Clinton ‘Not Going To Put My Lot In With Economists’ on Gas Tax

She is in a corner and can’t get out. Funny though that she is there with McCain

How is a Shell Oil lobbyist who supports Clinton’s plan not an elitist?
Obama was right when he said Hillary’s pandering. The thiry cents they think they’re saving will be thirty cents more they’re losing when the price goes up.

Hillary would make the gas tax issue work. Obama’s got nothing as usual.

This article is definitely only a part of the entire hour. I watched it this morning. The meat of her message on economists is not reflected above. She pointed out that these are the very same economists that have been advising on our economy and are denying the current state of our recession. She is right to not put much stock in their opinions based on their own failed performance as economists. We should listen to the people who know how to make money because they know how the economy REALLY works like Clinton and Buffett – not the windbags in a think tank on the oil company and big business payroll.

Please….how will she get this done by Memorial Day…even the Democratic Congress has remained silent on her vote for support.
If she won’t listen to experts, how will she make decisions…

The only thing a windfall tax will do is give oil companies an incentive to hide their income in shelters. You don’t think they have smart enough people to do that?
Worse than doing nothing, she will take money away from infrastructure.
Not to mention that she already promised to use the windfall tax for other things.
Get over her. Overpromise and underdeliver. Just ask Buffalo, NY and their shrinking population. (-4% since she promised to create jobs in 2000)

For pete’s sake, is the gas tax holiday the ONLY thing George Stephanopolis questioned Hillary about? More “gotcha” reporting?
Just saw Meet the Press where Russert (respectfully) questioned Obama on a BROAD range of topics.
Unfortunately, our local ABC station (Seattle) moved the ABC Sunday show out of the Sunday morning line-up—and buried it in the late afternoon.

Funny how people will defend Hillary doing ‘something’ even though it is crystal clear that that ‘something’ is really nothing . . . but political pandering of the most elite kind.

People take a breath. These are her proposals if she were President now. Remember? She and Obama are both talking about things that could be done, might be done, will be done once either one of them is the driver’s seat. We should be doing this, we should be doing that. Goodness sakes people, take a breath and chill out. If she were president right now, she would immediately work with our supposed democrat controlled congress and get her policies up and running. Her total energy package is wonderful. Again, these are policy proposals both candidates are saying should happen “if we were in control now”.

She says what will get her votes she is ot the person to run this country>>>>>>She can even manage her own and as far as gas she has not paid for a drop in 24+ years She is a freaken NUT Why would she listen to someone who knows as she states she knows it all just ask her>>>> HELP NC and IND send her home I read even New York don’t want her

Anyone care that the Clinton v. Paul trial is starting soon? Anyone care that Hillary has been ordered to testify after the election?
Obama’s pastor is nuts and I agree with the scrutiny. We are trying to learn about the character of the candidate.
Another candidate is involved in a campaign fraud trial during the same candidates senatorial run. Its public record. Are we allowed to question the candidates character yet…
How about this for a future headline…..’The President of the United States of American, Hillary Clinton, made history today by handing out the first pardon of the presidency to her husband Bill Clinton. No word yet on how much she charged him.’

Who owns Obama? The big oil companies? General Electric? Obama has such a boatload of dirty friends……drip…drip if that boat springs a leak…watch out. Look at Rezko on trial right now. Rezko, as a real estate magnate in Chicago, was given a contract for 3 energy plants to be built in Iraq…. through our government. The plants were never built because Rezko got indicted, but NO DOUBT that Senator Obama helped Rezko GET that contract for Rezko. Not to mention that Axelrod was a lobbyist for Exelon (and the later nuclear legislation with no teeth), or that much of the $$$ loans came through General Electric Financial. Who have been large contributors to Obama’s campaigns, General Electric and Exelon! Who owns one of the largest loan insurance and credit card companies in America, General Electric. Who voted for unlimited credit limits and voted against a 30% cap on credit cards? Obama! Obama said he voted against the 30% cap because it was too high. Apparently NO cap is better than a cap that’s too high. Who owns NBC and MSNBC the home of anti-Hillary all the time? General Electric! Who owns Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann and Andrea Mitchell? General Electric! Who owns Tim Russert? General Electric! Who is currently doing business in Iran? General Electric! Who owns Obama? All Obama can do is criticize and point his elitist finger at Hillary for being what he thinks is wrong for big business. Hillary cares about the small town Americans, the ones that struggle to pay bills and get to work, while all of Obama’s friends go to swanky parties at fabulous mansions sipping $100 bottle wine, talking about us bitter small town Americans who don’t understand the importance of making the rich richer!

Wasn’t this a ‘conflict of interest’ with George Stephanopoulus being an ex-Clinton employee. Didn’t the disastrous debate teach ABC anything?
George, you have finally allowed the Clinton’s to make you look again like one of their hired surrgates, not to mention loosing any creditabilty as a serious newsperson.

The SuperDs are not amused. Most will see it a classic political pandering.

We do not need mother Pinocchio in DC.
We have them enough as family. Than sooner we dump here then better. We need educated people who know how to listen…

Why listen to people who devote their lives to things and know stuff when you could be Queen Clinton? The gas tax holiday is disaster, whether you realize it or not.
The reason it matters is that it shows Clinton lacks a basic understanding of economics and the likely big-picture consequences of lowering the gas tax as an economic incentive during a time when our main goal is trying to reduce gas consumption, that or she knows and doesn’t care. I’m not sure which is worse.
Obama is trying to point that out to everyone, but apparently only a select few have the brainpower to process it. It must be frustrating running for President, trying to explain basic concepts to people you need to vote for you.

