The National Environmental Group, Friends of the Earth, Endorses Barack Obama for President
Brent Blackwelder, President of Friends of the Earth noted Obama's strong pro-environment record and the "Clinton-McCain sham of a tax holiday as the primary reasons for the endorsement:
Blackwelder cited Obama's strong pro-environment record, his policy proposals, the profile he has given global warming in his campaign, and the broad mandate he is building for change as other reasons for the endorsement. Obama earned a 96 percent rating from the League of Conservation Voters during his first two years in the Senate. Blackwelder said Friends of the Earth Action plans to inform its more than 100,000 activists in the U.S. about its support for Obama and to campaign for him in remaining primaries.
Friends of the Earth Action previously endorsed John Edwards in the Democratic primary process and engaged in early state independent expenditures on his behalf.
"We endorse Senator Obama because we believe he is the best candidate for the environment," said Friends of the Earth Action President Brent Blackwelder. "The 'gas tax holiday' debate is a defining moment in the presidential race. The two other candidates responded with sham solutions that won't ease pain at the pump, but Senator Obama refused to play that typical Washington game. Instead, Obama called for real solutions that would make transportation more affordable and curb global warming. He showed the courage and candor we expect from a president."
The Gas Tax Holiday that Hillary and McCain have proposed will provide a grand total savings of about only thirty dollars per person. This obviously is not an effective long term solution.
As Obama said on Meet the Press. The gas tax holiday is a "typical Washington gimmick."
Gas Tax Holiday Madness.
Posted at 4:50 PM by Stephen Jackson
A federal gas tax holiday is a short-sighted policy proposal. The costs are huge and the benefits are small.
The Federal Highway Trust Fund is in bad enough shape right now without starving it of much-needed summer gas tax revenue. On current trends, the federal fund will slide into the negative in the very near future. Cutting off the revenue spigot will make that happen faster. What then?
As Friends of the Earth noted, Obama has called for long term solutions, not a Washington gimmick:
Experts agree that gas prices are likely to decline only slightly under a Clinton-McCain "gas tax holiday"—if they decline all. Instead of signing onto this gimmick, Obama has called for long-term solutions that would limit oil consumption by requiring cars to be more fuel efficient and expanding transportation options including passenger rail.
Update: Obama's new NC & Indiana gas tax ad.
Barack Obama's campaign released a new television ad in North Carolina and Indiana Sunday that calls rival Hillary Clinton's proposal for a suspension of the gas tax a "bogus gimmick."
The ad is a response to a recent Clinton commercial that criticizes Obama for not supporting the proposal.
"More "low road" attacks from Hillary Clinton," the ad's announcer states. "Now she’s pushing a "bogus" gas tax gimmick...Experts say it’ll just "boost oil industry profits."
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...