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McCain fires back at Corker, Obama on gas tax holiday
Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 12:31am
Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain defended his propsal for a federal gas tax holiday. Matthew Williams/The City Paper
Presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain defended his proposal of a federal gas tax holiday Monday while in Nashville, rebutting Sen. Bob Corker’s claim that the idea was “pandering extraordinaire.”
Speaking to local reporters aboard his “Straight Talk Express” bus, McCain (R-Ariz.) said he’s become “a bit startled by the hysterical reaction” to his proposal to give relief at the pump “particularly for low-income Americans.”
Recently, Corker (R-Tenn.) said McCain’s gas tax relief proposal was “pandering extraordinaire” and said it was “very disappointing to see.”
Asked for response, McCain said when he speaks to ordinary Americans they say they want “a little relief” at the pump.
“So thanks for the advice, to Sen. Corker,” McCain said. “But I feel it was kind of something (where) Americans might have a little bit of relief. Frankly, it’s sort of along the same lines of when we decided to give a little money back to the taxpayers, who just got their checks I think in the last couple of weeks. Maybe that was pandering to.”
Corker voted against the recent economic stimulus package, saying it was a “political stimulus” package instead.
In addition to McCain, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) is supporting a gas tax holiday from the 18.5-cent-per-gallon federal levy.
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), the Democratic frontrunner for the presidential nomination, has called it a “gimmick,” a literal “shell game” and said Americans wouldn’t really benefit much financially from the estimated $28 on average that they would save during the summer months.
After speaking to reporters, McCain held a town hall forum at the Ryman Auditorium, in which the first issue he addressed was the price of oil and energy.
McCain shot back at Obama and “a lot of the elites” on the gas tax holiday proposal, arguing that low-income Americans drive the farthest to their jobs and have cars that consume the highest amount of gasoline.
“I’d like to have some more quote ‘gimmicks’ to give low-income Americans a little relief,” McCain said to applause. “I don’t know about you.”
Brenda Franklin, a Livingston, Tenn., resident attending the town hall, said she is “lower middle class and these gas prices are killing me.”
“That would be a temporary help,” Franklin said of a tax holiday, who estimates she spends $100 per week of her check on gas.
On the broader energy issue, McCain pushed for an expansion of nuclear power plants and promised to make the country “energy independent” if elected.
“I will embark this nation on a plan that will bring us independence of foreign oil,” McCain said to applause. “I will get that done.”
The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded in Tennessee was $3.82 Monday, according to AAA’s daily fuel gauge report.
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Filed under: City News
So what, now McCain's some kind of populist who's lookin' out fer the workin' man?C'mon, City Paper. Your right wing is showing...
They are just reporting what Juan said.He is no different then the two democraps who don't want to drill ANWR (the nearest tree is 700 miles away) and in the gulf where the Chinese and Indians are drilling.While I agree that we need more nuke plants you can't put that in your gas tank.On a personal note to McCain stop saying my friend you are not the friend of any conservative and it really is annoying and you had better hope Barry wins the nomination because if its Hillary wins THIS CONSERVATIVE will sit this one out or double down and vote for her to keep you out of the WH for the very reason Ann Coulter said from day one.You are insulting,arrogant, a RINO and to freaking old. You repeat yourself like the senile old fool you are.Some choice we have this year, a marxist, socialist or a liberal dem.Republicans better get their heads out of their butts trying to be socialists lights. I for one will be taking a serious look at Bob Barr. For a change it wouldn't be a wasted vote if you are running against the beast as there is not much difference between you and her.
Forget it id you will vote for McCain as you planned to do all along but it will be wasted because Obama will be your next President.You might as well bite your lip and vote for him instead. Hillary will probably concede the nomination after today.
Forget it id you will vote for McCain as you planned to do all along but it will be wasted because Obama will be your next President.You might as well bite your lip and vote for him instead. Hillary will probably concede the nomination after today.
Need coffee . I'm stuttering again.
Delete one of them dooley.No way will obama win. Too much baggage already and the other shoe didn't drop yet.They supposedly have Michele (his mistress) on tape doing a whity speech.The guy has no "normal" friends they are all radicals and/or terrorists includeing his wife. Who wants a first couple in the WH that hates the country they are in charge of and white people?
idgaf, I don't think any Republican can win this election. I think only the die hard Republicans will vote for McCain. President Bush and the economy leaves a bad impression on those who vote beyond party lines. Many of us will vote Democrat this time just because the way things are right now under a Republican president.
McCain, the RINO, is the "centrist" everyone has been screeming for. Obama is very, very liberal.BTW, Id, there was no whity speech. She gave a speech with multiple "Why'd he" rhetorical questions, but didn't speak clearly.
McCain would be a better President than Bush. For that matter, my dog would do a better job. Whatever you think of Grey Sasser, his statement that W is 'arguably the worst President in US history' is right on the money. Hopefully when McCain takes office he will revert to his 2000 edition and not the pandering-to-the-nutjobs 2008 candidate.It will be interesting to see if the revulsion for the Republican party caused by Bush, his inner circle and a gallery of corrupt R Congressmen and Senators will translate into big Dem wins. In the Congress it is more than likely. But Obama, a candidate who won primaries based on his money and being media darling, is starting to look like the weakest candidate the D's could have gone with. Edwards- who won all the debates but didn't have the money and media attention- would have won the Presidency in a landslide. But I think Obama will come up short. McCain will win and find himself with large D majorities in the Congress to work with. With McCain's age and Obama's inexperience, my vote will largely hinge on who the men pick as their running mate.
