Obama Called Gas Tax Relief A "Bad Idea." "Earlier Monday at a community college in thePhiladelphia suburbs, Obama rejected a tax holiday as bad economic policy. 'I've said I think John McCain's proposal for a three-month tax holiday is a bad idea,' Obama said, warning consumers that any price cut would be short lived before costs spike back." (Nick Timiraos, "Clinton Joins McCain On Gas-Tax Holiday," The Wall Street Journal's "Washington Wire" Blog, blogs.wsj.com, 4/21/08)


But In March 2000, Obama Voted For The Temporary Elimination Of The State Sales Tax On Gas:


As A State Senator, Obama Voted To Suspend The State Sales Tax On Gasoline. (S.B. 1310: Senate Third Floor Reading, Passed, 50-0-6, 3/8/00, Obama Voted Yea)


The State Of Illinois Suspended Its Five Percent Sales Tax On Gasoline. "After a whirlwind legislative session, Gov. Ryan signed legislation Thursday that suspends the state's 5 percent sales tax on gasoline. If that is passed on to consumers, fuel prices would drop by about a dime per gallon." (Dave McKinney and Fran Spielman, "Ryan Signs Suspension Of Gas Tax," Chicago Sun-Times, 6/30/00)


Obama Said He Supported The Gas Tax Suspension Due To The "Huge Hike" In Gas Prices. Obama: "I originally voted for the suspension because I thought that it was extraordinary circumstances, given the huge hike in prices, but I don't think that we have the evidence yet to make this a permanent three-hundred- or four-hundred-million-dollar hole in the General Revenue Fund." (Sen. Barack Obama,State Of Illinois 91st General Assembly Regular Session Senate Transcript, 11/15/00, Illinois General Assembly Home Page, pp. 51-52)


And The Temporary Gas Tax Relief That Obama Voted For In The State Senate Helped Consumers:


In 2000, Gas Prices Suddenly Dropped Between 8 And 10 Cents A Gallon Overnight When The Tax Suspension Went Into Effect. "When the tax suspension went into effect July 1, the change in price was obvious, as prices suddenly dropped between 8 and 10 cents a gallon overnight." (Karen Mellen and Ray Long, "As Gasoline Prices Drop, Tax Debate Continues," Chicago Tribune, 7/20/00)


AAA Attributed Part Of The Decline In Gas Prices To Illinois' Temporary Suspension Of Its Gas Tax. "The price of gasoline inIllinois dropped 40 cents since its peak this summer, according to the latest survey Wednesday, a record decrease for one month. ... The AAA credited both states [Illinois andIndiana] for temporarily suspending their five percent sales tax on gasoline, and on an increased supply of cleaner-burning reformulated gas." (Robert McCoppin, "State Gas Prices Set Record One-Month Decline," Chicago Daily Herald, 7/19/00)


AAA Chicago Motor Club's Steve Nolan: "The Temporary Repeal Of The State Gas Tax Has Helped [With Gas Price Drop]..." (Robert Manor, "Illinois Finds Dramatic Relief At Gas Pump," Chicago Tribune, 8/17/00)


The Decline In Gas Prices Was "Aided By The Suspension July 1 [2000] Of The State's 5 Percent Sales Tax On Gasoline." "State legislators had called for the hearings as pump prices soared well above $2 a gallon. The recent decline -- aided by the suspension July 1 of the state's 5 percent sales tax on gasoline -- took some of the political expediency out of the hearings." (Courtney Challos, "Legislators Now Irked Over Falling Gas Prices," Chicago Tribune, 7/13/00)


Obama Jokingly Wanted A Sign On Gas Pumps Acknowledging He Lowered His Constituents' Gas Prices:


Sen. Frank Watson (R-Greenville, IL): "This amendment [Amendment No. 3 to H.B. 3873] was discussed in the Executive Committee. We did not adopt it at the time, but it was kind of an agreement that this would be sent out to the Floor without any discussion -- or, without going to committee. And it would require theState of Illinois and the Department of Agriculture to place on a -- gasoline pumps the language that the State portion of the State tax on motor fuel and gasohol was eliminated by Public Act whatever, and that it was effective January 1st, 2001." (Sen. Frank Watson,State Of Illinois 91stst General Assembly Regular Session Senate Transcript, 4/15/00, Illinois General Assembly Home Page, p. 80)