Hillary’s arrogance and denial about this MAJOR ploy to get votes and then dismiss the economists opinions about the gas tax holiday as unimportant is rediculous. Let’s concentrate on this error of judgement and question whether it has hurt her campaign. If it hasn’t, then we are as dumb as she hopes we are in her pandering for votes. Come on press, media and Americans , let’s call her on this one! The economists are pros and she is a deceiver. LaDonna in WV

Okay. Help me here.
HC eliminates the gas tax.
To pay for the road work HC makes the oil companies pay the 18 cent gas tax.
So then the oil companies raise the price of oil enough to pay for the tax.
That price increase gets passed on the consumer, making up for elimination of the gas tax.
And the consumer gets what exactly?

You are correct Hillary.
Look at the economy and tell how the EXPERT econo mYstics have done so far!
We have gone under and who do you turn to… the same dopes that dug the hole.
Obama never has any solutions or plans.
If he does mumble some it has been said by others.
He inspires no one unless he has someone else to write a speech or he mimics someone else. He puts me to sleep when trying to get his tongue around a word! Never does he have any original ideas.

Gee. How very GWB of her. He didn’t throw in his “lot” with the experts on WMD. He didn’t throw in his “lot” with the experts on Iraq. He hasn’t thrown in his “lot” with economists who warned about every facet of the credit and mortgage crisis we now face.
Couple all of that with her recent “with us or against us” comment, and I’d say the transformation is complete.
A vote for HRC is a vote for the third term of George W. Bush. Those of you who support Clinton – you wonder why Obama supporters can’t stand her. THIS is why.

She’s not going to listen to economist because she know she got it right?? Does that mean as President she won’t listen to the Federal Reserve, the cabinet or Congress? She’s already planning on ignoring the military commanders and pull out of Iraq. She also said we would olbiterate Iran [..which produces a lot of oil]. Hillary is like Willy Coyote, super genius, just before he goes off the cliff.

So she’s going to abolish the tax on buyers and impose the same tax on oil producers… who will then raise their prices, essentially forcing the consumers to pay that tax. You don’t need an economist to tell you this. You just need common sense.
In the end, nothing would change, apart from the millions of dollars spent to implement this idiotic policy.

Toa all those who thionk Hillary is pandering … what solution has Saint Obama put forward…. none… no specifics ever! it is no accident that Hillary is on a solutions tour… Obama will be impotent just as George W Bush believe me!!

If you take away this tax . .U cost people their jobs . .There is no argument there from all 3 Candidates . . Hillary is proposing to tax the oil company’s . .Great idea but u have to get it thru congress . .which will not happen . .so she knows this is just a ploy . .Think about it with no emotion . .

To paraphrase Steven Colbert, economic facts have a well-known bias toward reality. Fortunately, Clinton’s plan avoids that bias. Like our president, Hillary can see through the fog of facts. She, too, values “truthiness” over reality.
Onward to 4-8 more years of truthiness ! The climate can stand it, our economy can stand it, America’s reputation in the world can stand it.
More important, by avoiding gas taxes, I’ll have an extra 30 cents a day to spend. Unless the local gas station juices prices to compensate, that means more gas for my 11 mpg petrol hawg.
Life good. Belly belly good for me ! Thank you Hillary for seeing the public interest over your own self interest.
WHEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee !!

Hillary Clinton has primary election debt – yes she does. However, she also maintains $32+ million in reserves, which will become available to her campaign at the end of the primary season. Part of that amount is what she will use to liquidate any “debt’ left over from the primaries. She will exit well in the black. If she wins the nomination, then her debt will simply go away as a result of new donations. In either case, she has planned well in advance. I call that responsible and very intelligent.

This woman is incredible. To hell with facts, full speed ahead. Just what we have had for nearly eight years.
Clintush??

Do people realize that the gas tax is .18 per GALLON, not per dollar?
It’s NOT $90 X .18 = $16.20 savings
It’s 22 gallons x .18 = $3.96 savings

Ted
Nobody wants to be in his administration .. that bs about how everyone is going to flock to his administration regardless of Party or race etc will never be like what Pres Clinton had he was able to work with an opposition party please dont waste the Obama campaigns money by trying to influence people that cant be influenced we will take you down!

Do you think gas prices are going to keep going up over the summer? Do you think the oil companies are going to willingly stop gouging middle class Americans at the pump if politicians sit back and DO NOTHING? Which is what the old Washington has been doing about gas prices – NOTHING! Moms have to worry about paying for milk and gas now, that’s crazy! And you want to criticize Hillary with coming up with a PLAN – which is better than doing nothing – to save middle class people some money over the summer. You Obama supporters probably don’t know what it feels like to have to choose between paying for day care, gas and milk. Life is sure tough in Obama mansion, wine drinking, designer clothes and finger nails land. Obama says who cares about saving you money? Do you think Hillary has gotten the attention of the big oil companies? Yes. If the big oil companies know the hammer is going to fall on runaway profits, they will have to stop the gouging.

The gas tax holiday is bad economics, of course. No debate there. But the much larger problem is the candidate’s contempt for economic expertise. Any president’s presidency flies or dies on the backs of experts. If she disdains sound economic judgment now, why should voters think that she will do a 180 if she becomes president? Pass this one by.

Even high school kids are taught some basic economics these days, and the most important is the rules of supply and demand. If prices go down demand is greater. If demand goes up prices go higher. This doesn’t even have to include the fact that since she wants to tax the oil companies that the oil companies will pass that cost on to the consumer. What I really want in the White House is someone that will not listen to the experts! NOT!

