RNC hits Obama on gas taxes

Posted: Thursday, May 01, 2008 12:46 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Republicans, Economy

From NBC's Mark Murray
The gas-tax debate continues -- this time with a new Republican National Committee Web ad blasting Obama for not supporting a gas-tax holiday, while also noting that he supported a state one while in the Illinois legislature.

But it's worth pointing out that Obama -- while voting for that gas-tax holiday in Illinois -- later voted AGAINST a state measure extending it. As PolitiFact put it, "[I]t's not fair to call it a flip-flop when the very reason Obama opposes a suspension of the gas tax now is because he concluded that it didn't work when he supported one in the past."

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Comments

They call him flipper flipper

Bud, Key West (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 12:53 PM)

So Obama can admit that an idea of his didn't work.

Meanwhile Hillary continues to push for "her" idea no matter how many people tell her its a bad idea. That sounds familiar... oh yeah, the Health Care issue 15 years ago. But hey, she's a "fighter", she'll continue to fight for a plan that has little support and demonize anyone that is against her. It's always "her way or no way". No compromise. No admitting she was wrong. Just "do it my way or else".

Sorry, this country can't afford that.

BL, Cincinnati OH (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 12:53 PM)

I think the Republicans are being disingenuous here and Obama should be swift to call them on it.

That said - AT LEAST we are back to the actual issues!!

Mel (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 12:53 PM)

Finally, people are getting the facts straight on Obama. He did not support an extenstion of the gas tax. He is consistant with his message. Lets talk about Hillary's flip flop on the gas tax. I am interested in knowing the reason for Clinton changing her mind. Once again she in inconsistant with her message. Vote Obama. At least he stands for the working class. Clinton stands for NAFTA and trades with China which outsourced our jobs. She is some fighter for the working class.

Voter (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 12:53 PM)

Gas Tax topic is very telling. If the RNC are attacking Obama this would mean he is correct. This will also mean that Hillary is still thinking like a republican.

Wake up and smell the coffee, unless your waiting for a cup from Hillary then it will be some time, sadly.

PR, Renton, Washington (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 12:54 PM)

The democrats do not want to lift the gas tax nor do they want the price to go down either. We have had many opportunities to reduce the dependency on foreign oil and the Democrats have blocked every effort. Big Oil researches, drills, processes, etc makes around .08 cents per gallon, the US Govt does nothing and makes .19 cents per gallon. They expect us to go without but don't hold them to the same standard....

Stan_DC (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 12:56 PM)

The Obama campaign sent me an e-mail yesterday on their planned response to the gas tax holiday. In a word, it is the 'slam'!

ET (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 12:57 PM)

This is where the Media could do the right thing and punch a hole in this gimmick, or would they rather have McCain as the next president?

um, $27 in my pocket for the summer or billions for road work, um, tough decision, NOT!

I'll take road work and construction jobs for $27 Alex.

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 12:58 PM)

"[I]t's not fair to call it a flip-flop when the very reason Obama opposes a suspension of the gas tax now is because he concluded that it didn't work when he supported one in the past."

This makes perfect sense.

Talk about experience and sound judgement in action.

Obama '08!

Matt, Idaho (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 12:58 PM)

I hope people understand that this country is in the position that it's in right now because of quick fix gimmicks that don't work but fool the people into believe things are going to be okay or are okay.

People please take note of what going on, let be a part of real change, let be a part of something we can be proud of.

Don-Carlos (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 12:58 PM)

RNC - You know what the say in Indiana? Bulls*** walks any money talks.

Get us poor and lower middle class some real money breaks.

You Repubs just have so much BS its not funny.

OBwan, IN (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 12:58 PM)

This coming from John McSame, the man, that by his OWN admission, doesn't understand economics.

The same man that wants to continue ALL of GWB economic policies, because he DOESN"T UNDERSTAND ECONOMICS.

The same man that wants to continue spending BILLIONS of dollars on the WAR and wants to keep us there for 100 or more years.

NO THANK MCSAME.

GWB is a failure and YOU are more of the same.

And by the way, Obama learned from his mistake---the gas holiday DOESN"T WORK.

Obama 08 (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 12:58 PM)

Stop pandering. The free $33 would be appealing to anyone, but at the expense of our already failing roads and bridges (I am in MN and drove past the Hwy35 collapse site yesterday) it is simply not the way to go. There is no short term solution to the pains Americans are feeling everyday. Over the last 10 years, the RNC, the GOP adn both Senators Clinton and McCain had opportunities to confront such issues. It is funny to me at this point neither has introduced legislations that could even make this possible. That is pandering!