Obama: "I wasn't clear on -- on the response to the question, but are -- if the gas tax isn't going anywhere, what happens to this [amendment]?" (Sen. Barack Obama,State Of Illinois 91st General Assembly Regular Session Senate Transcript, 4/15/00, Illinois General Assembly Home Page, p. 81)


Sen. Watson: "This is part of the gas tax language. This -- this is part of the reduction of the sales tax on gasoline. So if the gas -- if that passes, this is an amendment to it, and it would require that petroleum marketers have to put a sign on their pumps that this did, in fact happen." (Sen. Frank Watson,State Of Illinois 91st General Assembly Regular Session Senate Transcript, 4/15/00, Illinois General Assembly Home Page, p. 81)


Obama: "I was wondering, can I -- in my district, can I have 'Senator Obama reduced your gasoline prices'? Is that possible?" (Sen. Barack Obama,State Of Illinois 91st General Assembly Regular Session Senate Transcript, 4/15/00, Illinois General Assembly Home Page, p. 81)

__________________
Barack will say anything to get elected, He's a politician!
Rev. Jeremiah Wright

So he's a hypocrite. This makes him no different than hillary. So far the only candidate that has a straight record is McCain, and I am sure it is just a matter of time before they find something wrong with him as well.

Of course, we can't fault Obama too much, because all of these references are over 8 years old. People can change in their political mindsets over time, although it's best if they don't, because it makes you wonder if they will change again when in office.

__________________
Proud Libertarian. www.lp.org
Wayne Allyn Root for President 2008!
"Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys." ~P.J. O'Rourke
“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”
-Plato

It's childish how people give a thread that hurts their candidate a low rating, yet they fail to disprove a single word in that thread.

__________________
"Of course the fact that a person believes in racial equality doesn't prove that he's a communist...but it certainly makes you look twice, doesn't it? You can't get away from the fact that racial equality is part of the communist line." - Joseph McCarthy

Political Forum Diplomacy Game Map (In Progress)
Current Diplomacy thread

Here's an AP story on this issue: The Associated Press: Fact Check: Obama and the gas taxes

Basically, the facts of this story are right. Obama did the same thing in Illinois that he's criticizing Clinton and McCain for. Obama says he learned from what happened in Illinois. Whether you buy that or not is up to you.

However, I would say that this does not prove that we cannot trust Obama. The Clinton's have done far far worse (Whitewater, "kitchen sink" strategy, Clinton sticking with her husband to further her own political ambitions, the First Lady being assigned MAJOR political issues (national healthcare), "sniper fire", her embellishing of her role in the Northern Ireland peace process, her support of NAFTA while saying she was opposed to it, etc

As for McCain, if we have such high standards about the truth here, then we gotta really get McCain because he recently came out and said that we fought the 2003 Iraq War to get oil. I thought Iraq was a central front in the "war on terror." I guess that shit is yesterday's news.

__________________
"Of course the fact that a person believes in racial equality doesn't prove that he's a communist...but it certainly makes you look twice, doesn't it? You can't get away from the fact that racial equality is part of the communist line." - Joseph McCarthy

Political Forum Diplomacy Game Map (In Progress)
Current Diplomacy thread

Yep, this is no reason not to trust Obama, because he has a reason for it. Learning from possible mistakes/outcomes is a very good reason not to vote for something again. Mccain has some issues he's flipped on as well, just look at tax cuts and immigration. Even in his old age he's learning things.

It is funny how all of you Obama fans look at the issues. You rather look the other way than to admit the facts that the man is a liar.

This is the same tactic that he uses when the Rev. Wright Issue pops up.

How come you guys criticize Hillary for voting on the war in Irak, but now that she's seen the real facts and changes her opinion everyone call her un trust worthy, wishy washy. She only sees the issues when it's convinient for her. Bull Shit!

The fact is: that the majority of americans voting for Obama don't know who he really is, or what he stands for.

The thing that makes me laugh the most is that when Obama is attacted, for good reasons. Everyone bring the Lewinsky scandal, or the Bosnia Sniper shit.

Why don't you take a look at her resume, then we'll talk!

Current Office: U.S. Senate
Current District: Junior Seat
Office Seeking: President
First Elected: 2000
Last Elected: 11/07/2006
Next Election: 2012
Party: Democratic






Background Information Additional Information

Gender: Female
Family: Husband: William
1 Child: Chelsea.
Birth Date: 10/26/1947
Birthplace: Chicago, IL
Home City: Chappaqua, NY
Religion: Methodist

Education:
JD, Yale University, 1973
BA, Wellesley College, 1969.


