Sen. Barack Obama, speaking in Wilmington today, fired back at Sen. John McCain over McCain's proposal to suspend the gas tax for three months this summer, Barb Barrett reports.
"Over three months, you’re going to save about $25 or $30, or half a tank of gas," Obama told the crowd. "That’s his big solution."
Obama continued: "He had the gall yesterday to tell me that because I didn’t agree with his plan, I must not be sympathetic to poor people."
The crowd murmured its disapproval.
"That's what he said," Obama added.
He said McCain's idea is another example of Washington's idea of short-term fixes. The long-term fix, Obama said, is to challenge corporate tax breaks, look into price-gouging from oil companies and reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels.
"I’m here to tell you the truth," Obama said. "We could suspend the gas tax for six months and that’s not going to bring down gas prices."
Update: A McCain spokesman responded to Obama's comments. "It’s clear Barack Obama’s not strong enough to provide immediate relief at the pump, and it shows he doesn’t understand our economy or have the ability to deliver for hardworking Americans," said Tucker Bounds, a McCain spokesman.




Re: Obama: gas tax break not the answer
A look at what reporting looks like: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/28/AR2008042802753.html