Stumped: Hillary Can't Name One Economist Who Supports Her Gas-Tax Holiday

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

My two cents say George Stephanopoulos gave Hillary a harder time than Tim Russert did Obama during their respective appearances on This Week and Meet the Press today. Russert never pinned Obama down on exactly what he knew of Rev. Wright's most controversial assertions and when he knew it.

Over on ABC, Stephanopoulos twice challenged Hillary to name a single economist who supported her proposal for a gas-tax holiday, and threw in her face the fact that even her big admirer in economist ranks, Paul Krugman of the NY Times, has criticized her over it. In exposing her inability to name a single practitioner of the dismal science who supported her plan [McCain, who's also called for a gas-tax holiday would presumably be similarly hard-pressed], Stephanopoulos left Clinton looking like a panderer. Stephanopoulos raised the issue right out of the box.

View video here.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Stumped Hillary ping to Today show list.

[gusopol3]

I thought McCain proposed this first, for Memorial Day to Labor Day. Personally, I’m in favor.

[Perdogg]

Since the tax on gasoline is a consumption tax, as opposed to a sales tax, and that the demand for gasoline is in high demand, elimination of the gas tax would do little for price, i.e. tax elasticity effect.

However, I am in favor of eliminating the tax because the govt has not done anything to earn the tax and the funds collected are wasted.

[spokeshave]

Please...I just had breakfast....don’t mention stumped and schrillary in same sentence....thanks.

[OCC]

Steffi should have asked her what kind of MPG that red pickup truck gets...

[jmaroneps37]

Let the scum in the ratmedia fight against the gas tax holiday. Hillary can get fried by them over it and McCain can use it starting next month. RNC are you listening? This is the ratHouse sticking it to the people because plastic face is more afraid to offend the ratmedia than the people. Make something of this please!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

In that case, I won’t mention that Hillary got a little crusty while panting about a suit she wanted to bring against the oil companies ;-)

[gusopol3]

the fact that even her big admirer in economist ranks, Paul Krugman of the NY Times, has criticized her over it.

this alone is a ringing endorsement for the idea.

[gusopol3]

is this the one with the astro turf in the back?

[maggief]

[mware]

You just watch if the federal government gives us a summer tax holiday on gasoline, our governor (Corzine - NJ) will increase our gas tax to make up for it.

They already want to institute a tax on "fast food."

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

i THOUGHT THAT SHOW WAS A HILLARY COMMERCIAL!

that was ridiculous...Stephi just let her go on and on, I sure didn’t see any serious confrontation. She looks so smart to people who don’t know about international polics or economics..its all in the image, the delivery. and stephi and Oreilly are afraid of her!

[DeaconRed]

I am in favor of total elimination. Not a temporary suspension just so she can get votes. A total emimination however will NEVER happen with our current 535. If my math is correct 535 is the total in congress.

[LibFreeOrDie]

Not only should the Fed gas tax be repealed, so ahould the state gas tax. Then people will realize the gubmint is profiting as much, if not more, from gas sales than "evil Big Oil."

[The Great RJ]

Other than Karl Marx and Friedrick Engels I don’t think she would find any economist that agrees with her general plans either.

[Jane Austen]

Yep.

[OCC]

I tuned in after it started. All of the sudden, Hillary was out of her chair running the show and Steffi was just sitting there. I got the impression the whole thing was supposed to take place with them seated. Steffi got punk’d!

[A. Morgan]

[nkycincinnatikid]

Freekin HILARIOUS!