BETWEEN THE LINES
Jonathan Alter
Political Pandering
Suspending the federal gas tax is a crass ploy for votes. Why Hillary Clinton and John McCain should know better.
Hillary Clinton has now joined John McCain in proposing the most irresponsible policy idea of the year—an idea that actually could aid the terrorists. What's worse, both of them know that suspending the federal gas tax this summer is a terrible pander, and yet they're pushing it anyway for crass political advantage.
Clinton and McCain have learned a destructive lesson from the Bush era: as Bill Clinton said in 2002, it's better politically to be "strong and wrong" than thoughtful and right. The goal is to depict Barack Obama as an out-of-touch elitist. By any means necessary.
I could highlight a long debate among economists on suspending the gas tax, but there is no debate. Not one respectable economist—and not one environmentalist or foreign policy expert—supports the idea, unless they are official members of the Clinton or McCain campaigns (and even some of them privately oppose it). To relieve suffering at the pump, send another rebate check or provide tax credits or something else, but not this.
Why is this gas pander so bad? Let me count the ways:
* It's a direct transfer of money from motorists to oil companies, which are getting ready this week to again report record obscene profits. If the federal excise tax were lifted, oil companies would simply raise prices and pocket most of the difference. Clinton's proposal to recover the money with a windfall profits tax on oil companies sounds nice but won't happen. That tax was easily blocked by the Senate in December and would likely be blocked again.
* It offers taxpayers only peanuts. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officialssays the average savings to motorists this summer would be a total of $30. Did I miss something, or was that measly number somehow not included in Clinton's explanation of her support?
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Member Comments
Posted By: dawei @ 05/12/2008 12:05:54 AM
Comment: I think all three candidates are worthless. Abama and Clinton will not handle terrorists correctly, all three will not handle China corrcetly, and McCain is an idiot in understanding Economics. Two of the top five qualifications should be Economics and military action. Not reserves or just service in the Army, Navy or Marines. I mean action in a war and probably nothing less than Captain. I saw a new blog site that is good. www.stopthenonsensenow.blogspot.com. I don't know hoe long until he gets to todays issues but he is writing about the liars in the white house during the 80's and the elite killers and terrorists, the CIA. His mission statement says he wants the people of the US to revolt and take back the government. He is right.
Remember something. Clinton said she wanted to bring this country back to old traditional family values. What did she do as junior Senator for the last six years? Her husband was an adulterous whore and nobody talked about him being a role model. All the people they interviewed on TV in bars, which shows how stupid the media is, never talked about him being the president and saying he should be ashamed. They only said it was their personal business. That is when I really knew my predictions were correct. This country is the sh**hole of the world. Nobody cares because nobody is standing up to the government and forcing them to change things. We do have the power. They are only how many senators and Congressmen? We are 6- million voters. How stupid americans are!!
Posted By: lamm01 @ 05/06/2008 9:11:30 AM
Comment: Th eonly real pandering that has been going on is yours Jonathan "I worship at Obama's" Alter.... Out of all of the "so called" journalists, you have been the absolute worst. What are you going to do with yourself (I have a few ideas) when Obama is obliterated in November......
Posted By: lamm01 @ 05/06/2008 8:47:14 AM
Comment: Th eonly real pandering that has been going on is yours Jonathan.... Out of all of the "so called" journalists, you have been the absolute worst. What are you going to do with yourself (I have a few ideas) when Obama is obliterated in November......