Text size +

Dueling ads on big oil and lobbyists

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor April 16, 2008 11:40 AM


Barack Obama's campaign started a new TV ad in Pennsylvania today to combat Hillary Clinton's arguments that he supported tax breaks for big oil.

"Across Pennsylvania families are struggling," the narrator says. "What’s Hillary Clinton’s answer? The same old politics, misleading negative ads. The truth? It’s Barack Obama who’s taken on the oil companies, worked to strip away their tax breaks as they run up record profits, and demanded higher gas mileage standards. And Obama’s the only candidate who doesn’t take a dime from oil company PACs or lobbyists. And that’s change we can believe in."


Clinton's spot says that Obama has taken money from oil company representatives and highlights her plan to use the money from oil company tax breaks to fund alternative energy.

With gas prices at record highs, the issue is gaining attention in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. Both Democrats have pledged to take the tax breaks away from oil companies if they're elected president, but are jockeying over who is more in tune with blue-collar voters. On Tuesday, presumptive Republican nominee John McCain called for a "tax holiday" this summer to lower prices at the pump by suspending the 18.4-cent federal gasoline levy.

10 comments so far...
  1. Yeah, just make it so there's no gas tax... that'll bring the price of oil down for a whole week. Just curious though, where is the government going to get that tax money?

    Posted by Blake April 16, 08 11:51 AM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Am suprised Hill isn't hit by a sniper so far...Go OBAMA!!!!!

    Posted by Jean April 16, 08 12:19 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. What Blake said.

    Posted by Franklin April 16, 08 12:27 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. "On Tuesday, presumptive Republican nominee John McCain called for a "tax holiday" this summer to lower prices at the pump by suspending the 18.4-cent federal gasoline levy. "

    Reducing federal tax revenue by tens of millions of dollars to fund a mere 4 or 5 percent dip in the cost of gas at the pump does not seem fiscally wise. This had to be cooked up by his advisors.

    Posted by josh April 16, 08 12:35 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Allow drilling in Anwar,Allow it in the Dakotas...estimated 3 BILLION barrels of oil there.
    Start pumping oil out of iraq to repay us for our lost treasure.
    Make the oil companys accountable for record profits when prices are this freaking high.
    STOP ethanol production,it is contributing to high food prices.
    End NAFTA,Bring our manufacturing base back home.

    Posted by Realist April 16, 08 12:47 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. The problem is, that "money talks". The Oilzilla, like the Drug companies, is on a runaway course. One man, or woman, and all the taxes they impose isn't going to make much of a difference to the price we pay during the next four years. It will never go down. Until the public wakes up and realizes that there isn't any such thing as "absolute freedom", the USA will continue to slide. Restrictions Limitations, Price and Profit caps should have been placed on these companies long ago.

    Posted by Harold April 16, 08 12:50 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. IS ANY BODY SICK AND TIRED OF THE HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY THESE CANDIDATES ARE SPENDING ON ADVERTISING, ETC. WHEN DID RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT BECOME A HOLLYWOOD SPECTACLE?

    Posted by Marie Jones April 16, 08 01:04 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. My fellow sheep:
    How come whatever said by Mrs. Clinton is stated by bloggers as negative campaigning. When O says basically the same thing his statements are said to be wonderful/change? And, I ask you again, why isn't the blogging basically the same as the primary voting 50% to 50% as opposed to blogging being 95% for O. What is wrong with the blogging - why only O bloggers????

    Posted by Fay April 16, 08 01:12 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Fay,

    I suppose we could at the same time ask why educated voters tend toward Obama.

    Posted by Paul T. April 16, 08 02:36 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. I'll tell you why. Because Clinton is a "typical" politician and will say what ever the the public wants to hear. Just look at her record. She is good at covering up... Being relatively new, O is yet inexperienced at this art so his statements are sincere and his interests are genuine.

    Posted by Hendog April 21, 08 10:04 AM
    Reply | Report this post
add your comment
Required
Required (will not be published)

This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.

About political intelligence Field reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors covering the 2008 presidential campaign and the national maneuvering of Bay State politicians.

Send your comments to masspolitics@globe.com

archives

browse this blog

by category