MSNBC "apologize[d]" for false claim that McCain's proposed gas tax holiday would mean a "20-percent cut" in prices
On the April 16 edition of MSNBC Live, host Contessa Brewer said, "We want to clarify something that we first told you about yesterday on MSNBC about [Sen.] John McCain's proposal to suspend federal gas taxes for the summer. That move would mean a nearly 20 cent cut in prices. Yesterday, someone mistakenly said 20-percent cut. We apologize for the confusion."
As Media Matters for America noted, during the 9 a.m. ET hour of the April 15 broadcast of MSNBC Live, host Mika Brzezinski asserted: "From Memorial Day to Labor Day, McCain wants to eliminate the federal gas tax -- that's about 20 percent of the cost." Similarly, during the 10 a.m. ET hour that same day, host Monica Novotny said McCain is "proposing suspending the federal gas tax for the summer, potentially cutting prices by nearly 20 percent." But the federal gas tax does not represent 20 percent of the cost of gasoline. The Department of Transportation's website notes that the federal gasoline tax is 18.4 cents per gallon. The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported on April 14 that the average price of regular gasoline nationwide was $3.389 per gallon, meaning that, on average, federal tax comprises 5.4 percent -- not 20 percent -- of the current total cost of regular gas.
From the 2 p.m. ET hour of the April 16 edition of MSNBC Live:
BREWER: And John McCain is in Wisconsin today promoting his new economic plan. Speaking here on MSNBC, McCain told my colleague Andrea Mitchell that he disagrees with experts who say his new economic plan isn't financially viable.
We want to clarify something that we first told you about yesterday on MSNBC about John McCain's proposal to suspend federal gas taxes for the summer. That move would mean a nearly 20-cent cut in prices. Yesterday, someone mistakenly said 20-percent cut. We apologize for the confusion.
Here in Michigan a few years back, Governor John Engler (Republican of the worst kind) was trying to push through a little income pocket shifting ny raising the State sales tax from 4% to 6%, in exchange for a windfall property tax break which benefited only those who owned homes.
Democrats fought it, truthfully saying that it was a 50% increase in the sales tax: 4 X 1.5 = 6. Engler and his special interest groups bought a barrage of advertising that stated this was not a 50% increase, it was only 2 cents. No, he didn't mention it was 2 cents per dollar, he said over and over again that it was a 2 cent increase.
Dishonestly is the only way they know how to play.
I wonder whatever happened to good ol' Emily, and Roseann Rosanna Danna, and Gilda Ra . . . never mind.
Solon, give porky a break. I saw his comment on another thread advocating doing nothing about poverty because it still exists (A Rush Limbaugh staple) It's a wingnut logic that says, although we should be increasingly supportive of the war on terror, regardless of its consistently achieving the opposite of its goal, the war on poverty should be abandoned because it hasn't met some imaginary level of complete eradication of poverty.
Now, he's going to a state with a hurting economy with a Dem in office (specifically Michigan, which Rush uses often) to make the specious connection that Rush has told him to.
So go easy on him,these aren't his thoughts, the Oxymoron has just found a receptive vessel. And remember, I tune in El Rushbo whenever I have a chance, so you don't have to !
"How's that Michigan economy working for ya? Can't imagine that your socialist governor has anything to do with it."--capitalistpig
Here's a comeback that gets right down to your level of intelligence:
Howdjaliketablowme.
Now, if you'd like to engage in an intelligent conver. . . oh, I forgot, you couldn't possibly hold up your end.
What McCain is proposing is to leave the oil industry's profits intact by stiffing the governement of needed tax revenues to maintain our national highways. Then he can come back in a couple of years (or less) and say "See, government can't even keep the highways in repair" - probably after the next bridge collapse due to lack of maintenance.
But he's gotta protect those corporate profits, doesn't he?
It was a petty, McCain-aiding, thing to say in the first place. Aren't they planning to do that for the next several months? Is it because it is a fact? I simply don't get it.