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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



McCain also hitting Obama on energy bill

Posted: Friday, April 11, 2008 3:47 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray
Although hardly a front-burner issue in the Democratic race, Clinton has routinely criticized Obama's vote for the 2005 energy bill. Here is Clinton at a debate earlier this year: "I think it's well accepted that the 2005 energy bill was the Dick Cheney lobbyist energy bill. It was written by lobbyists... It had enormous giveaways to the oil and gas industries." Clinton voted against the measure.

And here's a recent radio ad the Clinton campaign is running in Pennsylvania: "Obama ... doesn't mention that he voted for the Bush Cheney energy bill," the narrator says. "It was called a piñata of perks and the best energy bill corporations could buy. Hillary Clinton voted against that bill."

McCain -- who, like Clinton, voted against the legislation -- also now is hitting Obama on this issue, which suggests the 2005 energy bill could come up in an Obama-McCain general election. Obama "voted for an energy bill that was laden with sweetheart deals and tax breaks for the major special interests," McCain told FOX's Carl Cameron earlier in the week. "I voted against it."

A few weeks ago, the AP fact-checked the charges and countercharges over this energy bill. "It is a stretch to call it 'Dick Cheney's energy bill,' a hot-button reference for many Democrats. Although the House bill was framed according to the vice president's energy priorities, by the time it passed the Senate many of those measures, such as drilling in an Arctic wildlife refuge, had been stripped away."

More: "Clinton's claim that the bill 'was loaded with new tax breaks for oil companies' also overstates the case. While it included $2.6 billion in tax breaks for oil and gas industries, that was offset by nearly $3 billion in oil taxes, mostly in an extension of the oil spill liability tax."

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What?  You mean Clinton is lying to garner votes?  No Way!!!  I can't believe that.  Surely Hillary Clinton would NEVER lie right?  

For all you nitwits (Clinton supporters) out there, please read the sarcasm in the previous statement.
The Clintons stretching the truth?

You have GOT to be kidding!!!

And what does it tell you that McCain and Hillary are aligned on the issue?

Pulling for integrity.  Obama '08!
Lanny Davis is wrong:

Clearly Mr. Obama does not share the extremist views of Rev. Wright. He is a tolerant and honorable person. But that is not the issue.

Andrew Sullivan is right:

The relevant - the only relevant - question is: are Obama's beliefs represented by the handful of video clips of the most incendiary of Wright's sermons? Or to unpack it a little further: Does Obama believe that black people should damn America? Does he believe that racial separatism is a viable option? Is he a black liberation theologian?

Seriously, I can find absolutely no evidence that he is, and if anyone can, I will gladly eagerly air it.

http://www.jedreport.com/2008/04/the-only-releva.html


Vote with your head, vote for the economy, vote for jobs.

Vote Democratic 2008 -- don't let the corporations and their Republican stooges win again.  
Well..well...well...The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

"Obama is my cousin, and it was the right vote for him to cast." --Dick Cheney.
Obama actually voted on something?
Gee, what a surprise, McCain and Hillary are on the same side of an issue, and they've both stretched the truth beyond recognition.  

Vote with your head, vote for the economy, vote for jobs.

Vote Democratic 2008 -- don't let the corporations and their Republican stooges win again.  
McCain is another Bush.

Obama is another Cheney.

Hillary is another Bill.
Hillary is hardly credible, at this point in the campaign, to be addressing ANYTHING that resembles a "sweetheart deal" loaded with incentives. There's Bill and Columbia and oh, yes, WHO are the donors to the Clinton Library? Oh, that's right, she'll name them AFTER she receives the nomination.......RIGHT! So, we will never know, my friends, because she will not win the nomination.
I voted for a sweetheart bill for the oil companies.  You are paying more for gas now because of me.  How do you like me now?
A little early - to be sure - however, if Barack Obama is elected President of the United States, my two candidates for Time's Person of the Year will boil down to two people:

David Axelrod: for the input he provided in Senator Obama's campaign which propelled him to the presidency -

                    or

Bill Clinton: for the input he provided in Senator Clinton's campaign which propelled her to lose all the gains she had made this past year.