Rick
Obama made 40 million in less time fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me you all will be put in your place on this make my words

Exactly…why is Hillary’s pandering worse than Obama’s pandering????
All politicians pander. All politicians mislead. Why do you think Obama is trying to learn how to communicate with with blue collar workers? Talking about arrugula probably doesn’t help his case, however.
Obama appears “weak”, and I thought this even before I read a statement by a former colleague in the Il. Senate who said Obama earned the reputation of “gutless” and “absent” when it came time to make the tough votes. Sen. Ted Stevens said Obama “folded like a cheap suit” when time came to take a stand.
Given Obama’s rep for weakness, maybe Obama’s supporters can explain how he’s going to transform Washington, especially since he’s indebted to special interests as we speak. Have you all actually thought about this to any degree? I know many of you are young folks who haven’t followed the political process for very long, and you’re a bit naive, but maybe you should give it a bit of soul searching thought. He’s not known to be very adept at working across party lines as Hillary has done, so again, how’s he going to make this earth shattering transformation happen??
His ambition shows above all else, and his colleague’s in the Il.Senate said this is one trait Sen. Obama has that all could agree upon.
hrc’08

It has long been stated that no two economists ever agree on anything.
Folks, Senator Clinton has proposed a temporary fix AND a long-term fix. The former (dropping the oil tax for the summer) may be ineffective as a “policy”, but it can provide some temporary, short-term, needed assistance to the small businesses and independent truckers whose livelihood is currently on the line. The risk is minimal if the monies are recouped through a windfall profit tax. Clinton proposes such a tax to inform the oil companies of her intention for her long-term policies which is to say to the oil companies — “get used to it, you will not continue to enjoy outrageous profits while the rest of our society suffers under my administration.”
I am surprised at the scoffing by the Obama supporters. Isn’t this exactly the kind of bold leadership for “change” Senator Obama keeps touting? He keeps telling us all how he intends to “take on the lobbyists” — ok, now is his chance. Who do you think most professional economists work for in this culture — the working poor or middle class? Get real.

Barbara
Thanks, you said it better than I did but the point was taken by sensible people anyway!

Barbara: Obama and his minions WOULD think that the gas tax idea was a good one, if he came up with it first.

I’d like to see these magical “tools of the presidency” that will miraculously change our status without the help of the people who study the economy day-in and day-out.
And who’s to say they just won’t raise the price of gasoline to make up for what they have to pay for in taxes? They can do what they want. She’s acting like 18.4 cents off each gallon is going to make gas FREE or something. >.

I don’t care about pandering. What I care about is the Democratic party is about to nominate a man who no experience, who is ahead in deligates ONLY because people voted for him knowing nothing about him. NOW they know the bitter remarked and about Rev. Wright and many regret their votes. Obama WILL loose in November now what we know more about him and somehow the Democrats have to fix this.

I’m proud for the Clinton’s making so much money after they left the WH. They’re super smart, work their hearts out, and they do tremendous work through the Clinton Foundation, e.g., help fight aids in Africa, give relief to Katrina victims, give relief to tsunami victims, help impoverished countries receive foods and medicines, so do a little research before blasting the Clintons’ wealth.
The Clintons were the financially poorest couple to enter the WH in a very long while. They left the WH only earning a little over $300,000. The Obama’s made over $4 million last year. I’m sure if Obama happens to become Pres., and after he leaves the WH, he’ll make speeches, write books, and earn even more than the Clintons. Are you Obama supporters opposed to him doing this? The Clintons gave more in charitable donations and paid more in taxes than most in their tax bracket. The Obama’s paid a measley 3% in charities.
To help a few Obama’s supporters out: Elitism isn’t a financial position…it’s a mindset. Hillary has worked on human rights issues long before she even met Bill. She’s been a people’s advocate for many years….it just comes more naturally for her to listen to voters, and to make them feel special. Maybe Obama will learn how to do this someday.
Most people who think negatively of Hillary do so mostly because of people like Rush Limbaugh who has told voters to hate her for so many years. People are very much influenced by repetition. If they began to analyze Hillary in an objective way, they’ll see a very admirable woman, although a very complicated one.
hrc’08

All we keep hearing from ALL of the candidates is I have a “plan” but as of yet none of them have come out with the basics of those plans.
How hard is it to say:
I am going to bring gas prices down by putting regulations on the Oil companies similar to the regulations governing other energy suppliers such as Electric and Natural Gas Companies, Under these regulations Oil Companies would be required to petition for increases in prices and only after approval and within mandated limits would they be allowed to increase them.
OR:
My sollution to the Illegal immigration problem facing this country is:
All Illegal Immigrants have 6 weeks to present themselves to the nearest INS office for return to their country of origin, You will be given a post dated work visa for a legal return to the US in 4 yrs. After a legal return you have 5 years to obtain citizenship, If after 5 years you have not become a citizen you will then be returned to your country of origin permenantly. Anyone found in the US illegaly after the 6 week deadline will be returned to your country of origin permanently with no future chance of legal citizenship.
OR:
My solution to Health Care is:
All americans will be covered regardless of income through Federal funding, This funding will be subsidized by eliminating All current and future funding of assistance and grants to other Countries.
OR:
My plan to control Inflation is:
Place a 25% Luxury Tax on all purchases that go beyond neccesity, Home purchases over $250,000 or any Home purchase that is not a primary residence. Auto purchases over $50,000. Etc…
Placing a limit on lending that restricts loans to no more than the total income of 5 years.
If they have “plans” lay them on the line and let the people judge them by their proposed works not just on their words. Saying “I have a plan” without giving the details is like saying “I have a car to sell you, but you can’t see it until you buy it”.

lets see we are to believe the economist
when they were the ones saying that the subprime loans were good for our economy.
lets face it if we could get the oil companies to pay the federal tax on gas then why not? Haven’t we been bent over by those company for too long, shouldn’t they have to invest more into our roads, bridges,ect.
And wouldn’t you have agreed with it if your beloved Obama had come up with it,
he doesn’t relate to us working class
people.