Wow, the presumptive Republican nominee comes to town for a meet and greet with his peeps and he couldn't even fill the auditorium. 1500 attendees in the middle of the bible belt? It doesn't look too promising for November!
Both parties are weak in running mates too.We have few statesmen/leaders anymore and that is why we are in the shape we are in.The only thing they do (not so) well is to spend. On anything and everything it is hard to find anything they won't spend on.
Energy independence is great but he can't do it in 4 years and probably not 8 unless we spend an enormous amount of money doing so. Nuclear fission is fine provided we also devote great amounts to fusion research as the final solution.
McCain carries a giant weight on his back on the path to energy independence, that being big oil's ownership of the current Republican party. Hopefully McCain will remember that big oil paid for the anti-McCain slime ads in the 2000 California Republican primary.
IDGAF Wrote: "The guy has no "normal" friends they are all radicals and/or terrorists includeing his wife."This is the type of statement that makes me read opinions posted on the web. I thought your buddy Bush had hunted down all the terrorist. We took the war to them so they couldn't bring the war to us. BTW the poorest of the poor ride the bus, and here in Nashville they will soon be paying more to do that.
I know it was a "releif" when I got back into Arizona recently on a trip to the West Coast. Fuel prices in California were closer to $5 in Los Angelas/ $4 in Flag. Though it only takes 2.2 Gallon to fill my bike (and I get close to 85mpg), that too gets expensive when ya live on few hundred $ per MO.
TfT, although predictions are worthless, Obama will win in November. Here is the list: California, Connecticut, Delaware, D.C., Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, & Wisconsin. That adds up to 276 electoral votes.Note that this list concedes West Virginia & Ohio to John McCain. Both of those states are actually in play, along with Colorado, Florida, Nevada, Arkansas, Georgia, Montana, North Carolina, & New Jersey. If the Democratic party can show the voters in these states that McCain’s election means a virtual third term of Bush-Dick, that voting for McCain means supporting the disaster of the last eight years, then November could be a rout. Obama & the Democrats’ only difficulties are the Democrats’ own spinelessness & disorganization & the mainstream media’s love affair w/ McCain.I wouldn’t worry about Obama’s “inexperience”. He has more experience than had many successful presidents.It stuns me to agree w/ little, sleazy, Bob Corker, but he is correct on McCain’s disgraceful, pandering gift to oil companies masquerading as “relief” to gasoline consumers.
I would love to buy gas 18 cents below the going price. Who wouldn't? I did not think it possible but the republicans will win this election with McCain. There is no way Obama will win, just wait and see. Our great governor will endorse Obama today despite our state going heavy the other way.
The gas tax holiday won't work. The oil companies will just jack the price up at the pump, justifying it with increased demand brought on by the gas tax holiday. Corker is right.MJB, if Obama wins Georgia I'll be shocked. Bush actually won Fulton County in 2004. I think Pennsylvania may also be in question. It may be the state to watch this time, and when the vote is close, the R's start cheating. Other than that your guesses may be pretty close.
Congrats, Snap, for showing such utter thoughtlessness: John McCain’s tax relief to big oil entails no assurance that gasoline prices would go down. Further, the gasoline prices are making people shed their s.u.v.s & buy smaller, more fuel-efficient cars.Immediately above your remark I have demonstrated how Barack Obama can—and probably will—win in November, w/out Tennessee, just as John Kennedy did in 1960 (and Al Gore did in 2000, but we needn’t discuss that now).TfT, Obama doesn’t need Georgia, as I show. As for Pennsylvania, the Democrats run it, and it bounced a sitting senator, Rick Santorum, two years ago. Four years ago, it supported Kerry over Bush-Dick, when the latter, and his party, was much more popular than they are today. Moreover, the congressional delegation has a majority of Democrats. The commonwealth continues to lean Democratic. In addition, Obama has a strong organization there already. Pennsylvania also has increasing unemployment. Finally, 55% of Americans say that they are worse off than they were four years ago. That spells the election of a president of the opposing party.
Bob Corker is a smart man.
MJB, I was surprised you put Georgia on the list as even a possibility. You will say that Georgia is in play because of the large black population. I will say that's why Pennsylvania should not be assumed. Philadelphia is not the majority of the state. Please don't play the race card here as that would be absurd if you knew me.Yes, Bush has been so incredibly awful that even the TFM vote (many of whom are probably out of work now) would vote against him if he was the actual candidate. But he isn't. Obama has clinched and gave a great speech. He should be grateful that he doesn't have to debate Hillary or Edwards anymore, I think he'll do fine against McCain in a debate. I'm still not convinced he can win the big one though.
Igdaf, if that's correct, too has 2 o's. I heard that TN State would add enough taxes for any "relief" NOT to make a difference, anyway... McCain is just wrong. Go Bob-!!!