On Meet the Press, Brokaw attributed proposal for gas-tax holiday to Clinton, but not McCain

Summary: On Meet the Press, Tom Brokaw asked Al Gore if, on the subject of renewable energy, "Hillary Clinton reset this debate when she said there should be a summer holiday on the federal gas tax." But Brokaw did not mention that Sen. John McCain also proposed a gas-tax holiday or that one of his top advisers still touts the plan as "the best stimulus package we can have right now."

On the July 20 edition of NBC's Meet the Press, host Tom Brokaw interviewed former Vice President Al Gore and asked him if, on the subject of renewable energy, "Hillary Clinton reset this debate when she said there should be a summer holiday on the federal gas tax." But Brokaw did not mention that Sen. John McCain also proposed a gas-tax holiday or that one of his top advisers still touts the plan as "the best stimulus package we can have right now." Brokaw did not mention McCain's proposal despite having said of McCain on the July 13 edition of Meet the Press, "Here's a man who has worried about global warming, now he wants to give American motorists a gas tax holiday so they can drive even more during the summer months."

The environmental news website Gristmill wrote that Brokaw "pestered Gore to condemn Hillary Clinton -- who's no longer in the race -- for proposing a gas tax holiday, without so much as mentioning that John McCain -- who's still in the race -- is still supporting one" [italics and bold in original].

From the July 20 edition of NBC's Meet the Press:

BROKAW: Did Hillary Clinton reset this debate when she said there should be a summer holiday on the federal gas tax?

GORE: Well, I don't want to get into a primary battle that I successfully avoided getting into while it was going on.

BROKAW: Well, it's not a primary battle. She's speaking --

GORE: I didn't --

BROKAW: -- to an issue you feel very strongly about.

GORE: I disagreed with those who wanted a so-called gas-tax holiday. And I think -- taking it from that to sort of the whole --

BROKAW: Was that irresponsible on her part, do you think at this time?

GORE: I'm not going to label friends of mine irresponsible. I think that particular proposal -- wasn't one I agreed with -- was in response to what people are feeling with gasoline prices, and we've got to respond to the gasoline price increase. But here's the point, Tom. The people of this country are ready for bolder, more dramatic answers. The real way to bring gasoline prices down is not by going back to try more of the same things that have not worked in the past, but to say, Wait a minute, now's time -- now is the time for a really dramatic shift over to renewable energy.

—K.E.