My God – So she plans to run the country like a dictator and not rely on expert advice. Hillary you can’t do it all. Your irresponsible handling of your campaign finances to have to beg PA for assistance, collection agencies after your campaign says it all for me that you aren’t fit to run the show.

James you said “This guy thinks Americans have an IQ of 10.”
I say no- Hillary thinks that you have an IQ of 10. First of all, how will she pay for it, considering that she has already committed the money to long term energy improvements as has Obama? What about the impact to jobs?
Most importantly- how is he DOING something? Pelosi and Reid have both said that they don’t support it? Since when can Clinton do anything unilaterally?

The so called “Gas Tax Holiday” is a political trick! First, the 18 cent tax is taken off…people buy more gas, especially when they go on vacation…the price goes back up beyond the 18 cents becasue of demand…and when the “Holiday” is over, the 18 cents is added right back on. Then what? You’ll spend much more than the 30 bucks you save during your “Holiday”.

Neither Hillary’s short term or long term plan for energy prices will work. The summer tax holiday will be offset by the oil companies rising prices and a slight increase in demand because of the lower prices. Her long-term plan cannot work because everyone needs gasoline, its an inelastic good. If she puts a tax on the oil companies then they will merely pass that tax onto us because we have no alternative. It goes beyond not listening to the economists it goes to not listening to reality.

Some of the polls in North Carolina now have Clinton and Obama basically tied. She has closed that gap and that means her gas tax relief has worked. When people in earlier posts have asked, does she think the lunch bucket crowd will be so stupid to fall for this, I guess the answer was yes, she knew she could pull one over on them by saying this, and she used it for all it was worth, knowing full well she can’t
deliver. In a way, this is a blatant statement by her that she thinks the lunch bucket crowd is stupid since she is smart enough to know that in reality this won’t work and she can’t pass it by this summer. She will probably win North Carolina now and its all from pandering.

exactly. Her campaign is a foreshadowing of things to come…it doesn’t matter as long as she gets into the oval office.
Blame Bush for the current situation. He is STILL IN OFFICE.
For all that, why doesn’t Clinton promise everyone $3000. Same result, it won’t happen.

WHAT A JOKE… HILLARY TAKES 18 CENTS OFFD… SO THE OIL GIANTS WILL PUT 60 CENTS ON.
ROTFLMAO…
MEANWHILE THE HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE LOSES BILLIONS… THAT HAVE TO BE BORROWED FROM CHINA…
SHE’S A TOTAL IDIOT JUST LIKE KING GEORGE BUSH.
NO WONDER HER CAMPAIGN’S ALWAYS RUNNING BROKE.

Hill, Barack, McCain, they are all part of todays Congress. And the Congress is responsible for any mess that we are in. Their role is to make laws and levy taxes, and they have done it in favor of their political donors. When America wakes up and realizes that it’s them and votes them out, maybe, just maybe it can change.

This article is very interesting. Although the tone seems to support Hillary, the quote makes her sound a little ignorant.

THE HISTORICAL REALITY IS THAT HILLARY WAS AN ANTI-INTEGRATION, ANTI-CIVIL RIGHTS GOLDWATER REPUBLICAN POLITICO OPERATIVE AS A KID… BUT JOINED THE DEMS WHEN NIXON BECAME UNPOPULAR OVER VIET-NAM…
BUT HILLARY IS STILL A GOLDWATER REPUB PSYCHOLOGICALLY.
HER ACTIONS SPEAK VOLUMES.
THAT’S WHY SHE WAS KICKED OFF THE WATERGATE COUNSEL STAFF FOR:
1) LYING 2) GROSS INCOMPETENCE 3) SUBVERTING THE US CONSTITUTION.
NOTHING HAS CHANGED…
IT’S ALLL ABOUT HILLARY… DAMN THE TRUTH.

As Hillary stated, the gas prices are a result of many factors far and above supply/damand. Market speculators play a big role. Saudi Arabia tightens supplies on a whim. Strategic reserves can be tapped. She offers a broad proposal. Surely, the Obama supporters can follow a little more closely than their arguments attest.
As far as educated voters voting for Obama..Have you seen the data released…well, no, you probably haven’t. In the data released on the first 14 states who voted, Hillary had the most college educated voters in 9 states, Obama in 5. Obama had a greater number in those 5 states, so he got the nod. However, in the study, only white voters were included. A tiny bit misleading, but if it makes you feel better…run with it Obama babes.
In the states that followed, Obama got more college educated voters primarily due to all the young groupies following him because he’s hip and cool. There is very little difference in the actual number of college educated voters for Obama vs. Hillary.
Don’t equate college educated with intelligence…you young ones. I have a college education, but I know for a fact, my college education doesn’t compare to life’s lessons encountered since college. Many of Hillary’s supporters are senior citizens, and many of them couldn’t go to college. Many of them had to quit school early on to help their families. In addition, if the later studies are similar to the earlier studies, only white college educated voters were included, which obviously distorts reality.
Hillary has set a goal to eliminate breast cancer within our lifetimes, and this is another proposal I find enriching and worthwhile. She has so many, and if you care to inform yourself, go to her website. She’s a policy wonk who is very impressive.
hrc’08

Obama is just frustrated that he didn’t think of it first.
But he’s an elitist who might respond to a working class family struggling to put food on the table amid rising prices for fuel and food with:
“Let them eat arugula!”