Tired of Being Tired (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 12:58 PM)

he obviously realizes it doesnt work...and he has some of the countries greates economist supporting that fact...mccain-clinton actually think we the voters are fools...

d (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 12:59 PM)

Clinton and McCain are trying to buy America with $20 of "hush money", that is, they'll generously give you 18 cents a gallon on gas that has risen $2+ a gallon over the past few years, so that you'll no longer have a right to complain. Because, you know, hey, they tried to lower the price!

How much will that 18 cents matter when gas prices rise another dollar?

Ron, TX (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:00 PM)

Gee, if the Republicans had voted for better fuel mileage, and if they had supported developing alternative energies, then we wouldn't be in the pickle now would we?

pot ... meet kettle ... meet the oil corporations and their Republican stooges.

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:01 PM)

I'm a nominal McCain guy, but gas tax holidays make bad economic sense. You cut revenue that goes in the Highway turst fund and encourage MORE consumption.

It's bad economics, bad for the environment and bad policy.

Patrick, Houston, TX (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:01 PM)

Thank you Sen. Obama for the honesty in admitting to a bad policy, and refusing to use it again just for the sake of pandering. INTEGRITY IS SEN. BARACK OBAMA.

OBAMA, 2008!

KJ, Dallas, TX (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:02 PM)

He doesn't see the need. He don't pay for his own gas.
We pay for his fuel through our taxes.

Brother Odd (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:03 PM)

Here's how much the McCain-Bush-Clinton gas holiday would help us. You drive a HUMMER - 23 gallon tank and 18 mpg. If you drive 20 miles/day for a month, you would use 33 gallons of gas. Without the 18 cent tax, you save SIX DOLLARS! I guess Bill Clinton could make an extra trip to McDonald's.

Say you are from Scranton (Or Indiana, or NY depending on where you are campaigning) and you are taking a trip to Disney World with your kids in your HUMMER. For this 2,000 mile round trip you will save TWENTY dollars! This extra $20 (not even enough for a ticket) is hardly going to make the difference in people taking such a trip.

Voice of Reason (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:04 PM)

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:04 PM)

Good. I'm glad you added that the while he might have voted for this in the past he voted against extending. Only stands to reason that the saw that it didn't work (as he is stating now) and wants to try something different. This gets down to the whole issue with people trying the same things over and over and expecting different results. Like said he most likely saw it didn't work (experience on the matter) so why try to do it on a larger scale?

It's not a flip flop if you learn from your experiences and change direction as a result. Sorry but I don't want anyone leading me that can not or will not change their mind and direction as a result events and their experiences.

I just hope the media and the pundits at MSNBC actually go the extra step and explain this and don't simply state he voted for this type of tax cut in the past. I hope they can take the few seconds to get out the next sentence that says he voted against extending it because most likely he saw it didn't work.

However I doubt the media and pundits will have enough tact, decency, or ethics to do that.

Orlando, PA (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:04 PM)

Finally, a politician who cares enough to learn from their own mistakes and who is not afraid to admit that.

Obama in 08

Pgh Women for Obama 08 (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:06 PM)

Guess if we get the gas tax sabbatical I can mow my lawn for free this year. Well, dingy dang ding dong do!!

Phred, NH (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:08 PM)

As Hillary and McCain keep trying to dupe the Bubba's and Thumper's Rome is starting to smoke, and it ain't oil well's burning. Public Works right now is the only thing keeping the economy afloat.

With all the rcord profits going to Big Oil you'd think people could connect the dots....suspend gas tax and let the oil companies up the price (again).

I can't believe people are so dim....but I put up with alot of people using the label "Liberal" as derogative. The tide has definitely turned.....I just shake my head and call someone a "stupid Republican" when they do something selfish or unbelievably "wide-stanced"

Greg R., Spokane, WA (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:08 PM)

McCain's defense of the gas tax this morning on "morning joe" was preposterous..."give the american people a break...maybe go out and buy a meal" - yea, McMemoryLoss, that's about all they'd save....ever wonder why you and your buddy Hillary aren't able to tout out any economists to support your panderbearing? oh, that's right...this morning you called them "so called economists"...of course, that's because you're the expert, right? .....um.....right?

riiiight.

sean, atl, ga (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:08 PM)

Only an elitist idiot would support the gas tax freeze. Those taxes employ thousands of road construction worker, companies, and bridge builders. How long are we going to wait in traffic because the roads are not being repaired? Sure, I exspect McCain to though thousands of hard working men and women under the bus for what 25-50 dollars, that's all we will save! This pandering at the expense of other poor peoples lively hood.

