Please...vetoing something that would save Americans 20 bucks a month while costing us thousands of jobs along with our roads and calling it a gimmick isn't elitist or out of touch. We aren't exactly rubes here at the bottom of the income ladder. We recognize that gas has gone up in the last week what a repeal of that gas tax would be and will probably go up the same next week. This is our generation's version of "let them eat cake".

But by all means keep pushing that the 109 million dollar candidate is more in touch with regular Americans along with the husband of nearly billion dollar beer woman.

Gas tax 'holiday' is a terrible idea.

As an added snark:  Obama voting for Clinton's bill from the senate.

Priceless.

This is a truly terrible post, Jerome. I was hoping you would be above trying to defend Clinton's actions on this one, but I'm not at all surprised to see you trying. Not even Krugman is with her on this one, for Christ's sake.

Just about everyone who has taken anything beyond an introductory university course in macroeconomics has written an article saying what a horrendous idea a gas tax holiday truly is. The reasons are plentiful, and include:

(1) The gas tax holiday will not save the average gas consumer more than $28 over the entire period of its proposed duration
(2) The temporary decrease in price will cause a corresponding increase in demand, which will ultimately result in even higher prices for the good once the holiday is over
(3) Burning fossil fuels isn't good for the environment, remember? It's not something we want to be encouraging.
(4) Remember that national deficit? Perhaps we should be levying new taxes on oil companies, but  that's beside the point. Clinton's idea is still really stupid. While McCain would have us borrow more money from China to put in the hands of the OPEC nations, Clinton would just hold off on paying down that debt to China (and thus end up borrowing more) to put the same amount of money in their hands

So yeah, Jerome, Clinton's proposal is bad for gas prices, bad for the economy, bad for the environment, bad for the consumer, bad for the budget, and good for... OPEC? China?... and Clinton, if people really are as dumb as you and her campaign seem to think they are. She's getting a lot of pushback over this one. I would hope the truth wins out.

And I have faith it will... I was an intern for the Obama campaign in Iowa last summer, and you wouldn't believe the number of people who told me directly what a boondoggle they thought the ethanol industry really is. People aren't as stupid as you seem to think. They can grasp semi-complicated concepts if the media chooses to present them with the actual relevant information.

but I still think Clinton is wrong to advocate for a gas tax holiday, especially since her original comments adopted Republican frames about "tax relief" and Obama being out of touch with average folks.

I do agree that energy policy generally is one area where she has the edge over Obama. She should have done more to educate Iowans about the fact that she voted against the energy bill, while Obama voted for it.

I know environmentalists who caucused for Obama without realizing that he had voted for that bill.

Disgraceful post, Jerome.  You are blatantly promoting triangulation, the very reason that most self described liberals are not supporting Hillary Clinton.  Max Fletcher, you pretty much nailed it perfectly.

This "gas tax holiday" is simply ridiculous.  If you suddenly get rid of the tax, the increased demand will immediately push the prices back to the original price, if not even higher.  Thus, consumers WILL NOT get any relief.  And since the prices will remain the same, this "holiday" essentially transfers the tax money, which currently pays for highway maintenance and countless public works jobs, straight to gas companies!!

So gas holiday = tax paid straight to gas companies instead of highway maintenance.

Jerome, the truly progressive response to an idiotic right wing policy proposal is not to support it because it's an election year and sounds appealing  to voters on the surface.  Americans are smart enough not to be fooled by silly titles like "holiday".  If presented a logical argument, they will get it.  The progressive response is to explain to the American people why the proposal is a terrible idea.  Obama is doing just that.

I would rather his decision be the un-popular/correct decision than politics as usual.

I would rather have a President that leads . . . than does what is 'cool' - HRC decided that she would go hang out with the:

It still doesn't seem like a very comprehensive energy strategy does it?  What is Clinton or McCain's strategy after the summer?  Higher gas prices?  It isn't difficult to see who is out of touch here.