This should go down as the “Hillary/McCain Tax Holiday Flop”, pandering as blatant as this should be called out and I’m proud Obama isn’t jumping on this stupid bandwagon. Our economy is in very real trouble and jeopardizing 300,000 jobs by saying she is going to pay for it with a “Windfall Profits Tax”, money she has already spent on “Green Jobs”, etc. Even if she could pan it out and backtrack from spending it on “Green Jobs”, there is NO WAY Congress gets consensus to make a bill in time to provide funding for bridge & highway projects that will be put on hold due to no funding putting hundreds of thousands of people throughout our country out of work this summer and yes this would DIRECTLY affect people in Indiana AND North Carolina. This is pure pandering at its finest and I resent the implication that voters are THAT stupid Hillary. This is the EXACT type of politics that has driven our nation’s economy into a ditch. We need real change to address the real issues facing all Americans. We need a fresh new direction for someone that offers voters the respect and decency to tell them the truth, not lie to them as with NAFTA and Bosnia. While I sincerely respect Hillary supporters’ enthusiasm for breaking the glass ceiling, snap out of it. Hillary is easily in the top 5 of the most divisive, polarizing candidates to pick from. There is no way most American’s are going to decide to put as our First Man, an IMPEACHED President – so please snap out of it. It is abundantly clear that the negativity the Clinton campaign has engaged in is not embraced by our party – it is in fact exactly what we DONT like about our divisive opponents. It is time for real change and a step in a new direction. Join us as we make history to put people first over special interests so we can make real change happen.
God Bless these United States & Barack Obama.

Democrats may be more wise in nominating someone who will pose less risk in the general election.

I say the economists should propose something better that could start to help now/very soon – or else:
The economists and all the wealthy politicians and lobbyists who are opposed to it – should help pay the gas tax this summer!
p.s. Hillary won college grads in Pennsylvania – and it’s been very close in most of the other states as well.
I know many people with Master’s degrees who are supporting Hillary.
(resubmitted because of typos)

I’m actually in favor of an elitist becoming president. God knows we’ve had an idiot good ol’ boy in there for the past 8 years. Also, don’t we actually WANT someone who’s superior than us? Afterall, he is the PRESIDENT of the United States.
Finally, read your history books folks. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin….clearly the elite of their generation.

JustBuzz…
Are you aware that Dubai has been involved in port security for many many years for US interests?? Heck, Bill has always been more open to free trade than Hillary. Where’s the secret Buzzboy?? So, the Clintons have connections in dubious places…well, isn’t that something your man Obama wouldn’t know about?!?! The Clintons selling out the American way of life….you’ve got to be full of it!!! By the way, Nafta has actually been very good for some parts of this country…try not generalizing every issue…if you’re able.

Justbuzz..
If you are going to quote me…get it correct! I said in the FIRST 14 states…not that only 14 states have voted. Try again…dear.

As soon as John McCain came out with this “holiday” nonsense I just slapped my forehead. I really thought better of the man. The fact that Hillary co-opted such a bad idea was disappointing, but not surprising. I don’t agree with Obama or Hillary on any kind of subjective “windfall” tax on oil companies, but I can at least respect Obama for not stooping to such blatant vote pandering.

Boy, those Obama talking points must have been burning up the blackberries today. Of course, Hillary’s supporters don’t own such fancy electronics.
We do have TV though and she looked presidential this morning – willing to discuss this issue along with others in front of actual voters asking tough questions.
“Girly man Obama” though – he was too busy explaining yet again – enough already (unless of course he’s willing to finally tell the truth)about his association with a racist, anti american minister.
End the Drama – Pull the Plug on Obama!

She means she wants oil companies profit to go to refinery operators!
Consumers will get a couple of pennies off for a week or two until supply/demand adjust itself to current level or even higher.
It takes an average person’s IQ to get it. Anyone should understand why this idea is phony.

Why would she listen to the experts (the economists), she knows better that the tax issue is a gimmick where experts have no say. the other option is that she is too arrogant to listen to the experts.
In either case, she does not seem to think right.

Obama will lose you all are wasting your time

If the economists are so smart, why do we keep going into recessions? I ignore them and only pay attention to what effects my own pocketbook and the gas tax holiday would do that for me. The last time I filled up the tank on my 1994 vehicle, it cost me $63. Obama spends too much time with “Latte liberals” to understand what even a saving of $30 can do for folks. It might even buy me a bag of groceries,

Only a few months ago, people projected their hopes on Obama. Now, because of shady affiliations, poor judgment and no accomplishments, their projecting their fears.
His campaign is sinking. Let him go back to the Senate and get to work.

I know most of Obama supporters vote for Bush they want to bring Obama again .NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! America will be liberated from you haters of America. NO WAY for Obama NO WAY for you NEVER!!!!!!!!!!

Obama is a big disgrace to America. He will open eyes wide until all the Islamic countries wipe Israel away . God himslef will fight against you Obama . You will not and never win the nomination.

I am not a american citizen. However, I love America. I am disturbed how many americans cannot see or comprehend Clinton gas tax is ridiculous. Yet, they focus on Rev. Wright…Funny how noone focus on John McCain association with that controversial pastor, name escapes me
Yet they ignore ( especially Ohio and PA voters) the reason why unemployment is so high…The reason is Bill and Hilary sold you out for NAfta and payoffs..
Yet they ignore Peter Paul association with Clintons ..Why havent the media talk about that…
They call Obama a elitist..when Hilary say “Screw them ” referring to southern and poor whites..
Anyone with two neurons can tell you Hilary Cinton plan( no matter since she cannot win)…to damage Obama for McCain, thus the dems losing and she running in 2012. She is selfish, and dont care about her party, and feels she is entitle to the presidency. She claims
experience, yet her judgement is not one of a leader. Why should I care, I am French and rather sit back and laugh at the stupidity of some Americans

I am just curious- I hear dHillary Clinton speaking about “elitists” and the ” common people” and “mainstream America. Didn’t she and her husband report over $100 million in income in the past several years? I believe that is far more money than Obama made, so who is actually the elitist and not in touch with regular Americans?
I do not support either candidate, but I hear people ripping apart Obama as this rich out of touch guy, who when he said he had 5 suits that he rotated around was persecuted. I don’t believe I have seen Hillary in the same outfit twice….., Just an observation

Sound familiar? Just like Bush – ‘My way or the highway’! Did Hillary get a degree in Economics when I wasn’t looking? We don’t need ‘stubborn’ in the W.H. for 4 more years – 8 yrs. has been enough.

