks about not accepting money from lobbiest, yet he accpets millions from 38 of the biggest law firms in the country who have huge lobbying efforts in DC.

Obama says don't trust the oil companies. He does. During the PA campaign he accepted over three hundred thousand dollars from the executives of big oil and more from their lowly employees. People you can check out the facts. He talks about not accepting money from lobbiest, yet he accpets millions from 38 of the biggest law firms in the country who have huge lobbying efforts in DC.

ANGELINA:

At least, Hillary won't vote "present"!

dwc, just curious....the topic was in regard to the gas tax yet you decide to vent on Obama and Wright.....Seems to me this would be equivalent to Obama supporters mentioning Monica, impeachment, stained dress, when debating this topic as well..What does it have to with the gas tax holiday or Hillary's pandering to voters as stated by Obama in the article?

thinksresults,
what makes you think sen. clinton knows better?

thinksresults,
the only plan for this country that has orginated from obama-was the one when someone decided to market him for president.
when it comes to the american voters and our interest. obama only copies sen. clinton. he is not the orginator of any of those plans you have read on his site. he only copies her.
sen. clinton runs circles around obama on the issues. and everyone knows it.
maybe you and your hate for sen. clinton keeps you in denial, and that is ok, that' your business, but he is not what this country needs right now.
if he had run for president after bill clinton left office, I would say he would have made possible made a good president. (that is before I learned about the rev. wright and hate preaching)
sen. clinton has the better grasp of what is needed to set this country back on the right track.

Gallup: McCain opens national lead over Obama

The headline on latest national Gallup tracking poll is that Republican John McCain leads Democrat Barack Obama in a hypothetical matchup by six percentage points (48%-42%) and leads Hillary Rodham Clinton by only one (46%-45%).

A pointless closing paragraph.

I am happy to see others also commenting on the fact that Obama doesn't offer us another idea on lowering gas prices...when he speaks about Sen. Clinton in this way without offering us another idea...his idea...how is that a new type of politics?

thinkresults,
what makes you think sen. clinton knows better?

It saddens me that ABC, CNN and every other main stream media, When they found out that Obama might win, that the people would have someone that represented the people not the top 1% but all the people. Once this was know the media owned by the coporations decided to use everything possibel against Obama. Why isnt any one asking McCaine about the Keating 5 ??

I'm for any damm tax break I can get even if its thirty dollarsin a summer

Certainly economist and Bloomberg against this gas tax holiday, because will be affecting the selfisch rich people for their stock market.

Truly Obama doesn't care of small town people.

"Exelon" David Axelrove, the svengali behind Obama's crafted image knows alot about lobbying for big energy companies that screw hard working Americans.

Obama sure does have alot of "audacity", I'll give him that much.

It's also nice that he's ditched the bogus "hope" and "unity" BS he was spouting before and has revealed his true self, which is nothing more than a lowly, typical, negative, old school, power hungry , decrepit politician.

He puts down every idea Hillary has but gives none in responce is he waiting for Ted or John to tell him what his policy will be.Becuse those losers really helped in the seventy shortage.

A month ago Hillary Clinton had already planned for the windfall profit tax to be spent towards healthcare.

She is now planning to use the same money twice. She is already running a deficit just like George W. Bush (and she's not even president).

I bet If Hillary is President gas prices will go down . When bill Clinton took over for Bush 1 gas was right at $2.00 and he got it down to .68 cents the first time it went under a $1.00 in years.I did go back up some but it was below $2.00 when he left office.

Obama is just coming off as a jerk anymore. I am sick of his swaggering around the stage like he is God's gift to humanity. I still think this whole Wright press conference this week was set up too. Funny how his Wrightness seems to have disappeared like a rabbit into a hole now. If he was that steamed, he would be talking. He gave Obama an excuse to dump him in public to stop the press from using it over and over, that's the only explanation that makes sense. The only thing Wright said differently was that Obama was saying what he said to get elected. So if Obama thought that was worse than the crap Wright said about America, that makes me think even less of him.

