Pandering At The Pump

CBSNews.com Reports: Working-Class Hero Clinton Tangles With Anti-Panderer Obama In Crucial Gas Tax Debate

(CBS)  This story was written by CBSNews.com political reporter Brian Montopoli.

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Barack Obama wants to convince you he's not a panderer.

In an ad out this week called "Truth," the Illinois senator suggests that John McCain and Hillary Clinton's support for the suspension of the gas tax this summer represents cynical political posturing.

"That's typical of how Washington works," he says in the spot. "There's a problem, everybody's upset about gas prices, let's find some short-term, quick fix that we can say we did something even though we're not really doing anything."

Many analysts agree with Obama's suggestion that the gas tax suspension won't do much good. Economists told the Washington Post that suspending the tax would increase demand - and thus drive prices right back up. But Clinton, who has cast herself as a friend of working class voters, says she's just trying to give regular Americans some relief.

"People that are struggling to make ends meet - they're not looking for long term solutions," said Democratic political consultant Steve Jarding. "They're looking for how to fill their tank and pay their rent. For a whole lot of folks, that's a big deal. If I'm working two jobs to make ends meet and my money is going in the gas tank and a politician says, 'Hillary's pandering,' I don't necessarily look at it that way. I think she's trying to do something."

Stuart Rothenberg, a nonpartisan political analyst, said "the anti-pander message" can be risky for a politician.

"Pandering is telling people what you think they probably want to hear," said Rothenberg. "Well, if they want to hear it, then it is a risk to go against it, by definition."

CBS News political consultant and Democratic strategist Joe Trippi said the gas tax issue "goes to the heart of the fight for the whole nomination."

"Obama is saying, 'I'm not going to promise you something that I view as silly,'" Trippi said. "Hillary is appealing to those who say, 'No, I don't care about that, I want my $30.'" (Obama has suggested that the gas tax suspension would only save the average American about $30.)

"My own gut is that this may actually hurt her much more than it hurts him," Trippi added. "She's going to have to hold this line now for the rest of the campaign. It's going to be pretty clear to people after a while that this is no solution to the problem - it's just aimed at making me feel better right now for my vote. And that's a problem long term because I think people question her credibility."

Obama, meanwhile, runs the risk of exacerbating the perception that he doesn't understand the concerns of working class voters - a notion that gained steam after Obama's comments that some small-town voters have become "bitter" and "cling to guns or religion."

"This debate only reinforces the existing division within the Democratic Party," said Rothenberg. "His message works among upscale voters who can afford to pay the gas tax, and hurts him among the lower income people who think he is out of touch."

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who falls into the former category, called the gas tax suspension a "ridiculous idea," adding that "we're trying to discourage people from driving and we're trying to end our energy dependence." But Jarding, who has focused on rural areas, suggested that working class voters are more concerned with their own problems than broader issues like energy independence. And he said an anti-pandering message won't necessarily resonate with struggling workers.

"If all you say is 'I won't pander,' I think it leave you open to, 'OK, what are you going to do?,'" said Jarding. "People will say, 'I'll take pandering when I'm paying $4 per gallon.'"

Obama supports suspending purchases for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and, over the long term, taxing windfall oil profits and capping carbon emissions. Asked what the Illinois senator would do to provide short-term relief on gas prices, Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said he "will put a middle class tax cuts in [families'] pockets that will give them $1,000 per year, and will eliminate income taxes altogether for seniors making less than $50,000."

History has shown that doing what some economists consider the right thing isn't necessarily a winner politically. In the 1984 presidential campaign, Rothenberg notes, Democratic nominee Walter Mondale said that he was going to raise taxes, unlike his opponent Ronald Reagan - who went on to beat Mondale decisively. Rothenberg called that "the anti-pandering strategy from hell." Eight years later, Paul Tsongas labeled eventual nominee Bill Clinton a "pander bear" who "will say anything, do anything to get votes."