Colene,

Hillary and McCain are aligned on the issue because they represent "middle America" and moderate Dems and moderate Republicans; whereas Obama is a far far left liberal.
There has not been a "good" energy bill in a good long time.  There are too many special interests getting their fingers in the pot.  If I were to have one written, it would take several subjects into account which I don't think anyone else thought of: No subsidies for oil; large increaces for wind; a large ($1 billion or so) amount for solar research and money to install solar panels on every federal building in a way that won't interfer with the orginal look; large research grants for non-corn, non-soy bean based ethanol (more if it isn't food based); grants for 4th generation nuclear power plants as long as they include some form of fuel reprocessing to minimize waste.  There should be a large grant ($2 billion in this case) to further fusion research because without that, we can run out of the fuels we need.  

These people need to remember that we need to reduce the need for all fossil fuels starting with oil since that mostly comes from overseas.  The next that should be reduced is coal; we have alot of it, but it is really dirty.  Nataural gas is the cleanest but still emits CO2.  
A few weeks ago, the AP fact-checked the charges and countercharges over this energy bill. "It is a stretch to call it 'Dick Cheney's energy bill,' a hot-button reference for many Democrats. Although the House bill was framed according to the vice president's energy priorities, by the time it passed the Senate many of those measures, such as drilling in an Arctic wildlife refuge, had been stripped away."

More: "Clinton's claim that the bill 'was loaded with new tax breaks for oil companies' also overstates the case. While it included $2.6 billion in tax breaks for oil and gas industries, that was offset by nearly $3 billion in oil taxes, mostly in an extension of the oil spill liability tax."

McCain & Hillary, go together, they both are repeating thmeselves over and over again, like OLD friends do. They don't seem to read all the facts, so they start to LIE.
HRC and McCain agree on the same issue.  It is coming true.  If HRC cannot win the Democratic nomination, she is going to try and get on the Republican ticket.  She is so desperate she may even try to steal the Republican nomination from McCain because she has more pledged delelgates (she is going to abandon the popular and electoral words and go back to delegates regardless of whether they are democratic or republican).
Hilliar seems unable to portray herself in more positive light and all she can do is LIE, LIE, and her supporters have no problem with this because they are advocates of the double standard and of hypocrisy. If you want to hold Obama accountable for untruths, you must do so by acknowledging the endless deceptive tactics employed by the Clintons as if America is a fearful, childish nation.
We have to reject fear. We have to be responsible citizens by holding EVERYONE accountable for their falseholds. Constantly use of falseholds and deception constitutes perjury for the judges of America, which is the citizenry. If we want to be led by honesty and integrity, we have to vigorously reject the Clintons' falseholds, rather than focusing our accusations almsot squarely on Obama unless we must be labeled "total hypocrites".
The world will judge us by our actions, and whoever we elect will influence how the world sees America.
If we fear a repeat of Bush-like lies by entrusting our votes to a far less deceptive politician (Obama), we must remember that he is VERY different from Bsh when it comes to ideologies and experience. So, we have to take into consideration candidates' life experience (what they do as they grow up, whether wealth or volunteerism or community service was what impacted their lives). The Clintons' experiences have already demonstrated their lack of integrity, self-respect, and honestly.
MARK PENNS PR COMPANY  HAS A LOBBYING ARM COMPANY. THAT COMPANY WAS HEADED BY CHARLEY BLACK WHO IS NOW MCCAIN CAMPAIGN MANAGER.SO IT IS NO WONDER HILLARY AND MCCAIN HAVE THE SAME TALKING POINTS!
"The Truth Hurts" So was this bill "Dick Cheaney's energy bill" or a "far far left liberal bill" as you state.

I think you need to go back and check your Clinton talking points memo.
I voted for a sweetheart bill for the oil companies.  You are paying more for gas now because of me.  How do you like me now?
Barry O. (Sent Friday, April 11, 2008 3:59 PM)

---------------------------------------------

Not even close...

