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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



Clinton heads for the hills

Posted: Friday, May 02, 2008 3:37 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. -- Hillary Clinton tried to make clear here that her plan for a gas tax holiday is just a part of her plan to address fuel costs, saying that there “is no contradiction” between dealing legislation she has now introduced and a “long-term” energy plan.

“We have a choice,” she said. “We can choose to have you continue to pay the federal gas tax this summer or we can choose to try to make the oil companies pay it out of their record profits. This is the kind of choice that I believe we should be trying to make, because I know where I stand, and I know where my opponents stand.”

Her rhetoric was somewhat tamer than the “with us or against us” line that Obama criticized her for earlier today. But the campaign told reporters before her remarks that Clinton had officially introduced legislation to suspend the gas tax for the summer and pay for it with a “windfall profits tax,” showing she intends to see her plan through despite opposition.

Clinton’s rally was in a picturesque downtown setting outside the Henderson County courthouse downtown. Thousands crammed into the streets to greet her, and she tailored some of her remarks to emphasize policies for small towns.

“[I’m] feeling so much at home because small towns, whether they’re in North Carolina, New York or Arkansas, are really the base of this country,” she said. “Small towns gave us our values; small towns give us so much of the texture of our lives. And we’ve gotta make sure we never lose that. That means having a president who’s going to focus on agriculture for family farmers. … It also means we need an economic development program for small town America.”

The Clintons have focused on this region of the state in their campaigning here, because as Gov. Mike Easley said in his introductory remarks, “There’s power in them there hills.”

“It’s no accident that Hillary Clinton has been up here as many times as she has,” he said, noting that 10 percent of the primary vote would come from the region. “If she carries the Mountains of North Carolina then she will carry the state of North Carolina. If she carries North Carolina, she will get the nomination. And when she gets the nomination she’ll be the next president of the United States.”

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"showing she intends to see her plan through despite opposition."

Hmmm... sounds like the steely grit of GW - stay the course (god forbid we admit we made a mistake and change things for the better.)
Of course she feels so much at home in North Carolina.  I'm sure that she will soon be claiming that it is one of her "homestates".

This is such a disgusting post.  

Condescension, dellusions, pandering.

Hillary Clinton is disgusting.
“[I’m] feeling so much at home because small towns, whether they’re in North Carolina, New York or Arkansas, are really the base of this country,”

As long as the small town is not from a caucus state!
An interesting article about how this campaign has descended into a "race" vs "gender" death spiral.  A recommended read.  

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080519/betsyreed

Race to the Bottom
By Betsy Reed
This article appeared in the May 19, 2008 edition of The Nation.

May 1, 2008
Ugh!

Um, Hillary is NOT a small town girl. Come ON people! The woman has not lived in a small town for years - She's been living in Washington for the past 16 years...and before that - the closest she's gotten in the past 2 decades is when she lived in the GOVERNOR'S MANSION in Arkansas...hardly down-to-earth...though I will give her this - she certainly is honing her acting skills...
Panderer, just loves small blue collar southern towns,Screw Em. Opps did that slip out. Hey not bad for a family that has strategist that refer to godd people of Indiana as SH*T or white n*ggers . But HillBilly isn't elite she is one of you. No matter what city you live in . I also noticed she keeps coming up with  Czars to do these hard to tackle task. Is she gonna have a watch Bill around the intern Czar. I guess that is why she is still getting votes all the new Czar positions she is creating ,will be given to a SD near you.
Obama voteds no for gas tax relief---the same thing he voted for in Illinois.Obama voted no for helping home foreclosure citizens.Why didn't he tell Rezko no hen he urged taxpayer monies to go to Reezko for his slum lording over poor people.Obama failed to help Maytag employees when he took their money--plant closed down.Why didn't Obama vote no for Michelles 300,000 dollar raise from the hospital board she sat on.Why did Michelle sit on Walmart board when Obama claims Hillary was corrupt for doing so?These 2 are the biggest sniveling whiners to hit the dc circuit,All the time filling the Obama familly coffers,and pointing fingers at the democrats that do not believe their bs.
How can SHE, (or McCain) alone, pull this off for this summer?  Congress would have to pass it - which won't happen.  
Clinton=Panderer

In order for "her" gas tax relief to be a done deal,
she would need the House of Reps, the Senate and the
President to ok it. Clearly not enough time before
THIS summer.

Obama '08
Hill is making more promises to rural Americans that she can't keep.  She didn't deliver for upstate NY.  Her "record" is replete with failures.  Healthcare reform, Iraq...  What good is being a fighter if you never win?  Why are long-time loyalists jumping from the Clinton ship?  Who wants another 8 years of lies, division, and spin?
I wish HRC would get lost in them 'thar hills. She is making me crazy. How is she going to pay for her 'gas tax holiday' with her 'windfall profits tax'?? That legislation has not been passed. It make take months or years for it to come to fruition. So...in the meantime....our roads crumble; our highway workers are out of jobs and more people are hurt than helped. Does this REALLY make sense to anyone??? Please......give us a break. I hope no one in NC or IN are really falling for this load of crud.

