Overwhelming Majority See Gas Tax Suspension As Political Ploy

The New York Times:

A majority of American voters say that the furor over the relationship between Senator Barack Obama and his former pastor has not affected their opinion of Mr. Obama, but a substantial number say that it could influence voters this fall should he be the Democratic presidential nominee, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News Poll.

At the same time, an overwhelming majority of voters said candidates calling for the suspension of the federal gasoline tax this summer were acting to help themselves politically, rather than to help ordinary Americans. Mr. Obama's rival for the Democratic nomination, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, has made the suspension of the gas tax a centerpiece of her campaign in recent days.

In the survey, taken in the days leading up to the primaries on Tuesday in Indiana and North Carolina, Americans were divided over the merits of the gasoline-tax suspension, which has also been backed by the presumptive Republican nominee, Senator John McCain, and condemned by Mr. Obama as political gimmickry.

Read the whole story: The New York Times

Comments

[NewtC]

As a middle aged educated woman of Jewish ancestry, I see that Clinton’s election day statement in PA about obliterating Iraq if they attack Israel was designed to grab Jewish votes. It may even have helped capture some white male bubba votes, as it presents her as being tough on the bad guys. That may work well with Democrats, but won't work at all with misogynist Republicans and conservatives who scorn her. They'll laugh at her for trying to look tough, especially compared to POW McCain, the real deal tough guy in their eyes. It’s clear the right wing knows which of our two candidates they can beat. They’re so eager to run against Hillary they’re even registering as Democrats to vote for her over Obama. Conservatives don’t just dislike Hillary, they despise her with a passion. If you thought the Howard Dean scream was used effectively against him, wait until the “Hillary cackle” is played over and over in commercials. Even mainstream Democrats won’t want to vote after they hear all the anti-Hillary baggage in store for us if she wins the nomination.

Remember, whites voting for Clinton in the primaries doesn’t necessarily reflect how they’ll vote in the GE. Let’s move forward and focus on a win in November.

[oatcakes]

Hello? Does anyone think gas is going to stop at 4 bucks a Gal? Checkout the Refining Operation at Grangemouth, Scotland. The out look there is not good, a long strike there is almost a sure thing. In the U.K. gas is about $10 a Gal. now. Any prolonged work stopage at Grangemouth means a calamitous price hike for the USA and UK. With that in mind gas prices might go to $7 or $8 a Gal. this summer. A holiday on federal gas taxes sounds like a big deal when it adds up to a buck a Gal. Bush would still veto any bill for a gas tax holiday but who needs him when all the Rep's congress want to keep their jobs. A veto over ride is a sure thing. Clinton is the only leader with the foresight to see this problem.

[Scarllatti]

Vision indeed. You and this political prostitute called Hillary. You do not mind your fellow countrymen losing their jobs as long as you can fill your tank (probably a gas-guzzling SUV). Learn to think with your brain and not your heart.

[pilgrim7]

Win or lose, a decent person stands by her word. Hillary agreed with the DNC that Florida/Michigan votes would not count. She is ruthless, and people who support her share the same character traits. She is a serial liar who has been caught in so many lies the press has lost count. Her supporters consider her compulsive lying a virtue or they would find her habitual, overt lying disturbing and repulsive. What kind of people support her? They have effectively destroyed the Democratic Party. Should Hillary & thugs succeed in shoving their unethical agenda down our throats, I'll no longer consider myself a Democrat and couldn't care less what other Democrats think. I will NEVER vote for Hillary. Bush is a puppet, but Hillary is a morally-depraved Karl Rove. The Democrat Party is no longer the party of the people, but the party of Clinton crooks and liars. I've already cast my vote in Indiana and it was probably the last vote I will ever cast on a Democratic ticket should Hillary get the Democratic nomination handed to her. If living, I will likely vote for an independent in 2012. If Obama loses the Democratic nomination but decides to run again in 2012 as an independent, he's got my vote. I've voted for two Republican presidents as a registered Democrat. Both parties leave a bitter taste in my mouth. America is overdue for another major party. Decent, upright, honest, fair-minded, Constitution-loving Americans deserve better.

