INDIANAPOLIS, April 25, 2008
Obama Blames High Gas Prices On Washington
Says Politicians Haven't Stood Up To Oil Companies, Calls For Windfall Profits Tax
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Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. speaks during a news conference at a gas station in Indianapolis, Friday, April 25, 2008. (AP)
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"The candidates with the Washington experience - my opponents - are good people. They mean well, but they've been in Washington for a long time and even with all that experience they talk about, nothing has happened," Obama said in remarks delivered at a gas station. "This country didn't raise fuel efficiency standards for over 30 years."
The result, the Illinois senator said, is that consumers are suffering.
"So what have we got to show for all that experience?" Obama asked. "Gas that's approaching $4 a gallon."
New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is challenging him for the Democratic presidential nomination, campaigned in Jacksonville, N.C., and continued to press Obama for a debate before the May 6 primaries there and in Indiana.
Their most recent debate was last week in Philadelphia; North Carolina Democrats recently dropped plans for a debate.
"The only question I can't answer is why Senator Obama won't debate me in North Carolina," Clinton said. "Again, I offer that I'll go anywhere, anytime, and we'll have that debate as long as Senator Obama would agree to actually meet me."
Obama is favored to win in North Carolina; Indiana is considered close.
In the remarks, Obama said soaring gas prices were the latest manifestation of a Washington establishment that won't tackle the problems facing most consumers, and that he would bring needed change.
"In the end, we'll only ease the burden of gas prices on our families when Hoosiers and people all across America say 'enough,"' Obama said. "It's time to free ourselves from the tyranny of oil and stop funding both sides in the war on terror."
Campaigning in the heart of the Farm Belt, he paid the requisite nod to ethanol.
"I've been a strong supporter of ethanol," Obama said, noting that demand for corn to make ethanol is driving up food prices. "Corn-based ethanol is a transitional technology."
Obama's speech came after Sen. John McCain, the Republican Obama hopes to challenge in the fall, proposed suspending the federal gas tax for the summer driving season. Clinton supports the idea; Obama does not. Republican critics have noted Obama's vote for a temporary break on gas taxes when he was a member of the Illinois Legislature.
"Barack Obama can't deliver for working people if he supports higher gas taxes when the price of fuel is at a record high, and is likely to get higher by summertime," said McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds.
In the speech, Obama called for a windfall profits tax on oil companies, with the money used to help consumers pay utility bills. He also said middle-class tax breaks he's proposed would help families with energy costs.
"But the truth is, there is no easy answer to our energy crisis, and we need a president who is going to be straight with us about that," Obama said, a reference to his oft-stated contention that Clinton hasn't been upfront with voters.
Speaking with reporters, Obama dismissed suggestions that he's struggled in recent primaries and should change his campaign theme.
"That theme is not going to change because I believe it," he said.
Obama also shrugged off a television interview by his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, scheduled for national broadcast Friday night. Wright has been criticized for his negative comments about America.
"I understand that he might not agree with me on my assessment of his comments," Obama said. "He is obviously free to express his opinion. I've expressed mine very clearly. I think what he said on several instances was objectionable and I understand why the American people took offense."
As Clinton pleaded with North Carolinians for their support, she also asked for help keeping her husband, former President Clinton, healthy while he campaigns for her across the state.
"You gotta help me out here, though - my husband loves North Carolina, and he loves barbecue, and he's been eating a lot of it across the state," she said before heading to Indiana for several campaign appearances.
While she campaigns, Clinton also has been meeting with undecided superdelegates, the Democratic party leaders and elected officials whose support will be needed for either her or Obama to collect the 2,025 delegates needed to secure the nomination.
The former first lady spent Wednesday night and Thursday morning in meetings at the headquarters of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in Washington.
The campaign would not answer any questions about the meetings on Thursday. Early Friday, campaign spokesman Jay Carson said Clinton "talked about her victory in Pennsylvania and her strength among core Democratic constituencies and the fact that she is tested and ready and would be the best candidate to defeat John McCain in November."
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
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See all 192 Commentscanadafreepress.com/index.php/ article/2462
Posted by obama8years at 01:44 PM : Apr 27, 2008
Why don''t you read it for us Moron? I''m sure it is just FULL of FACTS. Ha!Ha!Ha!
