Clinton Wants Congress on the Record Over Gas Tax

By: Fernando Suarez
Topics: Hillary Clinton

(CBS)

From CBS News' Fernando Suarez:

JEFFERSONVILLE, IND. -- In her harshest comments directed to oil companies to date, Clinton said she thinks the federal government should "go after the oil companies."

"I have advocated for a federal gas-tax holiday paid for by imposing an excess profits tax on the oil companies. Let the oil companies pay the federal gas tax for the next months!" said Clinton to thunderous applause.

She also said she wanted to poll Congress to see where they stand on the gas-tax holiday. "Do they stand with hard pressed Americans who are trying to pay their gas bills at the gas stations, or do they, once again, stand with the oil companies?" she asked. "I want them to tell us, are they with us or against us when it comes to taking on the oil companies."

Clinton has faced harsh criticism from economists and politicians since supporting the gas-tax holiday, a plan that would suspend the federal tax on gas from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Critics say the fuel relief plan will do little to help Americans save any money, since the federal gas tax is 18 cents a gallon. Clinton argues that truck drivers and the trucking industry will benefit the most from the savings, which in turn will lower the cost of food and other good affected by the record high price of fuel.

She also got some support from an unlikely corner today – a member of the Kennedy family, most of whom have endorsed her opponent. During a campaign rally here, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., said his family made the wrong choice in backing Barack Obama. "Let me tell you why they are wrong and I am right, because I know Hillary Clinton better than they know Barack Obama," said Kennedy. "You may know that there are some members in my family who decided to do the wrong thing and support Barack Obama. Our family is divided and our party is divided and the reason we are divided is because we have two extraordinary candidates both running for president, and both will make unbelievable presidents for this country."

Back in late January, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., the brother of the late Robert F. Kennedy, decided to back Obama, a move that shocked many inside the Clinton campaign. Soon, other Kennedys followed, including RFK's niece Caroline, his mother Ethel and Edward's son Patrick.

Kennedy, who was introducing Clinton, went on to say that he can sympathize with Clinton because his father, Robert F. Kennedy, was also treated harshly by the Republican Party. "She had to endure the same attacks my father had to endure, which was to be called a 'carpetbagger' when she came into New York," he said. "This party has gotten a good look at Hillary Clinton and they know that all those negatives that have been grilled into them by the right wing Republicans are not true," said Kennedy, as Clinton stood by watching and nodding her head.

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by dave_1958 May 2, 2008 3:42 PM EDT: Hillary Clinton is our savior. A warrior for the people.

Hillary 08; Reply to this comment


by dave_1958 May 2, 2008 3:41 PM EDT: Hillary is our only hope for change.
Hillary is our only hope to reduce the deficit.
Hillary is our only hope for an economic future for America.
Hillary is our only hope to get out of Iraq with Honor.
Hillary is our only hope to get jobs back to America.

Hillary 08

God Bless Hillary Clinton; Reply to this comment


by dave_1958 May 2, 2008 3:40 PM EDT: That video is a fake..

Comments are disabled on it or I would have pointed that out.; Reply to this comment


by DCropp May 2, 2008 1:24 PM EDT: The video America is talking about.

Watch Clinton adviser Mickey Kantor call Indiana complete ____
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-MzByUHIzw&feature=email

Quoting the New York Times, Keith Bradsher...
"Kantor has been a friend of Hillary Rodham Clinton since the late 1970''s"; Reply to this comment


by b-easy63 May 2, 2008 1:24 PM EDT: If the Blacks think its alright for 92% of them to vote for Obama and we shouldn''''t call them racist, then we''''ll be expected to keep our mouths shut when Obama makes his cabinet and all his appointments 92% Black. And if we dare say something.....

Posted by truthyness at 01:26 AM : May 02, 2008

You are kidding right?

1. Almost all Presidential cabinets have been over 90% white--were they racist?

2. If his color and race and who he appoints color and race is where your head is--don''t you know that is what makes you racist? It starts with an unhealthy focus on race and skin color or ethnicity and remarkably little focus on character and the issues. Brighten up.; Reply to this comment


by b-easy63 May 2, 2008 1:20 PM EDT: "Critics say the fuel relief plan will do little to help Americans save any money, since the federal gas tax is 18 cents a gallon. Clinton argues that truck drivers and the trucking industry will benefit the most from the savings, which in turn will lower the cost of food and other good affected by the record high price of fuel."

So...if the tax is eliminated and gas stations keep the price the same--will they pocket the difference? And if so, (or if they raise the prices even higher) what then, Hillary?; Reply to this comment


by truthyness May 2, 2008 4:26 AM EDT: If the Blacks think its alright for 92% of them to vote for Obama and we shouldn''t call them racist, then we''ll be expected to keep our mouths shut when Obama makes his cabinet and all his appointments 92% Black. And if we dare say something.....; Reply to this comment


by truthyness May 2, 2008 4:21 AM EDT: I can see it now....all our money going to Africa.; Reply to this comment


by truthyness May 2, 2008 4:16 AM EDT: YOU GO GIRL!!!; Reply to this comment


by rowdytexan2 May 2, 2008 4:09 AM EDT: Posted by eamon1916 at 12:13 AM : May 02, 2008

Obama has called for an oil profit windfall tax also.

So hootie hoo! I guess he''''s delusional too!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 01:07 AM : May 02, 2008

The only thing about Obama is that he doesn''t want any of it to come to to families...he wants us just let him decide how it''s to be spent.

Maybe to cover the hugeeeeeeee bill he''s trying to passed for freaking foreign aid!; Reply to this comment