Carolyn Gilmore I am a racist like you and Obama i have my senses working well . Obama is wrong and will futher divide America. Obama is not my choice he is a failure

What does Obama know about economy ?? If it is rhetorics i give it to him. He is an expert in that field but when it comes to Economy, Hllary Clinton is superb. I think we need someone that solution to ut problem and not anyone that will just talk and talk without any tangible solution

Bevvyjean- How will she eliminate the gast tax to be of any support for this summer without the legislature supporting it? It is a promise that she can not keep. She and McCain might as well say that they are giving you $20,000. That won’t happen either.
Say anything politics to get elected must end.

You got the nice millionaires that give 10% of their income to charity like Bill & Hillary Clinton; then you got the stingy and selfish millionaires like Michelle and Barack Obama that give less than 1% of their income to hate-filled anti-american churches like trinity.

So, the problem with the last 7 years has been the administration listening to too many experts?
Is she sleep-deprived again?

Ever heard a joke about economists? “A plane with a physicist, mathematician, and economist on board crashed and stuck on an island with nothing around. They had only a box of can food left. While the physicist and mathematician were squeezing their brains to figure out how to open the cans, the economist simply sat on the sideline smiling. When they asked the economist why he was so comfortable with doing nothing but smiling, he said: let’s assume the cans are opened!”
The govnt must intervene when the price of basic goods like gas is shooting through the roof. This would re-set the expectations of the market and give a temp price relief. Luckily,
Sen Clinton is not an economist!

Yes, we can. Yes, we can. Not even that chant belongs to Obama, he stole it from hispanics when they chanted that will marching down the streets during an immigration rally. Obama needs to come up with something original. But can he?

Isn’t she undermining any credibility she has to attack the Republicans?
Experts disagree with them on the environment, the war in Iraq, and tax cuts for billionaires.
Hillary has attacked them for this but now says listening to experts is elitist?
We’ve had 7 years of a guy that DIDN’T listen to the experts – a guy that listened to his gut.
ENOUGH!

One of the greatest economists in our history John Keynes ever said, “In the LONG RUN, we are all DEAD.”
If we cannot handle short-run crises, what is the usage of a LONG-RUN solution? Sen Obama needs to think more before he criticises Sen Clinton.

She is lying and pandering to the voters in order to win. In fact, she has been lying and making false promises through out the campaign. Further, she has poor judgment and vision for the future. Let’s hope that the voters of Indiana and North Carolina do not fall for her cheap ploy.

Expectations! Expectations! Expectations! If the government sets the right market expectations, at least this would stop the speculators from bidding up the oil prices temporarily. If the gas price stops climbing up this summer as a result, then the consumers win. (We can talk about making up the losses in ECON 201.)
Sen Obama knows this. He is against it only because Sen Clinton has set the expectations. And he does not want to look like a follower-beating the drum for her.

TedDaddy: It amazes me that people will argue against their own interests in order to defend their positions (and in this case, their messiah, Obama). What’s wrong with giving people a tax incentive to buy more fuel efficient cars? The answer; nothing is wrong with it. If your messiah thought it up first, you would be on this blog extolling its virtues. Very sad.

Are all of these so called economists working on our country right now or is the government just not taking their advice?

Hillary claims all economists are elitists and only she understands the complexities of the gas tax on the American economy. Wow.

Economists = bunch of power thirsty capitalistic morons.
Clinton is just a selfless hero working for the people; this is all the people need: 30 cents a day. Vote for Clinton and the future is rosy.

Gas tax, Iraq and Iran. Obama show that he has good judgment.I hope that the Hillary fun will start putting the interest of this country first.

I can’t help but notice how often Obama supporters tell us to go to his website for answers to questions. Does Obama’s fans know so little or care so little about his acutal positions that they can’t articulate them? As flawed as Hillary maybe, she promotes ideas and proposals that we can evaluate, she thinks on her feet. I just don’t hear Obama saying anything that wasn’t written down with his advisors long ago.
Furthermore, on the tape that was rolled on Obama, during his speech was anyone in his crowd listening to him? All I heard was nonstop cheering and handclapping, while he struggled to be heard above the din. Circa The Beatles at Shea Stadium 1962 recast with full of adult guys and gals. Too much idol worship-its creepy.

Those people, including Obama, who speak of lost jobs because of the gas tax holiday must be losing it. If I am not mistaken, it is would be the oil companies who will be paying for it, hence the monies for road work would still be there. I do not quite understand how the jobs would be lost and the work not be done.
It is obviously a temporary fix until other things get done. It is for the summer only and will provide much needed relief for truckers. It is more of a token relief. I see nothing wrong with that. If anyone actually believes that Clinton would do nothing about the oil companies later on, then they just do not have a clue.
For Obama to say that jobs will be lost and gas prices will just rise surmounts to scare tactics. Of course gas is going to rise, and when it does, you cannot just blame it on the tax relief. It seems funny to me how gas prices have leveled off now that there is talk of them paying a tax.
The point is, big oil needs to get out of the White House. Both Clinton and Obama have taken hundreds of thousands from big oil for their campaigns. For those Obama supporters who refuse to believe this, just google it. They all do, they are all politicians. Clinton has shown she gets things done.
The only way the Dems will get into the White House is if there is a ticket that includes both Clinton and Obama. If the Republicans can swift boat Kerry, what do you think they will do to Obama?