On a lighter note:
They were telling listeners on my Christian radio station today: That with all of the spin going on during this critical time of year, it is easy to be misled. So do your own research. Find out the facts for yourself. It is too important to really know what is at stake and where people really stand before making a decision. Don't listen to all of the misinformation being fed to you by the people who have a vested interest in the outcome. Decide for yourself.

Best advice I have heard for a VERY long time.
Why is it then she just happened to come up with this in the midst of an election? High gas prices is nothing new. So once every four years she'll fight for us? If you believe this, you probably believed the "sniper" story and Bill did not have sex with that woman.
Perhaps the Senator should enlighten us all as to what an acceptable price for a gallon of gasoline is so we don't let that pesky invisible hand determine it for us.

I don't know if, as she says, her opponent "wants people to pay the gasoline tax this summer" or not, but I certainly want people to pay the taxes they are subject to.
HRC = Utter Nonsense
HRC = Republican
HRC = V.P. for McCain
HRC = Untrust worthy
HRC = LIAR
HRC = Panderer for votes.


LOL

Go Obama ' 08
RISE HILLARY RISE !!!!

Hillary 08!  The ONLY candidate who actually has a record of helping the middle class of this country!!!

OMG:NOW SHE'S A SMALL TOWM GIRL FROM THE MOUNTIANS.HRC SEEK THERAPY NOW. ON SECOND THOUGHT IT MAY BE TO LATE.ANYONE WHO COULD CALL THE WOPPER BOSNIA LIE A MISTAKE IS BEYOND THERAPY.
… It also means we need an economic development program for small town America.”  - HRC

First Jed Clampett and now Hillary Rodham Clinton; small towners who made millions in the rural and valley areas of this great country.

Give it a rest!

At least she penned legislation now.  Like there is a chance Bush would sign it.  Safe bet; advocate for the people!
Slice and dice, that's Hillary.

The hill people are the important voters now. 'Screw' the city dwellin Nigras, right, Senator Clinton, and Gov. Easley?
I can only hope NC does not let this come to pass
INIDANA IS GOING TO SEND YOU A CLEAR MESSAGE HILLARY.

THE MESSAGE:

GET OUT OF THE RACE!
'CLINTON HEADS FOR THE HILLS'  

-First Read

Dear G-D,

Please, let her keep going, never to return. Amen.
Easely must have majored in Huckabee Miracles, too.  The math is the math.  And she has already lost the math.
I have a friend who is an "insider" in the Democratic Party. He has been telling me for two years that this country still hasn't suffered enough.

He has assured me time and time again that the white working class men and women in this country are the easiest to fool. They don't read, they know nothing about history, they don't follow the news. They only hear sound bytes and they tend to believe what they hear.

The republicans figured that out a long long time ago. That's why they are successful. Not because they do more for these people.

But because they are all over the air waves. All they have to do is raise their voices and lie.

Repeat after me: This country has not suffered enough.

The Clintons are the new republicans.
Senator Clinton's plan contains three major flaws which she fails to share:

1st:  Senator Clinton has to get Congress to pass her gas tax holiday (which does not look likely) and get the President to sign it into law.

2nd:  Senator Clinton has to get Congress to pass her windfall profits tax which is NOT going to happen.  The Democrats tried this before -- and it failed.  If by some "celestial choir" miracle it did manage to pass, the President would surely veto.  Senator Clinton is well aware of these facts.

3rd:  Her plan contains absolutely NOTHING that would force gas station owners to pass on the gas tax savings to the customer and you can look at every gas tax holiday in the past (without a pass-on provision) and find that the gas companies simply pocket the profit.  There is no savings to the consumer.

AND I might add that if by some celestial miracle the Congress passed this (there is NO way the windfall profits tax becomes law with the current administration) and the gas companies suddenly became generous, this "holiday" would save me less than $30 (over 3 months) and the cheapest gas I can buy right now is $3.89.  $30 hardly makes up for all of the construction jobs that would be lost as a result of this tax.  Because believe me, there is NOT going to be a windfall profits tax passed against the gas companies this year.  

So if by some miracle the gas tax holiday passed (remember there isn't going to be a windfall profits tax this year and Senator Clinton KNOWS this) I gain very little and many lose a lot.  This is not a bargain I want.  How about you?
Well we will see where this goes.
I do not agree with the legislation, but I do commend you on sponsoring.  Though I think it should have been before your ads ran.