Clinton, I knew you were a rat, but now you can chew.
You can't even opperate a coffee machine, and afterall, who can trust a woman that trust Bill Clinton, and oh, by the way Hillary, how's that Peter Paul thing going.

McCain take an afternoon nap.

Obama is the only candidate worth a dime.

Andress (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:09 PM)

Supply and demand....Any money should go to public transportation use. Buses already running routes.
If this went through, we would have gas lines again.The McCain/Clinton have been in Washington so long they think they can refine gas like they print money.

tj, dallas tx (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:10 PM)

Gee, if HRC keeps playing her cards the way she has been, maybe McCain will offer her the VP slot on his ticket. She'd fit right in on the Republican side, wouldn't she? Maybe that's what she's been angling for all along... It's not hard at all to imagine that, given her behavior in this primary season. Wonder how Bill Clinton would enjoy Cheney's office?

AMG --- Richmond, CA (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:10 PM)

And Hillary's plan would tax the oil companies "windfall profit".

Sorry babe, but any multi-billion dollar corporation out there does not make profit by accident or windfall.

Every bit of that profit was carefully planned, and then assisted by our government.

Get real you facist cow.

Don't take the carrot... (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:11 PM)

Let's keep ignoring our infrastructure and cutting the funding for it. Once our infrastructure looks like India's we can start tricking companies into thinking this is a 3rd world country and they'll start outsourcing the jobs to here!

Pandera's Box, CO (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:12 PM)

So he does have experience!

Lanny Davis (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:12 PM)

Liars. Panderers. Politics. That is all this is. It is nothing else. When any expert or economist looks at this there is a resounding no, it will not work. We may not pay $30 in taxes over the three months, but that $30 will be met once again with price hikes. And after the three months is over and the gas tax comes back, all we have is a corrected market due to supply and demand plus the amount of the gas tax.

I call on the media for factual reporting of if it is feasible, rather than focusing on Obama vs Mccain/Hillary. It is an issue that goes beyond political discourse being the story.

JPB, SLC, UT (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:14 PM)

Hold tough Obama! You KNOW this is a bad idea and you are willing to stand up for what you know to be true. Your supporters are proud of you for not falling in line and going with might be POPULAR, but for standing up for what you know is the better answer.

I hope this helps the blue-collar workers, who believe Senator Clinton to be their savior, see who really has their best interest at heart. Yes, the gas tax may save you $30 over the summer, but it will cost you millions in jobs as well. Look at what the economists are saying!! Look at the REALITY!! No road jobs....no money. What it will COST America far outweighs what it may save us at the gas pump.

I for one want my President to be someone who learns!! Who will not just tell me what I want to hear. Who doesn't put a band aid on my bleeding heart, but who will try to find a REAL solution. Don't just vote for the candidate who sounds good. Vote for the candidate who has the courage to stand up and be DIFFERENT!! The one who stands on principles. Remember those???

Vote for Barack Obama.

P.S. Aren't all of you a little worried about HRC's stance on Iran and annihilating them??? Aren't you a little worried about her stance on Mancequench when it was her husband who didn't stop those jobs being sent overseas in the first place. Read the ABC article. It is a good one.

Woman who would NEVER vote for HRC (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:14 PM)

Flip Flop

Flip Flop

Phony Phony Phony

Fred C Dobbs Sierra Madre, CA (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:16 PM)

If First Read is so determined to give the RNC and Mrs. Clinton free advertising on their website would it be possible to do the same for Obama. He just released a new ad refuting the gas tax holiday idea... How about we put that up as well?

Tim, Reading, PA (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:16 PM)

You mean to tell me Barack Obama learns from his mistakes?!?! There's no way I can support that!

Gimme a Break (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:17 PM)

Most people are too smart to fall for the quick fix that Clinton and McCain are offering. Hillary's plan is even worse than McCain's because the only thing a windfall profit tax will do is get the oil companies to pass that tax onto the consumer and the price of gas will go up. Remember that bridge that collapsed a few months ago killing all those poor people? Maybe if we had invested some money in repairing our infrastructure that wouldn't have happened--and they said there are many, many bridges that need repair in this country--think about it the next time you're crossing a bridge: save @ 30 dollars for the summer or repair bridges.

Sue, Bloomington, IN (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:17 PM)

Hillary and McCain could learn a thing or two from Barack. When an idea doesn't work, do not agree to do it again.

Oh, but that would mean you have to admit when you are wrong. Of course you could just lie about and tell another story like Hillary; or be like McCain forget what you said the day before in another state or time.

Change is Good and Needed! Be Right not Wrong and Vote for Obama

Pam G, a white middle class suburban female who is not for Hillary (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:17 PM)

You are too honest Obama.