McCain has staked out an anti-pandering strategy of his own, casting himself as a "straight talker" who split with his party on issues like the Bush tax cuts, judicial nominees and campaign finance reform. (McCain did shift to somewhat less oppositional positions during his quest for the GOP nomination.) In Michigan, the Arizona senator suggested that some lost automobile industry jobs are not going to come back; rival Mitt Romney took a sunnier view, despite the industry's struggles, and won the state by nine percentage points.

With voters in Indiana and North Carolina going to the polls Tuesday, political watchers will soon be scouring returns for clues as to how well Obama's anti-pandering rhetoric plays with voters. (Not that he always adopts it: Obama has certainly left himself open to charges that he is pandering to the ethanol lobby in Iowa, for example.) The lessons learned from this debate could impact the candidates' rhetoric on issues like social security and trade policy down the road.

"It's not clear which way people will go on this," said Trippi. "Either people will look at the $30 and view it as a cheap trick to get their vote, or they'll see Obama's position as more evidence that he's an out of touch elitist. Then they're saying, 'I want that $30.'"

[sgtrds]

Pandering! It''s about time a news organization called this gas plan what it really is! It''s election year pandering at it worst. It no different then if Clinton and McCain just came right out and said I''ll give you $30 for your vote, except of course they''re using taxpayer dollars for the deal.

[sgtrds]

"Risks For Both Democrats As Clinton Casts Self As Workers'' Friend While Obama Looks To Be Anti-Panderer"

She has $100 million Plus in the bank and houses full of servants and yet now she wants to play act that she''s jus'' plain folks! Ha! What a joke! It''s such a far reach that she''s coming off looking like a clown and a buffoon trying to pull it off. She''s about as close to the working class as an oil company CEO!

[enoughya]

The smuggness of Hillary to arrogantly proclaim that more voters are voting for her belies the fact that Republican crossover voters are voting for her (now that their nominee has already been decided), eventhough these same people absolutely hate Hillary. There is absolutely no dignity or honor with the Clintons, who are trying every angle to steal this nomination when they know full well the voice of the people has clearly come out against them. Why else would they still be garnering support from mostly the uneducated, generally the most gullible class of people, those most easily duped by the chicanery and pandering of the Clintons? I hope the Clintons go away soon. They have truly become a national disgrace, just like Bush Jr has.

[singingrick]

The gas tax break is going to save the average consumer a couple of dollars a month while driving the deficit up by 10 billion dollars. This is a stupid solution.

[prinzowhales]

''Tis the season when the Demopublican carnival barkers regale us with promises of a bright and shiny future...something for the considerable monies that we send to Washington...Wouldn''t it be nice if the earth would open and swallow them all?

[kenbomc]

Everyone needs to check out this breaking story about what Clinton staffers think about the people of Indiana;

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/2/93316/53926/838/507664

[dewardbowles]

The gas tax holiday is the most inane idea yet. If Americans can''t see through these same old political ploys of the past that rely pandering rather than an actual solution nobody is going to be able to help us, not even ourselves.

My vote if for Senator Obama.
White, 48, Male, Married, Professional, Business Owner.

[prinzowhales]

Democrats are probably making a fatal error in voting for either one of these chumps...and measuring their chances against the loathsome McCain...if the Republicans put up a trained chimp in the place of McCain...another Reagan...they will carry the day. Fate has a way of biting you on the arse when you least expect it...Cheers!

[realpatriot1]

ddhinnyc,

The rbo calls intended to confuse minority voters are happening and are being reported locally. Since North carolina has 1 stop registration and early voting which has been heavily advertised and responded to, it will have minimal effect.

That said, it''s clear this isn''t a Republican dirty trick-it''s Clinton''s people.

But then, what''s the difference?

[jumkey]

"Barack Obama wants to convince you he''s not a panderer."

"McCain has staked out an anti-pandering strategy of his own"

Compare these two statements.

Obama is trying to "convince" you, i.e. get you to believe something that benefits him but may not be true. McCain is actively embracing an anti-pandering course as a strategy, i.e. he is being implicitly honest regardless of the cost to him.

The "news" media in the US is ACTIVELY ATTEMPTING to influence this election. They are posting decidedly negative items about Obama, positive ones about McCain and cautiously neutral stories about Clinton in an effort to win her the nomination.