I am a die-hard Obama supporter, would not vote for Clinton if she somehow won, hate her tactics, her lies, her willingness to tear country apart for her own gain, but she is cleaning his clock on this new gas relief.  Barack has to do something too!

This is why nothing ever changes. Soundbytes, photo ops and pandering instead of policy. There are 2 components to skyrocketing energy prices:

1. Supply and Demand
2. Speculation and manipulation

The first problem can only be solved by cost effective alternatives to dependence on oil. The second was enabled by the deregulation pushed by both the Bush and the Clinton administrations. Reasonable oversight and regulation must be re-established in financial, commodity and equity markets as a first order of business to unwind the dangerous bubble machine distorting the economy.

Instead we have a 'plan' that like 'mission accomplished' plays well in the press and actually  has the opposite effect of what is needed. Real leadership.

"Obama came out against it, mocking the idea as a gimmick, by saying it would only save individuals $20 a month".

What Obama actually said was "This is an idea that, when all is said and done, will save you - at most - half a tank of gas over the course of the entire summer. That's about $28. It's an idea that some economists think might actually raise gas prices. And without a plan to pay for it right away, it means that the money would come directly out of the fund we use to pay for construction projects, which could cost the state of North Carolina up to 7,000 jobs".

Hillary has already lost the nomination - she can't even win it by her supporters spreading untruths about Obama.

Don't give McCain a 'get out of jail free' card when he comes up with bad ideas. Cut his hand off, not the hand of the person who will be running against him in the general election.

In an ideal world, I'd like to see gas taxes increased dramatically to discourage consumption, with other taxes lowered as compensation. However, I agree with Jerome here--rather than simply oppose the removal of the gas tax, and hand the Republicans a weapon against us, let's combine it with another way of getting the revenue by socking it to the oil companies. The end result may not leave us any better off than we are now, but we also won't be any worse off and we're much more likely to have a Democrat in the White House rather than ceding an emotionally powerful issue to the Republicans.

Remember when Jerome's posts were credible and thoughtful? That was cool.

Seriously, what is going on here?

We have supposedly liberal bloggers and smart liberals agreeing that it's a good thing to remove billions of dollars that would go towards infrastructure of roads, that it's a good thing that jobs will be lost, and it's a good thing that oil companies will make even greater profits.

It's nothing more than blatant pandering towards low information voters.

I give a lot of Clinton supporters credit - they are calling her out on this.

It's a shame, though, that Jerome believes that playing politics is more important than doing what's right.

also, on the strength of its alternative energy provisions, as did Obama.

Hillary is in no credible position to impugn colleagues for making difficult choices and voting for imperfect bills.

For this reason among others cited in above comments, your post is disingenuous and transparently specious.

Funny, that...

so Hillary is really against a bill the same as Obama but instead of taking the principled stand and saying this is a bad idea,

she offers a proposal she KNOW won't pass so she can say well I am for it but they didn't pass the windfall tax (which I knew they wouldn't) so now I am against the gas tax holiday?

and you expect smart democrats to give her credit for this pander?

she is playing the American voters for idiots and we should stand up and give her an applause?

Gas tax holiday is pure pandering. But sadly it works.

Why isn't the RNC going after Clinton with their ads? Have they already decided that Obama is the nominee? Or what?

The way it used in your post makes me think it is. What are you? "Conservative?"

By the way, a couple of new articles for your perusal:

Obama may win Hill superdelegate fight

Capitol Hill insiders say the battle for congressional superdelegates is over, and one Senate supporter of Barack Obama is hinting strongly that he has prevailed over Hillary Rodham Clinton.

GOP gives Clinton the silent treatment

From top to bottom, from McCain down to the youthful campaign and party staffers who work nearly around the clock to get him elected, the working assumption seems to be that the Democratic contest is over and Obama has won.

Even when Clinton attacks McCain, President Bush or GOP policies, the response is either outright silence or snarky, dismissive ridicule about a failed campaign barely relevant enough to merit a response.

One thing about the Republicans... They're much better at math than many here.