Let the discussion begin on Capitol Hill.
But the campaign told reporters before her remarks that Clinton had officially introduced legislation to suspend the gas tax for the summer and pay for it with a “windfall profits tax,” showing she intends to see her plan through despite opposition.

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

It will be interesting where this legislation goes.

This is a litmus test, folks.  If it fails, watch where it happens as it may be an indicator of what specifically the Democrats in Congress feel about her leadership (remember that they're all superdelegates).
Could we get a little more detail about this long term energy plan?  Does it take into account green and non-green sources?  Is there any additional money for research and development of new and existing sources.  Is foreign policy taken into account with this?
"We can choose to have you continue to pay the federal gas tax this summer."

Does Hillary think she'll be crowned president THIS year?  as in, cutting taxes THIS summer?

Her language, as well as her (or shall I say McCain's) idea, is pure pandering.
She can propose that piece of legislation until she is blue in the face, she's not going to be able to get it through Congress. The dumbing down of American has been very successful-how sad!
If she gets that 10% of the primary vote from the mountain area, she'll win North Carolina? Since when is 10% a majority of anything?

Hmm...that seems like typical Clinton math.
What good does it do to come up with all of these proposals when she knows good and well it will never pass? Somebody needs to give this "fighter" a lesson in building consensus. Otherwise she is just another policy wonk with a bunch of big ideas that will NEVER HAPPEN. We've seen this movie before (Hillarycare anyone?), why do so many people believe this time will be different?

Hillary "with me or against me", "obliterate Iran", "I agree with John McCain" Clinton does not have the PEOPLE SKILLS to run our government! Other than that, she seems like a nice lady.
yesssssssss Hillary. You keep on issues while Obama decides if he wants to be a basketball player or reader for another grammy .He has lots of options to him good luck with that Bommy. I take it bowling was eliminated. Let me know how the snipe hunt goes.When he grows up he will let us know which he picks.He wouldnt be doing all this for political reasons cause he isnt like those politions he says.I see Hillary had time to put out some legislature to try and fix gas prices. Obama was playing basketball.Maybe he should give up that committee for Afganastan so someone else could have meetings and maybe do something with NATO there. I know it looks good but so would getting something done.Obama has a problem with chewing gum and walking. Small help now isnt knocking out long term help it works with it.You'll get it.Makeing fun of someone trying to help middle America even if small amount is part of that elitiest prob he has.Makes him look small.NC we are glad to see you have future vision. Give Hillary her boost she needs so she can work for all us in Washington.I am from small town and look forward to seeing yours soon I hope.
Thats right Go Hillary. Hey when is Barry goin to them there hills. Hmmmm lets see he could bowl naw how about drink a beer naw that didnt work. Hmmmm how about B Ball . Nuff of that already. Lets See How about gittin down and dirty and shovel some cow manure. After all he sure is used to standing Knee deep in his own bulls*#t. Heee heeee
Hillary/McCain's gas plan is a fraud to collect votes not solve the energy crisis.  
To all you bitter, blue collar, gun toting, bible thumping, voters.  Why would you vote against your own pocketbooks?  More importantly, why is Obamas "white collar" base willing to make ecconomic sacrifices on your behalf and you continually choose to engage in class warfare by supporting HRC?  Are you all really that stupid?

For the record,  I am a white 60 year old male.  A former union steward for the CWA in Phoenix, Az in the late 60's.  Also an executive for a major generic pharmaceutical company in the 70's and 80's.  Small business owner.  5 daughters, the oldest a navel nurse who will most likely be deployed to Iraq before the close of Dubyas term.

Ask yourself this question:  Who do you trust the lives of your children with?  For me it is simple:  OBAMA.
Isn't she claiming to be from a small town in NC? She sure has been a citizen of every other close state...
To my fellow Democrats:

We are all perched at the egde of the cliff like a bunch of lemmings ready for the fall.  Any idea who is leading this charge to defeat?  That's right, the conservative wing of the Republican Party.  They pulled it off masterfully in 2004 and they about to pull it off again under greater odds against in 2008.  Why?  Because we as democrats do not learn from our mistakes.

In 2004 Karl Rove made it clear that they were desperately hoping that Howard Dean won the nomination as he would be so easliy defeated by Bush.  What did we democrats do?  We ACTUALY LISTENED to him, panicked, and ended up with magoo Kerry for a candidate.  We did exactly what Rove wanted in his clever reverse psychology plan.  Dean was the war opposition candidate, Washington outsider, and person energizing youth voters.  His claim, as head of the Deaniacs, was that in order to win the White House we couldn't run on the same old tired electoral map, that we had to change voting demographics and bring new voters into the party or we risked year 2000 results every year.  That is what Rove was afraid of, and he got what he wanted in an older Washington insider opponent in Kerry, who could not bring in new voters to the party.

