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.'"

[msswin]

Do Indiana and NC voters realize Hillary voted no on the following 2006 bill?

''To prohibit the confiscation of a firearm during an emergency or major disaster if the possession of such firearm is not prohibited under Federal or State law.''

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00202

[unclereggie2]

who''s pandering? http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120994756511766395.html?mod=special_page_campaign2008_topbox

[liar-clinton]

Your forgot the Clinton''s as pathologic liars and concerned only with gaining power over the country at its behest. NOT NOW. NOT THIS TIME. Senator Obama''s campaign gets another $25 when I get my pay check friday and another 25 hours of my time (well worth it).

[vmcneal2]

Obama''''s promoting that we should spend an additional $845 billion dollars on foreign aid when we don''''t have it, it the biggest testament to his not having a freaking clues about fiscal responsibility.


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Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 01:23 PM : May 04, 2008
+ report abuse



First, the 845 billion would be spent over many years and second this is a drop in the bucket compared to the trillions spent and wasted in Iraq. Third, I stick by what I said about Limbaugh, he is a drug addict and a liar.

[bajaan]

Hillary''s poor judgment:

1.Urging the passage of NAFTA;

2. Voting to authorize the war in Iraq which so far has resulted in the death of over 4000 Americans and millions of Iraqis.

3. Voting to empower Bush to declare the Iranian Guards as "a terrorist organization; thereby giving Bush the power to declare war on Iran."

4. Having as her campaign manager, Mark Penn, who earned her and her husband over $800,000,00 from the Colombian government for urging passage of a free trade agreement.

5. Threatening to %u201COBLITERATE%u201D Iran instead of negotiate.

6. Trying to run her own campaign for president.

7. Marrying a sexual predator

Purchasing a pack of Viagra for Bill right before she had to go out of town for a short trip.

For advising Bill that should he experience an erection lasting four days he should immediately seek medical attention - or Monica.

THAT JUST FOR STARTERS; I''LL TAKE OBAMA ANY DAY.

[bajaan]

I could never vote for Hillary because she is such a creative, thoughtful frequent and elaborate liar. I do see a bright future for her - as a fiction writer.

[bajaan]

Hillary needs to tell Bill that should he experience an erection lasting more than three days he should seek immediate medical attention - or Monica.

[bajaan]

Hillary needs to tell Bill that should he experience an erection lasting more than three days he should seek immediate medical attention - or Monica.

[rufisgufis]

How does a Clinton,(worth over a hundred million) even get her lips twist up to say that Obama is an "elitist" when she can''t even get a cup of coffee from the coffee machine? If her lips are moving, she is lying.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0jE868yjtdQ&feature=related

[sjc_1]

So politicians are discussing a hot topic in an election year, no surprise. What gets me is people fall for it like some gossip soap opera. None of this hot air is going to bring the price down at the pump. Economics forces far beyond the comprehension of the average voter are at play. It seems like you have to dumb it down to the least common denominator to get people''s attention...arrghh!

[jld1959]

Obama does not recommend a gas tax holiday because the cost is too steep for
people who is hurting. A 18 cents or a 24 cents gas tax holiday will only last 3
month and save you half a tank of gas.

1/2 tank of gas = $9B loss in revenue for road and bridges maintenance = loss
in 300,000 road construction workers = can''t pay mortgage = home foreclosure? =
can''t buy food for family = can''t buy GAS! And we haven''t started looking at the
affect this will have down the supplier chain. What will happen to people who
supply the road construction material? More closures nationwide?

[jld1959]

First of all this discusion of a gas tax is only political pandering for votes from the uninformed.
1. This proposal would have to get passed by Congress.
2. The congress has said it has no plans to submit to Hillary''s pandering.
3: President Bush has stated that he wouldn''t sign the proposal.
4. Therefore there is no realistic chance for the removal of the gas tax.
5. To tax the windfall profit tax of the oil companies would require years of litigation and all the while the saving of roughly 30 dollars in a 3 month period, you would destroy over 300,000 jobs, roads, bridges and infrastructure would sacrificed. When the demand increases and the supply is low gas prices would dramatically increase thereby negating the shortterm effects of the suspending of the gas tax. Additionally the 300,000 out of work, roads,and bridges would not be maintain making Americas roads less safer and by the way 9 billion lost and then higher gas prices.

[ronrileyco]

To paraphrase Steven Colbert, economic facts have a well-known bias toward reality. Fortunately, Clinton''s plan avoids that bias. Like our president, Hillary can see through the fog of facts. She, too, values "truthiness" over reality.