Angelina she is not playing the fool, she is playing the people of NC and IN for fools. Anyone who votes for her based on this is just that a FOOL!

Bon53

Your not listening. A windfall profits tax is advocated by both Clinton and Obama. Such a tax would ultimately be paid by the consumer, not the oil companies. The difference is both Obama and Clinton have said if such a tax were imposed it should be used to invest in research and development of alternative fuels, the problem is Clinton has spent the money twice, once for the "holiday" and once for "research".

Face it, a gas tax holiday will only drive prices higher, all the experts agree.

What does Obama care about the price of gas, he drives a 300C with a Hemi!

It is worth noting that the primary in NC and IN and ultimately the election hinge on a bet by two of the candidates that low information voters will believe their preposterous assertions that a "gas tax holiday" will help them pay their fuel bills this summer.
Anyone with a high school level education in economics will tell you a gas tax holiday will actually have the effect of raising gasoline prices. The consumer will simply never see a dime and the oil companies will make even higher profits. Not to mention the fact that it might put as many as 300.000 people out of work when the country is reeling from job losses or drive our debt even higher.

It is simply impossible to even suggest that such a measure could be introduced much less pass through congress before the end of the summer given nobody but McCain and Clinton support it in congress.

We are witnessing an epic and historic clash of old and new politics, one rooted in pander and deception of the past and one with the promise of truth and transparency.

My vote is for Senator Obama

I agree that there is not enough time for this action for a gas break to go through and get passed before Summer. However, I don't see Obama offering an alternative for lowering gas prices either. All he does is critizice, which is what he does best. What are all of the changes he professes to want to make for our country - all I hear is complaints but no solutions. At least Hillary offers ideas and plans for changes. Those of us who cheer her on are hanging on to our hopes that the better candidate will win. If not, I guess I will be one of those who stays home on election day.

Obama is a liar liar liar, denies corporate support, denies lobbyist association, denies taking money from them too, and has been proven that he does receives money, support and now has surrogates speaking for him. Arrogance will lead you to fail Obama. LIAR LIAR LIAR OBAMA!

But that's not the point Jake (that Obama has people with oil ties). He's not supporting this gas tax, nor is he sending out these oil-tied surrogates to comment on oil-related issues.

In your attempt to level the playing field by pointing out Obama's own oil lobbyists, you're missing the point.

Angelina, Hill the Bosnian General does not think that people can think for themselves, fight for themselves, she can do all of that for all of us. A real elitist behavior, an insult to everybody's intelligence. Hill will say anything and everything to get the nomination, she just doesn't care about the American people. She believes in old McCain's ideas and FoxNews pushes to divide the democratic party, shame on you Hillary you cannot defend old McCain's old ideas of the 17th century. God bless America and God bless Obama. OBAMA08.

Way to go about time some one told the TRUTH here.She will say anything to get the votes.....This won't work we the people will be paying Not her she has not payed for gas in 16 plus years what the hey does she care....

Singer also notes that Clinton's plan would attempt to replace the money the gas tax raises for bridge and road repair, with millions from a "windfall profits tax" on oil companies. "Why would Shell Oil support a windfall profits tax?" Singer asks. "They’d lose money. The logic is off."

**************************************

Because everyone knows that Hillary can't deliver on the windfall profit tax
She will be out campaigning anyway. Second What is to stop the oil companies from just raising the price to pay for it?

Obama is correct on this issue.

This gas tax holiday nonsense is getting out of hand. Does anyone, including Hillary Clinton, actually believe that she will succeed in pushing through both houses of Congress legislation that

a) repeals the gas tax this summer and
b) puts into place a new tax on the oil companies

between now and Memorial Day? Sen. Clinton is surely intelligent enough to know this is just not going to happen. She needs to stop playing the fool.