Jeez, Jerome,

Even Krugman saw through what a crick of crap Hillary's pander fest on the gas tax is.

Next up: Jerome explains to us all how Obliterating Iran is good for America.

C'mon, you support every single position of hers. Defend that one too.

This is amazing. Nearly unanimous declaration here (so far) that not only is this a bad idea, it is craven politics.

Jerome, you fail to acknowledge a simple fact -- that "gas tax" goes to keeping our roads under our feet, our bridges over the water, our infrastructure still standing.

When someone dies because the billions the "holiday" will "save" come directly from the agencies that keep our country moving -- what'll be preposed then?

Wow, that was an idiotic post Jerome.  Just because Hillary does something doesn't mean you have to trip over yourself trying to justify it.  Take for instance, Obama's appearance on Fox News that you roundly criticized, you might note that a good number of Obama supporters (mostly notably Kos also joined you in your condemnation).  You're not repaying the favor of intellectual honesty though, between this shrilling for the "gas tax holiday" and you're refusal to comment on Hillary's decision to go on O'Reilly, you're losing what little credibility you once had.  

Krugman and other economists say it's stupid and that the gas prices will shoot right back up.

"First, by making the claim that this only saves individuals $20 bucks a month, Obama doesn't realize how out-of-touch and elitist that sounds to the average low-wage earner who would view it as their 'best day in weeks' to find a Jackson laying on the sidewalk."

That's the most out of touch and elitist take I've seen in weeks. How condescending. Jerome, you actually envision in your mind a bunch of "low-wage earners" walking down the street and finding a $20 on the sidewalk, proclaiming, "Duh, this is the best day I've had in weeks. Guh-huh!"

People are smarter than you are giving them credit. If someone explains their reasons for choosing a certain path, and those reasons uncover hidden problems behind the initial benefit, people appreciate it. They like the idea that someone is cutting through the marketing to show what's behind it.

What hasn't been said yet, is that the Clinton plan is half right. The profits from the oil companies should be heavily taxed, but rather than a superficial gas tax holiday, that money should be used to create green jobs that put people to work and give them "their best day in weeks."

so jerome would rather have clinton play good politics than have a sound policy decision, i thought she was supposed to be a policy wonk...the gas tax has been heavily criticized by pretty much any one who knows economics (see krugman and todays thomas friedman piece in the times)

Jerome, you know as well as I do that no "oil company windfall tax" will fly as long as George Bush has access to a red pen.  Even should it pass, the oil companies are completely in collusion with one another and would assuredly simply raise the price of gas.

Lowering gas taxes deprives large amounts of money from the repair of the nation's infrastructure, which is already in sore distress.  In my own city, people died when one of our interstate bridges collapsed.  A trucker sacrificed his life by swerving away from a bus full of children when they plummeted into the river below.  Real heroes, mostly injured themselves, arose and evacuated the bus.  Did these heroes do it for the credit?  No, they mostly denied interviews because "anyone would do the same."

These are the people that really deserve credit.  Out-of-touch politicians like McCain and Clinton think that the common man would sell out the safety of our children and our children's childrens for enough money to take the family out to the movies... once.

People are willing to make sacrifices, if only they are asked.  Are you willing to sacrifice your blind loyalty to a professional panderer to be in the right?

Holy moly, the Obamans are out in full force this morning Jerome.  

Don't pay no heed Jerome - the Army of Obama is a tough crowd, but you're RIGHT ON with your main thrust.  Repubs have beaten us bloody with respect to the Reagan democrats and working class where pocketbook issues and liberal taxation have creamed us in the past.  

She won't let them this time.  Clinton ever the meticulous planner differentiates herself from McSame by responsibly paying for the summer hiatus by taking it from the nasty oil companies. . .

Clinton is taking this issue and really running against McCain not Obama.  

Obama is only in mind to the extent that he's so out of touch with middle America . . . that he successfully marginalizes himself on this issue. . . as the standard tax-loving liberal. . . Right or Wrong that's whats happening.