It is dangerous to let economists run the country. They are philosophers. They make dangerous generalizations.
I heard a far cry from the wilderness saying ‘Supply side economics’
The world do not run according to the theories of economists or else your presidents in the past would not have fits in their office; what a pity!

Hillary Clinton is one of the most pandering politicans this country has ever seen. She expected to be anointed queen as if it was her destiny. She will promise anything for a few votes, she will lie straight faced to boost her ratings and continue lying about her bosnia trip. Don’t elect politicans that lie and pander for votes this country deserves and should demand honesty from thier leaders. We have enough twisting of the truth already from the bush terms.

If you ran a business that the government regulated prices on for three months, in the forth month (and months after) what would you do? You’d do your best to bring your books back into the same shade of black that it was in before. By slowly gouging the working class until profit streams were equal to, or larger! For those of you who think that Big Oil Inc. will stand idle while being forced to pay for infrastructure, GET REAL!
Wake Up! Big Oil Inc. won’t buckle for you, HRC, or McC. The plan will stall, and the promise will be just that, a promise.
It’s time for us to admit that our bloated, wasteful disregard for oil has finally reached critical mass.
This reminds me of a morbidly obese person in failing health complaining that fast food is killing him, instead of trying to change his diet. Then applauding as a so-called advocate makes it easier for him to get. Instead of telling him he’s obese, and going to die, pandering.
Big Oil Inc. has speculated itself rich, and we are begging for a summer coupon instead of trying to find a better option. Wow.
Yet, when most are approached with the truth – alternative fuels, limited dependence on OPEC, and better fuel economy – they become distracted with BS.
Don’t do it in IND and NC.
BTW, if you agree with it, then surely you will share a portion of the incredible $30 windfall with the newly unemployed highway workers who’s jobs you, HRC, and McC think Big Oil Inc. will subsidize.
Get REAL. Elect someone to tell you your diet STINKS.

Well said Mark!!!

Are you kidding me?
Hillary spends the windfall profits tax twice. When economists criticize her, she uses George W. Bush politics.

This gas tax summer break is indicative of what Clinton is all about, a gimmick for a few more votes and meanwhile bridges need repair etc. The real solution which should have by the way being embarked on years ago by the clinton and bush presidencies is a long term one, invest in R&D, mandate higher milage standards, set policies to help renewable energies adpotion like Germany has with solar and wind power. This energy problem requires tough choices and honest leadership that will tell us what is needed and not what is politically attactive for a few votes

We all know that hillary will do and say anything to get elected. She is as she has always been.

When did Hillary become the UNDERDOG

With gas prices as they are and expected to get up to ten dollars a gallon, nobody will be using the roads. There may not be a need to repair them. Oh, in time only the elite will use the roads, got to fix them.

All that long bla-bla-bla list of Obama’s “lies” which has been today signed up by ARTHUR BURRIS I have red day before signed by different name. Word by word.

Wow, she sure is desperate! Beyond that, she must either be unethical or just plain stupid.
So, here’s a little economics:
If you tax something (like oil), you get less of it. If you get less of something (like oil), prices go up, not down.
So, the effect is higher prices.
Moreover, irrespective of the political incidence of the tax (assigned to either consumers or producers) applied by ignorant politicians seeking election, what really matters is the economic incidence of the tax, which any economist will tell you is based on the price elasticities.
It is quite likely that consumers will bear a larger percentage of the tax than producers because they are more price inelastic.
–And in case you were wondering, big oil firms are price takers, not price makers in the world market. Simply look at how the price of a barrel of crude changes based on what is called a “random walk”.
Oh, and one more thing for those on here that are so emotionally inclined. Take a look at the profit margins of the oil firms and see just how relatively low they are!
–Get real

If Hillary and McCain were able to pull off a tax holiday, we would never see the benefits at the pump. The oil companies would take advantage of the situation by raising their prices to compensate. Then after the tax holiday, the taxes would go back up and the price raises put in place by the oil companies would stay in place. We would be even worst off. We have seen this happen in the past. No. We need a complete change. Throw out the Clintons, McCains and Bushes, and all the old dishonest politicians, and start over with a change we can depend on. We need Barack Obama.

Hill is a fool. Why can’t she just admit that she panders but listens she she getsit wrong and then makes corrections. Rather than making an idiot of herself. Obama maybe slow on judgement but it is important to get it right rather than ducking the country further into an economic doom.

To those of you who say “18 cents is something, its better than nothing” – I invite you to think logically:
1. Gas prices have gone up by 14 cents in the last two days – project that forward to see how much it will have gone up by the end of summer.
2. Even if by some miracle, this gas-tax-holiday could be passed in time for summer (which it won’t) – THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY FOR THE “WINDFALL PROFITS TAX” ON OIL COMPANIES TO BE PASSED BY SUMMER.
3. With no Windfall-Profits-Tax on oil companies – the money that was to go into upkeeping roads and bridges will be gone – that is about 9 Billion Dollars
4. THOUSANDS of construction jobs will be gone – meaning thousands of people out of work and taxing the system.
5. MOST IMPORTANT: $30 over the course of the summer will be spent on the rising cost of fuel – not saving you one dime.
Think about it please!!!!!!!!!!!

