Opinion from the Editor's Desk

May 08, 2008

For What It's Worth

Jeremiah Wright's (Obama's pastor) hate filled sermon CDs, NAACP speech, National Press Club speech, and the Bill Moyer interview didn't dissuade voters in Indiana or North Carolina from voting for Obama. As appalling as the reverend was, Obama supporters saw only Obama's race and empty rhetoric about change as enough to qualify him to lead the most powerful nation in the world. What else could it be? I have heard of nothing unless you consider his support for: giving social security benefits to illegal immigrants, giving drivers licenses to illegal immigrants, his votes against conservative Supreme Court justices Roberts and Alito, an Iraqi surrender, the repeal of the "defense of marriage" act, re-distribution of wealth, and other socialistic far left ideas and ideologies.

How about the inferred promise to the Teamsters union that if elected he, Obama, will loosen the government's oversight responsibility of the heretofore corrupt unions and the mafia's influence thereof? Doesn't he realize it is the government's strict oversight responsibility that forced the unions (the Teamsters in particular) to clean up their act? What a dufus, this Obama. Oh, did we mention the Teamsters Union endorsed Obama after his inferred promise?

There is one thing about which I agree with Obama and that's the ridiculousness of the "gas tax holiday." Obama derides the plan to suspend the 18 cents federal gas tax on a gallon of gasoline for 3 months as a gimmick and voter pandering. He contends the plan is insignificant in the overall scheme of things. Well, he's right on all of his points.

The "holiday" is gimmicky in that it won't do much good. However, it's something, albeit miniscule. It will reportedly save a household an average of $30 total. Then again, $30.00 is thirty dollars. And yes, it's pandering. Americans are looking for relief from high gas prices regardless of the amount or consequence. Consequence? Yes, consequence! In a discussion with one of our readers, it was pointed out that gas prices have been rising virtually daily as the cost of oil continues to reach record highs. Will gasoline prices stabilize during the gas tax holiday? Of course not! Only in your dreams. And upon expiration of the tax restraint, consumers will go bonkers when in one fell swoop gasoline spikes a minimum of eighteen cents a gallon plus any "normal" increase. Excellent observations.

The whole "holiday" idea is basically stupid and doesn't say much for the economic prowess of Clinton or McCain, both of whom are for the "holiday." Obama's argument against it should be that the plan is flawed by its scope and, although it gives an insignificant amount of money back to consumers, it demonstrates an inability on the part of Clinton and McCain to consider long range plans. The problem is Obama has no long range plan either.

D. D. Skeeles