The American news media is dishonest and their only purpose is to advance their corporate interests.

[allamr18]

This gas tax is actually pretty weak. neither john mccain nor hillary clinton will be in a position to get this passed concidering the fact that congress cant pass a national wide gas tax in less than a month and by the time either one gets into office the gas tax idea will be moot.

[kevboom]

I for one thought more of Hillary before she started running ads on tv saying Obama doesn''t care about the people because he won''t support this ridiculous gas tax holiday. His plans will obviously support longer-term gains for the middle class taxpayer than a short-term $25-$30 "windfall" in one''s pocket. Thanks for the pittance Hillary, as if you really care. Keep up the mud slinging and see how many moderates vote for you if you''re lucky enough to steal the nomination from Obama through superdelegate sell-outs.

[suet123-2009]

Please tell me that Americans are smart enough to figure this out! Price goes down, you save a total of about $25 - $30 bucks this summer. People use more gas, raising demand, raising price (oops there goes the $25 bucks) and PROFITS for oil companies... Continue to use too much gas... Loss of highway contruction jobs...

PANDERING!!!!!!!!!!

[G H M]

Obama is wrong!!
I will get 24 dollars
I don''t care if a bridge or two might fall down
or
all the pot holes
or
the oil companys and arabs will make more money
I will get 34 dollays!!!

[sgtrds]

PANDERING!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by SueT123 at 11:27 AM : May 02, 2008

I couldn''t agree more. This is such obvious pandering that it''s an insult to the average Americans intelligence to think they won''t figure that it won''t work in the first place and is nothing at all short of trying to buy their votes for $30 each!

[susan10001-2009]

THINK of the Planet...THINK of the RISE in emissions this summer, as our ice caps melt...for 30 bucks? THINK....IF we want to help, let''s think OUTSIDE the box, it''s NOT the ''80''s, Folks...

Why not give a credit to rural residents who work a certain distance from their residence? They could use the money how ever they like...maybe for extra daycare costs, vehicle repairs, or to put toward a more environmentally friendly vehicle...not a SALE on GAS!

This is the politics that got us in this environmental mess, let''s THINK...

[TheManInDboX]

Hmm so if i drive 11,000 miles this summer i save 100 bucks... What a deal... This doesnt make sense to me, Honestly, why not just use some reserved oil? I mean if you use the reserve and split it 50/50 with purchased oil, we can buy less, causing the cost to go down due to less demand... This will cause the price at the pump to go down, and will keep tax''s in the cost, this will ultimately keep people all together happy, since jobs will not be lost. If you kill the tax, you wont save much, also jobs will be lost, and further more the tax that they want to charge the oil companies will just cause the manufacturers to charge more to make up the diffrence... Politicians must think americans are stupid...

[eddynewhope]

Does anyone else find it ironic that Senator Clinton rides along with a "blue collar worker" in a giant F350 pickup with a caravan of 9 Chevy Suburbans (giant SUVs) in tow to a photo-op about gas prices? LOL.

[rowdytexan2]

Please tell me that Americans are smart enough to figure this out! Price goes down, you save a total of about $25 - $30 bucks this summer. People use more gas, raising demand, raising price (oops there goes the $25 bucks) and PROFITS for oil companies... Continue to use too much gas... Loss of highway contruction jobs...

PANDERING!!!!!!!!!!


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Posted by SueT123 at 11:27 AM : May 02, 2008

Because it''s not true! Obama hasn''t even got a clue what gas tax is in some states. It could mean as much as a 20-30 cent reduction at the pump. And for people who commute and independent trucking families it can make quite a bit of difference.

People who drive their car to the post office and back don''t have a freaking clue!

[jesse1115]

Conflict between democrats is a GOP mission and it is having some success. Many of the most inflamatory remarks being made here are probably being made by Republicans trying to agitate us against each other. Let''s do our candidates and our nation proud and change the tone of this debate.