[jabass]

This is what I'm talking about. We are to divided in this country. Rich, Middleclass, Poor, Democrate, Republican, Independent, Red America or Blue. There are so many choices and voices that no one person can be heard and everyone thinks they are right. What ever happened to saying and doing what is the real right and what we believe in as a whole. This country was founded on that. We faught the first "King George" because he was doing his people wrong. Now we are fighting the same fight just on a bigger level. We have been lied to and forced to wear rose colored glasses for to long. We believe that if someone says they can make everything alright it must be true. We need to make our job and priority to see the truth and than go further to find out. This country has been divided for to long. We need to stand together (all the above mentioned classes) and unite for one America. The true America that was formed on the backs and blood of the forefathers that gave it to us.

[Scarllatti]

Yeah, check out HRC supporters. Most are wife-beaters, loafers, race-baiters, you name it, you have them. hmmm!!

[ndolomar]

Here's the rub, and it's pretty simple: If the gas-tax holiday were such a great idea for consumers and such a bad idea for the oil companies, why haven't you heard so much as a peep of indifference about this from Shell, Mobile, Exxon, BP, et al? If the "bad guy" isn't screaming "it's not fair," that should be clue No. 1 for most levelheaded people.

[jabass]

Let's not ignore the fact that this country is on the highway to xxxxville. We have some serious problems that can only be addressed the the American People. Only we can make a difference by speaking up and be heard (let's remember those people work for us). Not just by posting conserns on the web but by talking and conversing with our fellow townspeople and neighbors. As for the gas tax issue, if I am not mistaken it would only be a $.18 a gallon savings. After doing the math I would only be saving $19.50 a month. At this time that sounds like quite a bit of money, untill I really think about it. We need to look at the big picture. Weather you are Republican, Democrate or Independant the only thing we need to think about is that our country is little by little being taken away from us. Not enough of us are truely listening to what is going on. We are to concerned about the frivolous. We listen to everything and hear nothing. My Nana use to tell me to listen to what is being said, not to what I hear and always read between the lines. If there is still a question than it is not the answer. People we need to stand up and be hear. Not just by the few but by the masses.

[NewtC]

Exactly. Why would the oil companies care if we took our ROAD taxes off the bill? They could charge more for gas while people wouldn’t notice the increase. Plus the overindulgence of driving and flying this summer would result in higher prices after the “holiday” due to supply and demand. It’s all good for the oil companies. Follow the money.

If you want to see lower gas prices, pressure our government to get out of Iraq. The occupation serves to stabalize Iraq oil production at a low, steady rate, which allows OPEC to manipulate oil prices. Worse, the Iraqi government has no incentive to increase oil production. They would be expected to fund their own rebuilding and security if they were raking in huge oil profits. Watch how fast the Iraq government cranks up oil production if we stop footing the bill for everything. We’ve been duped into paying for an extended occupation that makes the Bush family and their Saudi friends ten times richer than they would be without the occupation. It’ll stay so until we demand a reasonable end to Iraq’s perpetual dependence on our military and financial support.

[AC500]

$30 is all Hillary voters will ever see from her in the way of relief. Why would Hillary risk losing her base by educating and enriching them?

[markusmarkus]

"$30 is all Hillary voters will ever see from her in the way of relief. " If the oil companies and the gas stations (that the oil companies don't own) don't raise the prices equal to the gas tax. Hey, it's a seller's market (dang that pink panther) and the sellers will charge what they can get.

[dirtystrat]

Hey Hillary. If you really believe the suspension of the gas tax is good for the American people why aren't you on the floor of the Senate right now pushing such a bill? Why all this talk of suspending the gas tax this summer for three months when you will not be the president this summer to implement such a program. Has anybody thought to ask her such a question?