Onward to 4-8 more years of truthiness ! The climate can stand it, our economy can stand it, America''s reputation in the world can stand it.

More important, by avoiding gas taxes, I''ll have an extra 30 cents a day to spend. Unless the local gas station juices prices to compensate, that means more gas for my 11 mpg petrol hawg.

Life good. Belly belly good for me ! Thank you Hillary for seeing the public interest over self interest. WHEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee !!

[bajaan]

Hillary''s poor judgment:

1.Urging the passage of NAFTA;

2. Voting to authorize the war in Iraq which so far has resulted in the death of over 4000 Americans and millions of Iraqis.

3. Voting to empower Bush to declare the Iranian Guards as "a terrorist organization; thereby giving Bush the power to declare war on Iran."

4. Having as her campaign manager, Mark Penn, who earned her and her husband over $800,000,00 from the Colombian government for urging passage of a free trade agreement.

5. Threatening to %u201COBLITERATE%u201D Iran instead of negotiate.

6. Trying to run her own campaign for president.

7. Marrying a sexual predator.

THAT JUST FOR STARTERS; I''''LL TAKE OBAMA ANY DAY.

[rowdytexan2]

I''d certainly like to see EXACTLY where that $845 Billion EXTRA money of ours is going BEFORE it''s enacted! Or are we just writing a blank check?

[rowdytexan2]

By Cliff Kincaid
Feb 12, 2008


A nice-sounding bill called the "Global Poverty Act," sponsored by Democratic presidential candidate and Senator Barack Obama, is up for a Senate vote on Thursday and could result in the imposition of a global tax on the United States. The bill, which has the support of many liberal religious groups, makes levels of U.S. foreign aid spending subservient to the dictates of the United Nations.

Barack Obama''s Global Tax Proposal Up for Senate Vote

Senator Joe Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has not endorsed either Senator Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton in the presidential race. But on Thursday, February 14, he is trying to rush Obama%u2019s %u201CGlobal Poverty Act%u201D (S.2433) through his committee. The legislation would commit the U.S. to spending 0.7 percent of gross national product on foreign aid, which amounts to a phenomenal 13-year total of $845 billion over and above what the U.S. already spends. "

Rush Limpdrug is an idiot, but seems like he was very accurately quoting Mr. Kincaid.

[rowdytexan2]

What do you expect from a drug addict, toe tapper like Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh and his mindless followers wouldn''''t know the truth if it hit them in the face.


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Posted by vmcneal2 at 11:13 AM : May 04, 2008

Obama''s promoting that we should spend an additional $845 billion dollars on foreign aid when we don''t have it, it the biggest testament to his not having a freaking clues about fiscal responsibility.

[vmcneal2]

Quoting Kincaid, Limbaugh falsely asserted Obama bill "would commit the United States to spending 0.7 percent of GDP on foreign aid"
Summary: Reading from a column by Accuracy in Media editor and writer Cliff Kincaid, Rush Limbaugh falsely asserted on his nationally syndicated radio show that the Global Poverty Act, sponsored by Sen. Barack Obama, "would commit the United States to spending 0.7 percent of GDP on foreign aid."


What do you expect from a drug addict, toe tapper like Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh and his mindless followers wouldn''t know the truth if it hit them in the face.

[vmcneal2]

THE MAN IS AN IDIOT!


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Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 09:33 AM : May 04, 2008

I agree McCain is an IDIOT.

[rowdytexan2]

For instance.... There are two reasons why the ongoing fraud court case against the Clintons (Paul vs. Clinton) is unknown to most Americans. One is because the media has chosen, for whatever reasons, to not report this bombshell. Two is because Obama has stood by his promise to run a clean campaign and has not indulged in the sort of gutter politics enjoyed by the Clinton campaign. Don''''t think for one minute that the Republicans would take the high road here.

The mentality that sees strength in petty, unscrupulous bullying is the same mentality that elected Bush-Cheney to a second term. Yes, there are many in this country who see integrity as weakness, and who see strength in ruthless, greedy powermongering. But I believe that there are far more who crave the integrity of character necessary to going against the status quo and, for the first time in decades, doing the right thing.




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Posted by katzooks at 10:11 AM : May 04, 2008

Sorry, but HIllary''s name has been removed from the frivilous lawsuit. Paul is a con! They already had to throw his tape out because it was voiced over.

Soon they''ll throw out his lawsuit for the second time.