Bloomberg Slams Clinton, McCain Gas Tax Plan

NEW YORK — Mayor Michael Bloomberg called a summer-long suspension of the gas tax favored by Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican John McCain a dumb idea.

The New York mayor, who flirted with the idea of an independent presidential bid, praised Democrat Barack Obama for opposing the plan to suspend the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.2 cent diesel tax during the peak driving months of the summer.

All three candidates covet Bloomberg's endorsement. The mayor has spoken highly of Obama and McCain in introducing the two at recent events in New York.

Speaking to reporters at City Hall, Bloomberg said of the gas tax holiday, "It's about the dumbest thing I've heard in an awful long time, from an economic point of view. We're trying to discourage people from driving and we're trying to end our energy dependence ... and we're trying to have more money to build infrastructure."

He cited those three reasons for opposing the gas tax holiday favored by McCain and Clinton. Obama has said the savings would not be significant for the average individual, and Bloomberg agreed.

"The 30 bucks is not going to change anybody's lifestyle," he said. "The billions of dollars that we would otherwise have in tax revenues can make a big difference as to what kind of a world we leave our children."

The billionaire mayor said in February that he had decided not to run for president but has dangled the possibility of his endorsement. The Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-independent has ties to all three candidates.

Comments

[Tranquility08]

You know I am really really disappointed in much of the top leadership in the party. They are responsible for letting this get out of hand.

[Tranquility08]

Just like with Healthcare in the 90's Hillary always thinks that "she" and she alone knows best.

When you watch her and listen to her you know that she is the most pigheaded egotistical individual on the face of the earth. Who does she remind you of- George W. Bush of course.

This whole gas deal is so the pander it's beyond belief that this move alone doesn't destroy her in any Indiana which is suppose to be a state of pretty level headed people.

Does America really want this pandering integrity challenged individual representing our party and possibly our Country.

[TheCowman]

Apparently those knuckleheads in Pennsylvania want her.

Talk about choosing your executioner. Hillary voted for NAFTA, she's an absolute elitist with her $109 million dollars in the bank, and these people wonder why they're out of work?! Because of her and Bill! Goes to show that they'd rather be unemployed than have someone with a brain in the office. Every bad thing that's ever happened to Pennsylvanians, from the factories closing down, people losing their jobs, unemployment, everything that has happened, they deserve.

I honestly have no sympathy for any of these people in Pennsylvania who cry and scream that their jobs have been shipped over seas, it's their fault themselves, no one else to blame.

Ahhh...now I feel better...h­ad to get that out.

[ErnestineBass]

Quite a few knuckleheads in Ohio, as well, cowman.

[sclucie]

I could stand it she were just a multi-millionaire, corporate attorney. That I could take - poor people don't become President. But when Miss Wellesley becomes Hillary second-shift, I cannot stand it. When has this woman wondered if she could send a kid to college? When has she wondered she was going to pay hospital bills? When has she watched someone she loved lie to her face about their health conditions because they didn't have money to pay and couldn't even ask their own daughter for help? When has she watched her kids go to school hungry? When has she had to suck up to a boss because her family wouldn't eat if she lost her job? When has she been out the street? That's what it means to be working class in America and this woman is so entitled can't even figure out how to get coffee out of a machine at 7-11. Goddam Hillary Clinton.

[going2ireland]

Wonder if she was brought up to believe that everything she said or did was cute - that everything she said was accurate - that she would one day be the President of the United States.

Might explain a lot of things about Hillary.

Not that any of that matters. She still won't make a better President than Obama.

[2warvet]

"Want to end energy dependence­".......dr­ill in ANWAR and the Gulf. Build more refineries, as well as develop different energy sources.

"More money for infrastruc­ture".....­Cut the pork from the budget. I find it most amusing that pelosi said "we are going to end ear marks." Funny, hasn't happened yet and the dems are still the ones who abuse earmarks the most.

[LibRS]

dont forget about drilling off the coast of the most liberal state, california.

We'll get the oil one day. When folks can't afford to drive to work or the doctor, can't eat, we'll go get that damn oil. It's coming out of the ground, it's just a matter of when people get sick and tired of the green heads bs and realize that putting food on the table is more important.

[ErnestineBass]

Does "The Bridge To Nowhere" ring a bell, 2warvet?

I do believe that bit o' BBQ belonged to Ted Stevens, REPUBLICAN Senator from Alaska.

[sclucie]

The oil in ANWAR would last about a month. I'm we are drilling in the Gulf - and have been for decades. Ever been to Louisiana?