[oatcakes]

What if gas goes to $7 or $8 a gallon? That could happen if refinery workers at Grangemouth, Scotland go on strike. They pulled a wildcat strike for two days last week and promise more strikes very soon. Gas is almost $10 a gallon in the UK. With gas prices that high the federal tax is about one buck a gallon. With the USA going down the tubes at that rate congress will vote for and pass a tax holiday bill. It will over ride Bush's veto. The tax holiday bill and the choke money out the oil rats/company bill will become law so fast your head will spin. Speak well of Hillary she is going to be our next President because she is the smartest cookie who wants the job.

[patmancando]

Dirtystrat......
for you information Hillary has a 75% voting record in the Senate even though she is running for president. You boy Obama has a minus 50%, and that was a few weeks ago; so it mignt be even less now with the 'urgency of now' ........ important primaries in NC and Indiana.

[garnetwood]

yea heaven forbid a single mother might get an extra $30 for a new pair of pants for her child or maybe a couple of new shirts. You elite leftwinger intellectuals should really start living in the real world. She could maybe use the money to take her child to see the new Ironman movie. I am sure she really doesn't care if it is just a political ploy.

[fudgebuster]

And when the $30 runs out.... like in 2 minutes.. and thousands of highway workers are left hanging in the dust, and our econ further unravels due to our decrepit transportation infrastructure? well at least johnny got to see IronMan? Are you serious?

[loball]

Well I think she would reconsider that when we have to pay MORE taxes next year while the roads and bridges in our country take a $9 billion hit.

Sometimes it takes the elite to make these complicated decisions. We used to call them "leaders".

While we are at it we should all take $30 from education and $30 from welfare as well. Should sufficiently cripple the governmental economy.

[kawreader]

Really? Have you give this ANY serious thoughts?

Your post is why I believe in Economics 101 classes for every American adult. You cannot possible argue that this $30 will help a single mother in the long run. It may help her in the short run-the short run in this case being about 2 hours (how long is Iron Man?). It's absolutely absurd to make the case that this would help any American at all. The single mother's taxes would most likely increase next year, in addition to the fact that gas prices would then rise again when the tax holiday is over causing her to LOSE much more than $30.

[thymetwo]

ELITE leftwinger??? You know I'm so sick of those pat little talking points from Hilary coming from you egotistical followers. I am a single mother making UNDER 35,000 a year and I need to buy shoes or tee shirts or pants for my kids I sure the hell wouldn't count on 30 dollars over three months. I certainly wouldn't count on a woman that lies to over an over again about effects of gas tax vacation she can't deliver and that would end up COSTING me more money then it would save me. If anyone in this campaign it ELITIST it's Hilary thinking that just because you make under 50,000 a year you stupid.

[oatcakes]

You Obamakins have to stop singing Kum bay ya around the campfire. You have to start thinking of worse case scenarios. If gas goes to 7 or 8 bucks a gallon what then? I think you will start thanking God that Hillary is going to be the next President.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

A can of baby formula costs $35.00. A pack of diapers costs $20+. Your child is not going to benefit from your $30. How much of that $30 gets spent trying to get to the store to buy your kid a pair of pants?

[LORISNJ]

In the NYT article they have at least 8 paragraphs about Rev. Wright and only 3 on suspending the gas tax - sigh......

[kellygrrrl]

and ZERO on Rev Hagee

it is our duty to make sure all Americans are familiarized with the Crazy White Man
who John McCain STILL says he is proud to have the endorsement of!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uViQ0hVV57Q

[spotchester]

Thank all that's holy that some people are able to see through this gas tax holiday fiasco.

[djthedj]

It's strange but Hillary's supporters have started to sound just like republicans. They now defend the most moronic pandering and war mongering. What happened?

[djthedj]

ANY CLINTON SUPPORTER PLEASE ANSWER THIS......


If this is such a great idea, why don't you care that she isn't doing a damn thing tpo try to get it passed?

[mhoiles]

She does not have to - it's the all in the psychology. I pumped $3.74 per gallon this morning and then listen to how VA can't handle any road improvements because the tax revenue is not there. I am wondering when the people are going to rise up and demand accountability and responsible spending. We are siick of being taxed and porked!