Annenberg Political Fact Check long since debunked the myth that Big Oil got tax breaks from the 2005 Energy Bill.

Look how weak the dollar is right now and you'll get a more likely cause why gas prices are through the roof.

George W. Bush is to the Economy as ACME is to Wile E. Coyote.
The media is to busy to tell the American people the truth about Obama.  They look for ways to be negative about Hillary.  The book 'Black Theology and Black Power', by James H. Cone, was until this year listed as the book members of Obama's church should read to understand the church's teachings and sermons.  It is the base of black liberation theology.  20 years in the pews and now the bases of his faith in this book, preached from the pulpit.  Michelle Obama has shown her application of these teaching in her speeches so has Barack
jp,michigan,
Michelle Obama has shown her application of these teaching in her speeches so has Barack
------------------------------------------------------
In what way? Give me an example of this in a speech Barack has given.
"The Truth Hurts" So was this bill "Dick Cheaney's energy bill" or a "far far left liberal bill" as you state.

I think you need to go back and check your Clinton talking points memo.
Eric (Sent Friday, April 11, 2008 4:18 PM)

It sounds like it did come straight from the Clinton talking points. I can't remember a time when their talking points were based on reality.
let's see now ... Hilary and Lanny a fixture on Fixed News, commiserating w the "vast right wing conspracy", Cheney jumping on Wright, McCain jumping on this bill wrongly, previously Bush jumping in and trying to twist an Iraq comment ... does this not add up right Dems?  Should you not be a very scared of your support for Clinton's right now?
Obama votes right...judgment superior to his current primary opponent and future opponent in the general election.
"The media is to busy to tell the American people the truth about Obama.  They look for ways to be negative about Hillary."

or maybe the media isn't all that impressed with the wright thing anymore.  maybe only small minds will stay focused on rev. wright while we have a war and economic crisis threatening to take us back to a recession.  

sorry the media isn't LOOKING for dirt on Hillary.  Your candidate, her husband and her daughter and various surrogates provide the media with news.  If only she would play nice, maybe she'd get further.  Maybe she will learn that from Obama some day.
HOWARD WOLFSON CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR HILLARY HAD RUPERT MURDOCH  AS A CLIENT AT HIS DAY JOB AT GLOVER PARK.SO IT IS NO SUPRISE THAT HILLARY AND HER TALKING HEADS GO ON RUPERTS FOX NEWS AND WRITE OP-ED IN THE WSJ!
Its easy for Hillary (Tonya Harding) Clinton to get the facts wrong.  She's still suffering from the PTSD caused by the "sniper fire."

jp,michigan (Sent Friday, April 11, 2008 4:19 PM)

Are you kiding, you want to bring this up?

Well let us try this for starters for your girl....

Hillary's 35 years of 'experience' includes:
Monica Lewinsky
Gennifer Flowers
Juanita Broaddrick
Kathleen Willey
Whitewater
Cattle futures
Rose Law firm, representing corporate interests
Wal Mart board of directors
TravelGate
HairCutGate
the NAFTA sell out
the WTO sell out
the Millenium Communications bill
Vincent Foster
Maggie Williams' conver up of Vincent Foster death
the McDougals
Buddist Fund raising
Norman Hsu
Johnny Treu
Peter Paul
Marc Rich pardon
Carlos A. Vignali pardon
Roger Clinton pardon
Voting for the Iraq War
Voting for Kyl/Lieberman
Ireland = peace talks.
Bosnia = sniper fire.
Chelsea = Was where during 9/11.
Open borders in Macedonia.
The 2000 + jobs for New Yorkers.
Voting AGAINST the cluster bomb ban
'race-baiting'
the 'Politics of personal destruction'
'demonizing the opposition'
30 years of Bill Clinton's open, public adultery

That's a LOT of 'EXPERIENCE' Billary..