There are too many Amercians who follow blindly dishonest politicians who pander to the people to get votes. This is the reason we end up with poor representation in Washington. There are too many people do not know their head from the a-- and continue to vote for those persons because they are promising everyone a candy bar. Kind of like voting for the elementary school president candidate who promises kool-aide in every drinking fountain.

The American electorate has never learned to grow up beyond elementary school and to accept honesty. They can't handle it. So we continue to end up with government officials like Hillary who promise everything and then fail to deliver and whose approval ratings will fall after being in office for a time. Go ahead folks, vote her in. But when she won't and can't deliver all the promises she has made or you find that many were shallow promises, don't you dare come on a blog a year or two from now and start whining about the Clinton administration.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:17 PM)

The press is in the tank for Clinton now. Why isn't the press covering Valparaiso?

Part of her pattern of lying. It's huge story not getting any MSM play except for ABC.(I guess they are trying to make up for that debate).

This should arguably be the lead on ever station.

A Charles, LA, CA (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:17 PM)

As far as Obama for it. We do not know the status of Illinois debt at the time. It could have been a completely different set of circumstances. IL did not have the budget deficit that the US has. Unless you know where the money for Illinois state tax was going and the balance of that fund, you cannot judge the vote as apples to apples.

tj dallas, tx (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:18 PM)

RNC, Up yours!!!
Sincerely,
The American people

ariel (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:19 PM)

This is off the post message, but what are the statistics on how many(if any, and who) of Obama's superdelegates have defected to Clinton during the course of the primary campaign? Just curious.

Waiting for Obama, NC (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:21 PM)

And isn't it interesting that the old, gravely, former smoker-like voice mis-prounonces Barack's first name wrong - at least twice??? Ba-raaaaacccck...

Anna, CHicago (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:21 PM)

The voters that go along with this gas-tax holiday BS are the real FOOLS!!!!

TEE (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:21 PM)

From all these comments RNC, Hillary, elitist McCain, it shows one thing.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE NOT DUMB! WE RESENT YOU FOR THINGS LIKE "GAS TAX FREEZE."

GIVE US A BREAK ON THE PAYROLL TAX 15% OF OUR INCOME, THAT SHOULD MATCH THE RISING COST OF GAS.

30-50 DOLLARS IS AN INSULT!

andress (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:21 PM)

This is what will happen with the gas tax...
You will get 18 cent/gallon discount now (will save about $35 over the summer)...Then the demand will go up, gas companies will raise the price claiming that because of demand price went up...By the end of summer they will raise it to $5.50/gallon. Then the tax break will be over and the price will be $5.68. This is just a gimmick to give the gas companies a SNEAKY way to raise the cost of gas (BECAUSE CLINTON AND MCCAIN ARE IN BED WITH GAS COMPANY LOBBYISTS). CLINTON AND MCCAIN will tell you that they are giving you a tax break, but what they are really doing is giving gas companies a way to get more money out of the middle class. WHAT A SHAME! SHAME ON YOU HILLAY! SHAME ON YOU McSAME!

Soba, Clifton, Nj (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:22 PM)

Gax taxes have been proposed before and they don't work. Actually they are counterproductive. GA had one last year and it took off about oh...2 cents savings per gallon? Because the price of gas went up regardless and you ended up paying the same price prior to the suspension. If the oil companies are taxed...they'll simply charge more!! It's actually an increadibly insulting political position. Left to their own devices and proposals Clinon/McCain fail(that is why Clinton had an 11 state losing streak prior to the "kitchen sink"). The only way they ever win is going negative and raising doubt and prejudice.

CJ (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:22 PM)

The gas tax "holiday" is bad.

Question everyone: when you go on vacation what generally happens when you get back?

Answer: You have that much more work to catch up on!

This is no different. The money lost by the government will have to come back somehow and do you know how it will come back? Out of your wallet, that's how.

Aside from the new argument above, it is also bad because:
* It gives the oil companies another opportunity to raise prices.
* The savings to the average Joe, if seen at all, is minimal.
* It takes money away from road improvements.
* It won't pass the House and Senate regardless and if it does it will be too late anyway.
* It doesn't address the real issues like diminishing world oil supplies and OPEC's unwillingness to increase production.
* It doesn't address windfall profits.
* It doesn't hold oil companies accountable.
And the list goes on and on....

In fact, is there anything GOOD about the gas tax holiday? I don't think so.

This should send a clear message to Republicans that there is something seriously wrong with your party right now. We need other sources of engergy to rely on, not band-aid fixes.

Democrat (Sent Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:23 PM)

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