[sclucie]

Nope - I'm wrong ANWAR would give us 6 months. Just asked an Exxon petroleum geologist. Estimate vary- according to how you want to spin it - in any case, it doesn't even approach what we need or consume. We are dependent on foreign oil - and ANWAR, national reserves, and oil shale combined don't begin to approach what we need. There's some people who have been talking about this for decades - it nice that the Republicans are finally listening.

Don't have the studies in front of me, but red states get FAR FAR more federal funding than those lib Blue States - have for some time.

[TheCowman]

Yeah, I'm sure Bloomberger's solution would be to charge $20 a gallon so no one can drive!!!

Now, I'm not saying I am in favor of getting rid of the gas tax or not, I'll leave that to the 'geniuses' in Washington to decide.

However, no one should be asking this billionaire anything about how to reduce spending.

I live in NYC and every single thing in this city has skyrocketed since he became Mayor. Rents, Taxi's, Subways, he tried to push that Congestion Tax down our throats, parking tickets, picking your nose...I love this city, but it's an absolute rip off. There is nothing in this world he loves to do more than separate you from your money faster.

Overall, a good mayor, but he couldn't give 2 craps for the middle class working family.

[ErnestineBass]

Move south, cowman! Ten years from now New Yawk City will be underwater anyway...

[TheCowman]

That's why I'm learning to swim my friend!

[going2ireland]

I am not so sure you can blame that on your Mayor. Out here in CA everything skyrocketed. The housing (although, now the market didn't just go soft, the bottom fell out).

So don't think you NYers are alone.

[NOLIESPLEASE]

Hey Cowman,

Mr. Bloomberg takes the subway to work everyday asshole. A billionare who takes the subway should tell you something. It's about time americans leave there ego at the border. Maybe this country will finally get on track.

[TheCowman]

First of all...call me an asshole? Is that how you debate??

Second of all...just because a BILLIONAIRE takes the subway to work it doesn't mean he's this righteous soul who will float to heaven when he dies.

The point wasn't weather his holiness takes the subway to work, the point is this guy would rather build a $100 billion dollar football field on the west side of manhattan rather than figure out how to make the city a bit more affordable to the middle class.

I would love to have a healthy debate with you if you were capable of not cursing like a child.

[Anastasia]

Wow! Talk about refreshing candor!

The reason why Clinton is so 20th century, is that she panders to what she thinks the voters want, rather than urging them to think beyond their most primitive impulses and what is best for their community and country.

[ChitownObamabot]

Leadership! Leadership! Leadership!

Come on America...­I know its tough....b­ut we can do this!

Washington has been taking us for granted for FAR too long.

Obama 08

[Mark01]

And we have not seen this worthy news item on our MSM. They are still talking about Rev Wright

[SickOfSpin]

Can you even BELIEVE it? That Wright's name has STILL come up again and again today makes me ill...all of the issues that Hill's has on her plate, as does McCain, and we're still talking about Wright and whether Michelle Obama is a liability for saying, "This is the first time in my life that I've felt proud...".­..With all of the issues of gravity, and issues that Hills would rather bury under the carpet, we're still scrutinizing Barack Obama. It's incredibly interesting that he has YET AGAIN demonstrated superior judgement to that of Hillary relative to the gas tax holiday and refusing to bow to political expediency.

[iPolitics]

Truth hurts, Hillary. Hillary Clinton: Commander in Pandering.

[NoozeJunkie]

There's that 'experienced judgement' of Senators Clinton and McCain again. Get a little break on prices now and pay dearly later, not only in much higher gas prices after the tax is re-instated but also no conservation efforts and oh yeah, about a hundred thousand lost road construction jobs because there's no money to pay for projects. Business as usual, it's there if you want it but for myself I'd prefer a change.

OBAMA '08

[PrdAmerican]

See America, that kinda talk isn't so bad.....yo­u know, the talk we need to hear and not the fluffy, slimey, used car salesman talk that Clinton and McCain are offering up.

[ConnieB]

This election is clearing up a lot of things as to who out there is the real deal when it comes to character (sincerity, integrity, honesty) and who isn't. Some of the revelations have been truly shocking.

[paixa3]

shocking to whom?...if you read any international journals for a few days, you could have known this long ago....

[Apis]

Obama / Bloomberg gets my vote!

[MPeter]

Yes, tell them Mayor. Keep the liars honest. America needs a leader who is honest and straight forward, not those who will say anything to score a point or get elected.

[osage]

I'd like to see a no-nonsense straight-shooter like Bloomberg endorse Obama.

[petecook5]

I'd like to see him run for president.

[paixa3]

As an independent (really), so would I.

[richcpl]

There's straight talk for you.