Now chew on that for a MONTH.
Um, about this so-called sweetheart deal for oil companies... I believe that this is the energy bill that Obama already explain why he voted for it...because it was very aggressive in funding bio and alternative fuels and research, because reducing and changing our fossil fuels consumption has to be a priority for our future?  Because the oil companies really didn't make out on it?

But no, why would you question something your candidate claims????  It all worked out so well when the same was done to elect Bushey.  
Obama is toast in November...
Obama’s Dubious Affiliations

There is no way a white man with the same background and credentials as Obama could ever be elected to any office in this country.  

Look at Obama’s affiliations:
- Mr. Rezko is Obama’s long time friend and is a major mob figure.

- Mr. Auchi is a billionaire and major financial sponsor for Obama’s rise to power throughout the past years.
While working with Saddam Hussein, Auchi made his money through the sell of arms in Iraq and by stealing money from the Oil for Food program (no wonder Obama voted against invading Iraq)

- Senator Meeks who openly hates whites and gays and is listed on Obama’s campaign website as a major Obama supporter and backer and is one of Obama;s super-delegate.  Mr. Meeks has been integral in helping Mr. Obama succeed in politics.  

- Mr. Wright is a racist who hates America and whites with a Hitleresque approach to change.  Mr. Wright has been Mr. Obama’s spiritual mentor for over 20 years.  Before the media exposed Mr. Wright, Mr. Wright was on Obama’s campaign staff as Obama's chief religious advisor. Mr. Wright and Mr. Meeks are ideologically closer to Karl Marx and Black Nationalism, than to Christianity.

- Mr. Ayers of the Weather Underground, a group that killed police and tried to bomb the US Capitol, served with Obama on the board of the leftist foundation called the Woods Fund.

- Mr. McPeaks is Obama’s military adviser and national campaign co-chairman who claims that American Jews are the "problem." and “Christian Zionists were driving America's policy in Iraq to benefit Israel.”

- Michelle Obama trumpets Obama as “the second coming of the messiah,” and also states that she “has never been proud to be an AMERICAN in her adult life".

The list goes on…

How can Obama’s bad judgment to choose to affiliate with criminals and fanatics be justified?

Had Hillary Clinton had any of the above ghosts in her closet, she would have been thrown out of the election long ago.

Hey everybody - am I missing something here?  

It seems to me that perhaps instead of electing Obama president, it would be easier if we just shot ourselves in our collective foot.
What? The media actually did a fact-check rather than accept Hillary and McCain's daily list of talking points? I'm stunned.
To be honest, I think Obama is right on this bill, while McCain and Hillary are both wrong. The facts are clear and Obama has said over and over again that this bill was the best at the time, that they can have. It took congress quite some time to get this bill crafted and it was a lot of work. Granted Cheney started working on it, but Clinton's assessment that the bill gave tax breaks to big Oil companies is wrong and distortion of the truth. Here are the facts:

The bill President Bush signed into law in 2005 actually raised taxes on the oil industry overall. The nonpartisan Congressional Research Service said that the Energy Policy Act "included several oil and gas tax incentives, providing about $2.6 billion of tax cuts for the oil and gas industry. In addition, [the act] provided for $2.9 billion of tax increases on the oil and gas industry, for a net tax increase on the industry of nearly $300 million over 11 years."

Many subsidies were proposed during debate, but they didn't make it into the final bill, which contained a total of $14.3 billion in tax breaks, most of which didn't go to the oil industry. Instead, they benefited electric utilities and nuclear power, as well as alternative fuels research and subsidies for energy-efficient buildings and vehicles.

There are more details on FactCheck.org
So Mark..are there any radio campaign's run by Obama? As I hear he is outspending her by 4 to 1.
Oh I am sorry this is BONBC. I am out.

Vote McCain if Hillary is out.
Thanks MSNBC you posted the Factcheck like I mentioned in the other post. That was a good vote.
If I was Hillary and I voted the same way McCain did, I would have just kept my mouth shut. Now she is going to be accused of voting with the Republicans.  

Still love the Clintons though and I am loyal to the Democrats.  

Vote Democrat 08


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