Professional Experience:
Attorney, Rose Law Firm, 1976-1992
Faculty, University of Arkansas Law School, 1975
Author
Former Staff Attorney, Children's Defense Fund.

Political Experience:
Senator, United States Senate, 2000-present
First Lady, President Bill Clinton, 1992-2000
First Lady, State of Arkansas, 1978-1980, 1982-1992.

Organizations:
Co-Founder, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
Board Member, Arkansas Children's Hospital
Board Member, Children's Defense Fund
Board Member, La Farge
Board Member, The Country's Best Yogurt Company
Board Member, Wal-Mart.

Caucuses/Non-Legislative Committees:
American Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession
Chair, Arkansas Educational Standards Committee
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Co-Chair, Congressional E-911 Caucus
Democratic Policy Committee
Democratic Technology and Communications Committee
Board Member, Legal Services Corporation
Senate National Guard Caucus
Senate Rural Health Caucus
Senate Steel Caucus
Chair, Steering and Coordination Committee
Chair, Task Force of National Health Care Reform.

Committees:
Armed Services, Member
Environment & Public Works, Member
Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, Member
Special Committee on Aging, Member
Subcommittee On Readiness and Management Support, Member
Subcommittee on Airland, Member
Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, Member
Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, Member
Subcommittee on Superfund and Environmental Health, Chair
Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Member

__________________
Barack will say anything to get elected, He's a politician!
Rev. Jeremiah Wright

Senator Barack H. Obama Jr. (IL)




Current Office: U.S. Senate
Current District: Junior Seat
Office Seeking: President
First Elected: 11/02/2004
Last Elected: 11/02/2004
Next Election: 2010
Party: Democratic






Background Information Additional Information

Gender: Male
Family: Wife: Michelle
2 Children: Malia, Sasha.
Birth Date: 08/04/1961
Birthplace: Honolulu, HI
Home City: Chicago, IL
Religion: United Church of Christ

Education:
JD, Harvard Law School, 1991
BA, Columbia University, 1983
Attended, Occidental College.

Professional Experience:
Attorney
Lecturer.

Political Experience:
Senator, United States Senate, 2005-present
Keynote Speaker, 2004 Democratic National Convention
Senator, Illinois State Senate, 1996-2004.

Organizations:
Member, Trinity United Church of Christ, present
Center for Neighborhood and Technology
Chicago Annenberg Challenge
Cook County Bar
Cook County Bar Association Community Law Project
President, Harvard Law Review
Board Member, Joyce Foundation
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law
Leadership for Quality Education
Board Member, Woods Fund of Chicago.




Committees:
Foreign Relations, Member
Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, Member
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Member
Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Member
Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security , Member
Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration, Member
Veterans' Affairs, Member


Here's the link, in case you wonder: Project Vote Smart - Senator Barack H. Obama Jr. - Biography

Sort of short, don't you think?

__________________
Barack will say anything to get elected, He's a politician!
Rev. Jeremiah Wright

First, I don't want either of them to be in (that is Hillary or Obama, but if had a choice it'd be Obama). Second, Iraq is spelled Iraq not Irak. Third, the topic to the thread was why not to trust Obama, well that same title could be reallistcally spread to any candidate, not just one. So your statement altogether is wrong.

I appreciate your opinion. Thanks for the heads up on the spelling.

__________________
Barack will say anything to get elected, He's a politician!
Rev. Jeremiah Wright

heres my argument folks-when gas was 1.50 a gallon our economic infrastructure was a whole lot more stable than it is now,a whole lot more stable---we didn't have this many issues on our plates---AGAIN your arguing out of ignorance more than weighing the true facts--I'm confident in the fact that at THE time OBAMA was voting the way times dictated-now this gas hoiday that hill proposes will end up costing us more-and it will further crumble the feeble state our infrastructure is in now-your argument doesn't hold weight to us folks that are smart enough to see that this tax holiday is a bad JUDGEMENT call and was created solely for the purpose of political pandering--if this is what you want for a government-a lousy 38 dollars savings in a 3 month period-and an added 9 billion dollar deficit this gas holiday will create-it further weakens the infrastructure-and guess what-because the demand would go up so goes the prices-and big oil further pads their pockets- give it a think people -there is a valid reason why so many TOP econimists and senators from nearly every state are saying no---