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Ah-nuld Backs Tire Inflation, Newt Mocks It

August 19, 2008 8:10 AM

In a public service announcement, the Governor of California advises commuters to "reduce your fuel costs by more than 15%. And I am talking about simple things, like proper tire pressure, avoiding rapid starts and stops, and keeping your engine tuned."

In the meantime, some liberal bloggers are pointing to these curious comments by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Georgia, on Fox News in which he mentions "a very funny e-mail from a retired military officer in Tampa who pointed out that most tire inflation is done at service stations and you pay for it. And it’s actually a higher profit margin than selling gasoline. So Sen. Obama was urging you to go out and enrich Big Oil by inflating your tires instead of buying gas."

- jpt

August 19, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (11)

User Comments

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Uh Newt? Besides being factually wrong, if you have good tires, you don't usually have to keep putting air in them every time you go to fill up the gas tank. But I guess he's now saying only pinko commies keep their tires properly maintained as well and real red-blooded Americans drive around with leaky tread-worn tires with the steel wires coming out of them.

What a dolt. Nobody takes you seriously anymore. Maybe it's because of comments like these.

Posted by: adam | Aug 20, 2008 1:24:16 AM

Newt was quoting an email and making a joke that appears to have gone over a lot of folks heads.

Posted by: Robert P | Aug 19, 2008 3:09:13 PM

Newt may rely on full service at a gas station for airing tires, but most of us rely on self service at convenience stores. Besides, "gas stations" are relics of the past. He was giving an excellent demonstration of how out of touch he is with the American landscape and the times. I'd say he's a Newtosaurus.

Posted by: kat | Aug 19, 2008 1:20:54 PM

Is it okay to mock Newt on this? Or has he been a POW?

As we all know, POW are allowed to say the stupidest things without being mocked.

Posted by: Willem van Oranje | Aug 19, 2008 12:25:19 PM

Most gas stations will let you use their air pumps for free as long as you are buying gas.

Posted by: Steve | Aug 19, 2008 11:22:56 AM

Yeah, some of us pointed out it costs 75 cents to get air. with demand going up it will soon cost $1 or more.

Posted by: geevill | Aug 19, 2008 9:27:59 AM

Newt is way off the mark on this one. But the fact remains that Obama clearly stated that we could replace all of the savings gained by domestic drilling if we'd just inflate our tires. Of course, that was before he agreed to domestic drilling. Just more Obama Drama!

Posted by: marylou | Aug 19, 2008 9:16:40 AM

when your polititions are that stupid as to not realize how important it is to properly inflate your tires---newt i expect a little more from you but you are obsessed trying to bash obama and show no common sense--it is better to have the drill drill attitude,and not face reality.just make exxon a few billions more.just another big oil flunky.

Posted by: rodney | Aug 19, 2008 8:46:25 AM

furthermore, Gingrich is knocking what is essentially CAR MAINTENANCE because it has to be PAID FOR? if auto repairs were done at the gas station, would he mock them too?

Posted by: Goon | Aug 19, 2008 8:39:37 AM

Up here in Canada, we are all shaking our heads in wonder at how Republicans continue to mock this concept. THE GAS COMPANIES LIKE PETRO-CANADA PUT TIRE INFLATION RECOMMENDATIONS IN THEIR COMMERCIALS! HELLO, EVERYONE? DOES NASCAR HAVE TO SEND YOU A PERSONLIZED LETTER FOR YOU TO GET IT?

Posted by: Goon | Aug 19, 2008 8:37:53 AM

I don't suppose anyone noticed that the rise in price of fuel at the pump was in direct connection with the, "surge."

Posted by: DAVID NH | Aug 19, 2008 8:27:45 AM

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