I support Obama because:

-he took a stand against the Iraq war when it mattered.
-he does not support a gas-tax holiday that would raise gas prices, benefit oil companies, and perpetuate our dependence on oil (an economic, environmental, and SECURITY issue.)
-his response to distractions and controversies has showed even temperament, integrtiy, and thoughtfulness.
-he has made ethics a top priority and wants to stop playing destructive political games.

[jesse1115]

-he has shown that he is resilient and electable in the face of media smears and "swiftboating". The GOP is spending all of their energy trying to take out Obama. KARL ROVE has written an article with skewed stats in an attempt to bolster Clinton''s "momentum". it''s no wonder that Clinton''s polls are looking a bit better, but I must wonder how Hillary "sniper-fire" Clinton will fare against John "war hero" McCain when republicans stop working FOR Senator Clinton.
-I work in a hospital in MA, and health care is important to me. I live in a state where we are proud of our health insurance progress, but where many people who previously could not afford health insurance are now punished and fined instead of being helped.
-His views on foreign policy also show thoughtfulness, a fresh approach which lends itself to diplomacy, and strength. The fact that he has lived abroad and has an inside perspective on multi-culturalism is great considering he will be elected the new leader of the free world.

Again, democrats should debate this one out, but we need to remain united lest we give the world four more years of destructive republican policy.

[gangesdak]

Obama has proved once again his elitist attitude. He is now acting like those high brow economists who has all the long term solutions ten year down the road. That would definitely sell a book. Let Obama write a book, and Hillary run the country.

[rowdytexan2]

-he took a stand against the Iraq war when it mattered.
-he does not support a gas-tax holiday that would raise gas prices, benefit oil companies, and perpetuate our dependence on oil (an economic, environmental, and SECURITY issue.)
-his response to distractions and controversies has showed even temperament, integrtiy, and thoughtfulness.
-he has made ethics a top priority and wants to stop playing destructive political games.



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Posted by jesse1115 at 11:38 AM : May 02, 2008
+ report abuse

Bull! Obama made his famous anti-War speech because his pal Rezko was desperate for there not to be war in Iraq because his money was totally invested in building nuclear power plants there. It was PANDERING to his chief campaign fund raiser!

He doesn''t support the gas tax holiday, because he THINKS it will make look HIllary look bad. Good luck with that!

He has done nothing for ethics except glom on to some other legislators ethics bills so he could get SOMETHING on his record!

[rowdytexan2]

In fact, Obama''s refusal to support the gas tax holidday looks like PANDERING to the far right wing Bush republicans!

[neonink]

You do realize Cheney was working for Nixon. He''''s had almost 40 years with his talons on the gov''t''s throat.

It will take a long freaking time to change this country. Suck it up Obama. You are are still a Junior newbie.

If he were serious, he would take VP, make changes while he can, 8 years later, he''''s ready to make real changes.

This next 8 years is nothing but getting out of the HOLE we are already in. It''s the next decade which has the most potential of changing. We first have to pay for a war and its broken parts.

Let''''s get real for a moment.

The republicans plan 20 years out. We have to stop planning in just 4 year increments.

[sierra20071]

Hah, THIS IS THE BIGGEST PANDERING FOR THE SENIOR VOTE EVER..."and will eliminate income taxes altogether for seniors making less than $50,000." Will Obama ever stop his lies! He is trying to jack the senior vote from Hillary hisself. What a faker, he should stop fronting. Send the green thumb packing NC & Indiana - Please!

[middleman8]

Clinton and McCain are running behind a smoke screen. If they would bring the military home from running all around the world, there would be no gas problem.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by RowdyTexas2 at 11:44 AM : May 02, 2008

lol, good morning five year old pea brain!

[sgtrds]

Let Obama write a book, and Hillary run the country.

Posted by gangesdak at 11:40 AM : May 02, 2008

He has and she''s not capable of running a country.

[TheManInDboX]

Obama has proved once again his elitist attitude. He is now acting like those high brow economists who has all the long term solutions ten year down the road. That would definitely sell a book. Let Obama write a book, and Hillary run the country.
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I live in NY, i am still trying to figure out what clinton has done?? "scratching head"....
Lets see??
Taxes-High
Middle class income--- Low
housing-- High
Interest rates -- high
jobs--- low
health care - LOL, a joke
road repairs - none (there are holes in the streets you can park your car in)
hmmm thinking of anything possitive.. oh, wait... there is nothing to little to show for what she has done as a NY senitor.. Great lets vote her into the white house... genius!

