Garin: Our Polling Shows "Gas Tax Holiday" Is Helping Hillary Politically

[dkf]

Is Hillary gaining politically by her support for a so-called "gas tax holiday"?

On a conference call with reporters just now, Hillary chief strategist Geoff Garin claimed that the campaign's internal polling shows that it is.

"We're seeing in our polling that working people appreciate the fact that Senator Clinton understands the incredible economic strain they are facing," Garin said.

Also, Garin sought to spin one of the main arguments against the gas tax holiday -- the fact that it saves consumers a negligible amount on average -- as a further sign that Hillary's in touch with blue-collar workers.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/05/garin_our_polling_shows_gas_ta.php

This is how Hillary plans to run the country and the main reason we cannot afford her as President. She revels in the misconceptions of the little guy, and she uses it for political points, when anyone who understands economics knows it is bad policy.

[Bread and Circus]

1. He can shove his pandering policies up his ass, maybe it will relieve him of some of his bullshit.

[virtualobserver]

2. she takes the money out of our grandchildren's piggy bank, and tosses it into the street...

in order to buy our votes.

[Cant trust em]

3. Today's polling shows that people like to be pandered to. NT

[dkf]

7. That is no way to run a country. She is unfit to be President.

[Cant trust em]

12. No argument here.

Frankly, reading this post made me angry. I can't believe that people are buying this bullshit.

[BattyDem]

4. Why does anyone believe the oil companies will lower prices?

They'll either keep the current prices or MAYBE they will drop them by 4 or 5 cents ... but certainly not 18.4 cents. They'll pocket the extra money - we won't be saving any money.

[virtualobserver]

10. it is all driven by speculation anyway.......the speculators will drive the prices back up....

but then the money will go to the oilmen rather than the government. Good plan.

[Hansel]

17. Consumption will increase giving oil companies another excuse...

to raise prices. Speculators will help them. They will pocket the profits and huge amounts of revenue will be lost that could have gone to fix our bridges and roads.

This is a big bonus to the oil companies and Hillary knows it. She can't not know it, because we keep hearing how smart she is.

This pandering for political expediency just like her Iraq vote and is the main reason I don't support her. At least this time she's not helping Bush send people to their deaths.

[Cant trust em]

5. Hillary may be in touch with blue-collar workers, but she is out of touch with good ideas

The gas tax holiday is, and will remain, a bad idea.

[Independent-Voter]

6. Just like usual, her supporters are fucking idiots.

Math, people. It works.

[rniel]

8. Like I always said

Clinton supporters... bad at math.

[redqueen]

9. Has their internal polling turned out to be reliable so far?

[rniel]

11. My gut says

when I first heard this idea come out of McCain my gut went hmmm give me 18 cents off for a month, I might as well cut some coupons out of the sunday paper, same thing.

[JimGinPA]

13. They Better Hope The People They've Polled Don't See Obama's New TV Ad...

Bad news if they do.

[high density]

14. Pandering helps politically

What a breaking news item! The Clinton Campaign is genius!

[americanstranger]

15. Jesus, people are fucking gullible.

And shame on Clinton for capitalizing on stupidity.

- as

[AlinPA]

27. On the subject "thinking people" and elections, it is sad we have so many stupid citizens:

During his 1956 presidential campaign, a woman called out to Adlai E. Stevenson "Senator, you have the vote of every thinking person!" Stevenson called back "That's not enough, madam, we need a majority!"

[americanstranger]

28. That's a great quote.

Thanks. needed a smile today.

- as

[Writer]

16. It's not the best idea in the world, but it is in fact SOMETHING. n/t

[americanstranger]

18. No, it isn't.

It's a ruse. Even if this happens (and note that both McCrazy and Clinton are talking about it, but neither has actually introduced legislation), the oil companies will just jack up their prices to make up the difference.

The money won't go to the gov't in taxes (which keep the roads in good shape). It'll go to the scumbag oil companies.

Bottom line - we'll end up paying the same, the oil companies will make MORE money, and roads will not be repaired.

It's a cynical, opportunistic scam that takes advantage of people's stupidity.

It is not 'something.' It's nothing but a cheap-ass political stunt.

- as

[Writer]

19. Do you have a better short-term solution to provide quick relief...

to commuting consumers and trucking firms?

[Terran]

23. It will raise demand

which will raise prices. It will backfire. It's a dumb idea (that's what Bill's former Treasury Sec'y Reich called in on NPR yesterday). Strengthening the dollar is what would help. Not to mention ending the turmoil in the ME.

[americanstranger]

24. It is not a solution, of any type.

It's a shell game.

All it will do is generate even more revenue for oil companies, while simultaneously taking money out of public coffers for road and bridge repairs.

The oil companies will just jack up their prices to match what we would be paying if the tax was still in place. They may adjust down by a couple of cents - but the effect would be the same. Oil companies will rake in even more money, the government will give up needed revenues for infrastructure repair, and you'll end up paying roughly the same amount as you do now to fill your tank.

It's a cynical ploy, made to look like something is being done. And I'll remind you again, all clinton is doing is talking about it. She's taken no action to even implement it. that should give you an idea of how useless it is right there.

- as

[azmouse]

25. Please read Thomas L Friedman's column today.

http://www.sacbee.com/110/story/903498.html


It is great to see that we finally have some national unity on energy policy. Unfortunately, the unifying idea is so ridiculous, so unworthy of the people aspiring to lead our nation, it takes your breath away.

Hillary Clinton has decided to line up with John McCain in pushing to suspend the federal excise tax on gasoline, 18.4 cents a gallon, for this summer's travel season. This is not an energy policy. This is money laundering: We borrow money from China and ship it to Saudi Arabia and take a little cut for ourselves as it goes through our gas tanks. What a way to build our country.

When the summer is over, we will have increased our debt to China, increased our transfer of wealth to Saudi Arabia and increased our contribution to global warming for our kids to inherit.

[grantcart]

20. sickening almost makes you wish Penn was still around

[City Lights]

21. 'Murikans are fallin' for another band-aid fix to a serious problem.

Whouldda thunk it. I guess 8 years of Bushit hasn't been enough for them.

You can fool some of the people all of the time and those are the ones Hillary concentrates on. :eyes:

[DefenseLawyer]

22. What the fuck else he is going to say?

"We had this really stupid, pandering clusterfuck of idea that pretty much everyone agrees is moronic except for our pal John McCain. Next question."

[Barack_America]

26. If they like it so much, they should vote for McCain on Tuesday...

He's the one who came up with it.