Hillary Clinton’s husband never followed the economists either. Bill Clinton never paid down the National Debt. Bill Clinton never had a budget surplus.
Look on yahoo.com and search on Yahoo’s search engine for, (Public Debt to the Penny). This is the United States Treasury Departments website.
Look at the left hand page of the website for ,(Historical Debt Outstanding)…….click on it.
It lists the United States National Debt in 50 year increments from the inception of the United States.
The last time the United States National Debt was paid down was in 1957!!!!!!
50 years ago!!!!!!!
Hillary and Bill Clinton don’t pay their campaign bills as well as the United State’s Bills.
Bill Clinton lied about paying down the United States debt. He told everyone he had this big surplus. George Bush co-opted Bill Clinton’s lie and gave everyone a tax cut.
We now owe 4 Trillion dollars more on the national debt because of Bill Clinton’e charade.
Hillary Clinton is a huckster also. She will get you the free gas, by not paying the bills for road projects.
When you are driving on dirt roads in your spiffy hybrid…..you can thank the queen of lying and her husband Bill for it.
Mrs. Potato head put on new plastic parts for everyone….everyday. Just so you will vote for the liar in the election. Vote her in……it will be interesting watching the United States economy collapse under her watch.

bush, clinton, bush, clinton… anybody else see something wrong with that. This woman is now railing against educated economists. Go cry about it hillary

If putting the windfall profits into the strategic energy fund, why wait until 2009? Put the profits into the strategic energy fund, adding a bunch of green collar jobs, decreasing our need for oil, dropping long term oil/gas prices, and do it now. Oh . . . that would take too long too help Hillary get elected and some elitist economist might actually agree that it is a good idea.

STEVE WILSON:
RIGHT!
What has Bill done for us lately???
How can you compare his lack of accomplishments with Barack?
The following quote is from “wikipedia”
][5] Clinton presided over the longest period of peace-time economic expansion in American history, which included a balanced budget and a reported federal surplus.[6][7] Based on Congressional accounting rules, at the end of his presidency Clinton reported a surplus of $559 billion. On the heels of a failed attempt at health care reform with a Democratic Congress, for the first time in forty years, Republicans won control of the House of Representatives.[8] In his second term he was impeached by the U.S. House for perjury and obstruction of justice,[9] but was subsequently acquitted by the United States Senate and completed his term.[10]
Clinton left office with an approval rating at 65%, the highest end of office rating of any President since World War II.[citation needed] Since leaving office, Clinton has been involved in public speaking and humanitarian work. To promote and address international causes, such as treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS and global warming, he created the William J. Clinton Foundation. In 2004, he released his autobiography, My Life.
And another thing….
Until this fiasco with Obama, Bill Clinton was always considered a friend to African-Americans. So much for friendship, when a Bozo like B O can come along and knock the socks off a person’s personna with ONE card….
That’s kind of sad.
But that’s politics
In any case,I’ll be casting MY vote for
H I L L A R Y!

tomorrow will tell the tale.
My vote is Hillary.. without fail

If Hillary’s long term solutions are going to be effective, start today. Why is she going to waste a year on a short term solution that won’t help the people that need it the most? The people that save the most are going to be those that drive big SUV’s and take driving holidays. Someone that can’t afford to leave town isn’t going to benefit much from the price of gas for leaving town. The $70 Clinton claims is going to disproportionately go to richer families. The poor would be lucky to see a quarter of that.
The rate freeze on ARM mortgages penalizes those of us who bought what we could afford, scrimped and saved and read the mortgage papers we were signing. Freezing the rates will make writing mortgages riskier for banks. Banks will make up for that risk by raising the rates AND making it harder for poor people to get a loan. Her plan might help a few people irresponsible people, but will drop housing prices more and make the cost of new loans higher.

Very telling of Hillary-You know when she was working on Health Care she had lock down meetings and was not too willing to be challenged on her project. It is real important as a leader to respect and listen to others about the pro and cons of ones decisions. Hillary will never have the answers to everything nor will she be a team player. This is why I wouldn’t vote for her, her ego is greater than being humble and inclusive-
GO OBAMA

Hillary will listen to the common man but she won’t listen to anyone who actually knows what they are talking about. She won’t listen to economist. She wouldn’t listen to military experts (by not even reading political/military analysis about Iraq before going to war).

… at how many people here are defending Hillary’s idiotic gas tax plan. Frankly, it’s AMAZING how dumb and naive you people are!
How about this for starters? Assuming Indiana is a state with average population, for the price of accepting her promise for $0.28 a day, you will cost 4,000 people in Indiana their job.
That’s even if it worked, which it won’t (the highway fund will be depleted, and prices won’t go down – they may actually go up).
Those of you with the “at least she’s doing something” point of view make me fear for our republic.

Economists come from all sorts of family backgrounds and specialize in economics for a variety of groups, not just big business. If none of them are stepping forward to endorse the idea of dropping the gas tax for the summer, there must be a good reason. The democrats and republicans in Congress don’t support this idea. Why? Because if they pass it, they know things will get worse and they will have trouble in the fall getting re-elected. So why is Hillary and John supporting it? It sounds good to the voters and yet there will be no consequence because they know it will not pass. Finally, if this was really a good idea and they really were leaders that can get things done, why are they not trying to get Congress to vote for it? Because they are busy telling people what they want to hear and have no real interest in getting this passed.

Didn’t she misspeak? Or does she think we “misheard?” Or is it a combination of misspeaking and mishearing? Or is she going to say that that’s what she said but she didn’t mean it to sound that way?

questioner:
If Hillary loses Indiana her ship
will sink and she’ll have to bail!

Good to see the Clinton supporters out in force supporting this nonsensical idea. I’m sure with the Clintons’ multi-million dollar fortune they’re really concerned about gas prices.

I don’t think many people understand the issue. It’s irrelevant who is pandering to whom for whatever political reason–they’re politicians not saints. The issue is that a gas tax=no change in price at pump (ok, maybe 2-3 cents less per gallon, but that’s like $.36 MAX savings on a full tank and if $.36 is a big deal, maybe you should just beg on the streets?) Do some learnin’ about “tax incidence”. Oil companies will block any “corporate profit tax” from being passed in Congress since they have fancy accountants, lawyers and lobbyists. Then we’ll have a budget shortfall and guess what? Higher future taxes and/or cuts in programs. So it’s a bad idea PERIOD.