[sgtrds]

Does anyone else find it ironic that Senator Clinton rides along with a "blue collar worker" in a giant F350 pickup with a caravan of 9 Chevy Suburbans (giant SUVs) in tow to a photo-op about gas prices? LOL.

Posted by EddyNewHope at 11:36 AM : May 02, 2008

That was such a scr*ew up! It sends a message of "BURN MORE GAS. It makes the oil companies richer and that way our troops who have died in Iraq for the oil company profits will not have died in vain!"

She should find out who set that blunder of a photo op up and beat them until they''re knocked out. Then revive them and beat them some more!

[jonsid2]

Rowdy Texan repub:

There won''t be any STATE reduction in the gas tax, just the federal tax, which I believe is 18 cents. Read the reports of nearly every economist in the nation and they all say there won''t be more than, at best a couple of dollars saved over the ENTIRE summer.

[acolton1]

The Gas Holiday seems like a good Idea but I agree with Obama that is just will make people drive more and not help out the over all picture and we need the money to fix the roads after this winter.

Also:

Did anybody see the news yesterday with George W. Bush approval rating. Well President Worthless Looser Lier George W. Bush has gotten the LOWEST APPROVAL RATING OF ANY PRESIDENT IN HISTORY, he even scored lower than NIXON. I guess a lot of Republicans are jumping ship on George W. Bush and his inability to do his job as president. Now he is going to PASS THE BUCK to the next president to fix the mess he made of everything. George W. Bush is going back to the Group Home he came from in Texas. Good Ridance to you and all the Re-tarded Bushies.

[sayso2]

I can''t see gasoline prices ever really being controllable for many reasons, not the least of which is that a number of our government decision makers have roots and I would guess still have signficant stock holdings in major oil companies. Hillary or Obama - I''m not sure it really matters. Corruption, or at least conflicts of interest, run so deep in the upper echelons of government, they seem irreversible.

[truthalways]

the analysts supports Obama, because protect the big businesses...group of elistists...always trying to brainswash the working class people with thei fake analysis...

Yes a cut in gas in over a couple of months will definitely help lots of working class people...God Hillary...Obama is just good at writing tales in his books...

In his book he said that Wright inspired him...now he said he said he never heard his sermons, depsite attending Wright''s church for 20 yrs...why doesn''t Obama help with all the campaign money he is squeezing from poor people to become president...he has done nothing for anyone in this country...he blows a lot of air..and lies..

[sgtrds]

-his response to distractions and controversies has showed even temperament, integrtiy, and thoughtfulness.

Posted by jesse1115 at 11:38 AM : May 02, 2008

While I agree with all of your assessment of him, it''s this one in particular that stands out for me. He has been the subject of low ball slimy attacks from both the GOP and Hillary Clinton almost since he first announced his candidacy and through it all he has maintained a grace and a dignity the exemplifies what America needs in a president. If anything these past few mudflinging attacks and the way he has handled himself through them makes me even more certain that I''m right in giving him my vote.

[DCropp]

Hillary can''t even operate a coffee maker, she''s so elite.

Hillary Clinton "Rich People, God Bless Us, we deserve all the opportunities"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N64fDLplBfQ

Hillary Clinton adviser Mickey Kantor calling Indiana voters names and showing Bill Clinton''s racist nature.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN_nQOHj__s

[acolton1]

George Bush the biggest Looser as a President in US HISTORY and the Biggest Dousch Bag Ever on the Face of the Planet.

[tawpdawg11]

hey if you want to give me some relief then send me 10 or 15 thousand dollars. 30 bux over the summer won''t do a damm thing for me or anyone else. Its borrowed money anyway. Clueless

[truthalways]

*go Hillary (correction for typ God Hillary)

[no_billary]

A message to Indiana from the Clinton Campaign:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN_nQOHj__s

[DCropp]

Hillary wants us to burn more oil?