[spotchester]

Big Oil will raise prices to make up the difference. Then Big Oil will pay the gov't that difference. In toher words Big Oil is paying gov't a gas tax. In other words Hillary's plan is DOING NOTHING.

[oatcakes]

Please pay attention! What happens when gas goes to $7 or $8 a gallon this summer? Congress will pass a federal tax holiday bill and over ride any veto as fast as shit going through a goose. If you don't this will happen check the news from Grangemouth, Scotland. Or, you can keep reading the tea leaves with Obama.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Has anyone done a study on what the effect of having 2 wars is doing to the price of gasoline?

[VivaZapata]

why study the obvious? the economic drag that the wars are having on us plays right into Osama Bin Laden's grand plan to bring us down. he warned us, but we were too big and powerful to listen. we weren't going to be threatened by that two-bit raghead. sometimes even in the sickest of minds, there's a clarity that is eerie. it's called instinct and doesn't need much studying. now we have I-can-be-t­ough-as-a-­man hillary clinton blustering about obliterating Iran and threatening to widen the war to a third front. Napoleon and Hitler were dumb to fight on two fronts, but she's willing to go for a third one. where's her knowledge of history?

[djthedj]

Bin Laden didn't really need clarity, he'd already seen bankrupting a superpower work on Russia in Afgahnistan. We, of course, are dumb enough to just do the exact same thing. Hillary's not the only one with no knowledge of history. Sadly, I think she does have knowledge, she is just willing to ignore the smart thing and go right to moronic pandering to further her political career. A quick look at her supporters shows you why.

[Tommygun264]

OMG! Could Senator Obama have been right when he told voters they were too smart to fall for the same old political pandering? I can see it now:

NEWS FLASH!!! American electorate not the pack of ignorant knee-jerk morons McCain and Clinton believed them to be! But first, you won't believe what Jeremiah Wright is saying now...

[JerryTheAngel]

Don't underestimate the stupidity of the American electorate. Al Gore volunteered to join the army during Vietnam. He was a member of the House for 8 years, a Senator for 8 years, and Vice President for 8 years during one of the most prosperous times in our history.

Bush comes along. He had a serious drinking problem for 20 years. He failed in 3 different business ventures using Daddy's and Grandpappy's coin. He avoided service in Vietnam by joining the Champagne unit in Texas knowing he would never see action. There is NO way this man was capable of doing the job of President of the United States.

BUT the voters, wanted the guy they wanted to have a beer with and Al Gore was boring and stiff.

The results of the 2000 election should not have been close. Then after seeing how incompetent he was, he was re-elected again in 2004 because of the cowering of the American electorate. Please keep me safe daddy from the bogeyman terrorist and anything else you fail at (almost everything)we will overlook. PATHETIC ELECTORATE.

[JFaye]

The Bush legacy undoubtedly is the power of fear and we know fear and ignorance is a horrific combination. Republicans used it well and the Clinton campaign is utilizing it quite effectively. The cost we are paying for fear will spill over into the next two generations ... at minimal. At some point, our citizens must acknowledge and respond appropriately to the issues and realize how important the office of The President is and then cease with goofy reasoning for selecting a president.

[donballz]

You are right that the election should not have been close. But let's not foget that it still took voter fraud using privitized voter machines that my eight-year-old could hack and swing the vote to Ralph Nader if he wanted to. With all the ridiculous Rove character assassinations, in the end it only took having brother as governor of a major swing state.

[TootsieII]

And, his fathers supreme court.

[SpoxLogic]

Let's put the gas tax issue in perspective.
If you are a smoker and you gave up 2 packs per month, you would save the same amount as the supposed gas tax holiday. In fact, giving up anything that you really don't need to have that saves you $5 per week would have the same effect. I am sure EVERYONE can find something they can cut back on and not really miss it. If you aren't willing to give up those two packs per month, or cut back a little on something else, but then vote for Hillary because she's "a woman of action", then you certainly deserve all the trauma when the economic backlash of such a short sighted effort happens.
Unfortunately, all of us who know the holiday is a farce will be suffering along right there with you.