Let me re-state what Howard Dean was -- opposed to the war from the start, a Washington outsider, and someone energizing the youth vote.  Minus the Dean-scream, does that sound like someone you know??

(Insert Barack Obama answer here)

The Republicans are loving this right now as Rush Limbaugh calls for Operation Chaos, Bill O'Reilly is actually nice to HRC, etc.  When EVER in the past have they been nice to any Clinton?  The Repubs HATE Hillary Clinton.  They love that Barack is running a positive campaign and leaving all the scandals untouched right now so they can have at them if she were lucky enough to rest the nomination away from the person leading in pledged delagates, popular vote, and states won.

I care not who you think is actually the better Democratic candidate, I do care that we take back the White House, and HRC stands no chance in November as she will fully energize the conservative base which John McCain can't.  Ironic isn't it that the conservatives are looking for HRC to do their work for them that McCain can't.  Please do not let it happen, not again.

Learn from history.
If anyone falls for this line, then they get what they deserve.  Crap!  Pure and simple!
"Okay. Where's the gas go in this thing? Damn! It's not on this side. How d'ya get the nozzle to the other side of this behemoth? Wish Bill were here. He understands pumps. So many buttons on this thing. Sh*t! They don't take Senate per diem vouchers? Hey! Do you guys take Plutonium VISA? You know, the one that greases lobbyists' wheels with every dollar spent?"

"Hey, how d'ya work this thing? Is that real French vanilla? Damn! How d'ya work this thing? How old are the beans? Are they organic fair-trade? No really. How d'ya work this f***ing thing? Damn!"
I come them thar hills and it is true there is power in them.  The power is the people.  Go Hillary.
Does anyone think that a windfall tax on oil won't be passed on to the consumer?  By the time this is all done it appears that the 18 cents will appear small plus we will have thousonds of road construction workers out of work and collecting unemployment.  There is a real reason that shoot from the hip election driven leglislation is a bust.
Who does she think she's fooling?

Principles of Economics.
1) Businesses don't pay taxes, their customers do.
2) Cutting taxes on something increases demand.
3) As demand goes up, price goes up.

So... Cutting taxes on the Gas will increase demand. So the price of gas will go up, probably more than pre-tax levels. Add to that a tax on the gas companies (call it a wind-fall or a profit tax... a tax is a tax) the price will go up even further.

Dumb idea.
First...what makes HRC so sure the 18.4 cent reduction will be fully past on to the consumer.  Illinois tried this a few years back and only 2/3 or less was past on, thats now a saving of 12 cents

Second...now HRC and Mr. McDraft can get a winfall tax through congress with the snap of their fingers.  If thats true why didn't they do it before gas become so expensive?

Third...Mr. McDraft and HRC are oil companies best friend because they sent our young men and women to war for OIL.

Bob, Chicago
I think Senator Clinton is pandering because people in urban areas also have values. I grew up on a farm in N. C., but have lived in the largest city in the state for 30+ years. I have friends, neighbors and Church members that have always lived in large cities and they have values. As for Governor Easley we wondered where he has been the past 7 or so years. We have seen more of him this week than we ever have since he endorsed Senator Clinton. He is from the eastern area of our state and never visits  the Piedmont area where I live. My city had to do a caravan to the State Capitol begging for resources to help us. We simply got tired of picking up the tab for state responsibilities. I do not think his endorsement will help Senator Clinton in this part of the state. There may be power in them there hills but there is also power in the urban areas due to our numbers. I really do not appreciate her trying to divide our citizens of this state. We have a beautiful state with wonderful people no matter where we live. Everyone I have talked to in the past week, whether it is a sales clerk, friend, family member can't wait until this is over. We have to live here and the Clintons do not.
A couple of things I see wrong with Sen. Clinton's dependence on the "McCain(Bush/Cheney) Gas Tax Holliday"  First, I take the bus and do not drive so I will get even less than $28 and second what kind of political fool would tag on the end of the opponent's ill concieved plan and promote it?  Who would want two like minds running this country?  Tap the winfall profits of the oil companies to pay for it and they raise the price.  9 Billion added to the deficit with this idea.  Rather tap the war funding and reduce the deficit.  How about raising the gas tax to pay for the lates funding request from Bush/Cheney/McCain?  
"I feeling so much at home because small towns"

Really Hillary, remind me, Where Do You Live?  I hope that small town America doesn't have to wait as long as New York has for their economic development program that you promised them.

 
Hey Clinton supporters - ever ask yourselves why your candidate doesn't appeal to the more educated portion of the population? Maybe - just maybe - its because we can see thru her B.S. and her willingness to say or due anything to win.  She hasn't got a chance of getting this bill passed and she knows it.  Can you honestly believe that Bush would sign a bill that would make the oil companies pay for her half baked plan?


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