That means more oil for Iran to attack our military, more money for Iran to attack Israel, more money for Hamas and terrorist groups to attack America.

Prevent 9/11 from ever happening again. Vote responsible and not for a gas tax holiday that will result in millions for oil rich terrorist countries like Iran.

I thought Hillary was against Iran. This policy proves she favors the destruction of Israel.

[rowdytexan2]

Rowdy Texan repub:

There won''''t be any STATE reduction in the gas tax, just the federal tax, which I believe is 18 cents. Read the reports of nearly every economist in the nation and they all say there won''''t be more than, at best a couple of dollars saved over the ENTIRE summer.


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Posted by jonsid2 at 11:55 AM : May 02,

You haven''t a freaking clue! The federal gas tax in Texas is 20 cents a gallon on the customer and over 5 cents a gall on the store owner!

For a communiting rural individual that could mean a savings as much as $300, and an independent trucking family even more!

Most families haven''t seen a $300 savings in anything in years!

Again, Obama hasn''t a freaking clue about anything!

[sgtrds]

Idea for New Hillary ad" Hi, I''m Hillary Clinton and I''m running for Vice-President of the United States with my good friend John McCain. Now we know we don''t stand a snowballs chance in hell of winning on issues or our records, so what we want to do is to buy your votes instead. Vote for me and I''ll give you all $30 in gas rebates! Think of it! 30 whole dollars to spend on anything you like (we are of course still accepting contributions to our campaign so hey, you can send it right to us) and all it''ll cost you is your sacred vote! Come on America! Step right up and sell your votes to us for $30!"

[acolton1]

If the gas tax was such a good IDEA why didn''t George W. Bush think about it first.

Because he is an IDIOT and he does not care about the American Middle Class.

[truthalways]

Obama is the elite , getting rich quick since he became senator,, his income rose from $240,000 to $5 million...arrivist...now he is squeezing millions from the public for his campaign...hopes he will help them back...that traitor denying his own pastor to get votes...imagine if he can betray his church and pastor, what he will do to the people...

why should we trust Obama and the analysts that are behind him..there are lot of puppy dogs behind Obama because he is blowing the people''s campaign money to them...his campaign is all about blowing lots of money, on t.v, news..money he did not earned but he is blowing like crazy...just to get every money mongers behind him..he is a sly person

[taddles-2009]

"If anything these past few mudflinging attacks and the way he has handled himself through them makes me even more certain that I''''m right in giving him my vote.

Posted by SgtRDS at 11:59 AM : May 02, 2008"


Couldn''t have put it better, well done.

It''s too bad that instead of trying to develop real arguments for or against a candidate, the media and the surrogate hacks on forums like this can''t elevate themselves out of the dumpster long enough to make a serious argument. All they have is innuendo, quotes taken out of context and outright lies. Nothing of substance has come from the Hillary camp or the Republiscum hit machine.

[theroo4]

I''m glad to see that Obama is the type of person that looks at the big picture, not the quick fix. It will probably take a generation to undue the horrid things that the Bush administration has done such as the war, in education and the sciences, the environment, etc. This corporate war is making corporations (FOB) make billions of dollars. This administration wants to ignore scientists and always dispute what the experts say! This is insane!
I do think Hillary is pandering to the lower educated, lower class, that just want to spend less money on gas over the summer. If she had any vision, she would see we need a much longer term fix, such as a windfall profit tax (which Nixon did) and spend more on natural energy (wind, solar, etc.).

[truthalways]

and what''s was Obama''s donagtion to charities while he earned $5 milllion???

peanuts..

[rowdytexan2]

Good idea for Obama ad:

Hi, I''m Barak Obama and I support the conservative right wing Bush administration! The gas tax holiday giving the average American rural commuter and independent trucking families a little relief is just PANDERING TO VOTERS! We must keep our tax money flowing so that people of higher intellect like me and Bush make the decisions on how it is spent! You know these guns and Bible people, they can''t see the real issues like I can. They MUST let me spend their money and support BUSH and Cheney''s oil bill. We must keep the people of American in unrest and hatred!