Posted by anappleadae at 02:08 PM : Apr 27, 2008
It sounds like that question applies to bush, cheney, and their followers. After what they did to this country, they better run!
Posted by DemWatcher at 09:12 PM : Apr 25, 2008
Actually, it is like stock market. And who''s the best placed to influence stock market ? I think you need more thinking and less uppercase.
If anyone needed a reason to not vote for Obama, and also wonder why HAMAS is supporting Obama. Please be brave, patient, this is a long article but worth the read.
canadafreepress.com/index.php/ article/2462
He talks the big talk, and then walks right out with his hand out to energy and oil companies for his free ride campaign!
Give me a break!
Average American families and college kids...the biggest laugh of the century!
Posted by obama8years,
Do not count your chickens before they hatch. First we need to survive another 8 months of Bush!
GOOGLE: ISM and WRIGHT
Also didnt rev wright support Hamas by printing an article in their church bullentin.
Pledge allegiance to all Black leadership who espouse and embrace the Black Value System.
Personal commitment to embracement of the Black Value System.
IF Obama beleives in this System, I think its going to be a tough 4 years.
For someone concerned about all races , he doesnt show it going to a church like this:
Trinity United Church of Christ adopted the Black Value System written by the Manford Byrd Recognition Committee chaired by Vallmer Jordan in 1981. We believe in the following 12 precepts and covenantal statements. These Black Ethics must be taught and exemplified in homes, churches, nurseries and schools, wherever Blacks are gathered. They must reflect on the following concepts:
Commitment to God
Commitment to the Black Community
Commitment to the Black Family
Dedication to the Pursuit of Education
Dedication to the Pursuit of Excellence
Adherence to the Black Work Ethic
Commitment to Self-Discipline and Self-Respect
Disavowal of the Pursuit of "Middleclassness"
Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the Black Community
Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting Black Institutions
Pledge allegiance to all Black leadership who espouse and embrace the Black Value System
Personal commitment to embracement of the Black Value System.
I have heard of this, organic trash can be broken down into methane. There is also talk about using pond scum (algae) to produce biodiesel fuel. They say it will be cost competitive, but with the price of gasoline right now that really isn%u2019t good enough. (It would just be a different group raking us over the coals like the oil companies are now) We need something that will cost a lot less than we are paying now. Lets hope they find an affordable alternative soon. Our country is too dependent on foreign oil from countries that don%u2019t like us. I think a big part of our economic problems is directly related to the greed of Oil Companies and Wall Street. I say it%u2019s about time they were taken out of the equation. Article on pond scum
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070130090717.htm
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Posted by getcentered at 04:42 PM : Apr 25, 2008
I was at a party recently discussing carbon offsets and green energy and one person told me that there is current technology that use any type of organic trash and turn it into energy. I haven''t been able to find out anything further. Are you aware of this tech?
"Politicians Haven''t Stood Up To Oil Companies..."
He is exactly the type of politicians who did not stand up to oil companies.
He has been wandering around in Congress riding on peoples'' tail. Not once did he lead anything important causes. In his lifetime, he has been preparing himself to grasp the presidency for himself. He has never stood up for anything but just once anti-war; which is a no loss situation. He is just as crooked as the worst politician around.
Never OBAMA & wright: They are wrong
OBAMA, his campaign, his surrogates, and his fanatics have been discrediting Clintons'' presidency, surplus, and prosperity as causes for every bitterness.
OBAMA ran a TV ad repeating the dishonest charge that the Clinton plan would force people to buy health insurance they can%u2019t afford. It was more negative than any that Mrs. Clinton has run. He has no courage to stick with issues and ideology; he just wants for himself prosperity and fortune.
I despise the black community at large for discrediting Bill Clinton. Now, they can discredit anything American represent now that they can discredit Bill as racist or saying anything. I am furious that the Black community are practising racial injustices.
It is time American say no to the 92% of black voters. You can''t get to presidency by libels. To hell with your OBAMA''s trick who is trying to convince that Rev Wright and him are different and they are not connected.
American community is not only for the black, but Latinos, Asians, Indians, Caucasians and more. There is no way that you can look down upon us and win the election. No way!!!
American has given enough for the black community and owe you nothing more!!!
I am furious with sorts like OBAMA and Wright. They are wrong.
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