I feel really bad for John McCain. Listening to him and to the stuff coming out of his campaign apparatus I can't help wondering if he knows who he is anymore. He does not seem like the same man who ran in 2000 and and seemed to have a connection to normal people's problems and desires.

Sent by JD | 11:51 AM ET | 04-15-2008

This sounds like more of the failed Bush "run up the national debt so we can spend more now" idea that is already coming home to roost in the form of a weaker dollar and greater dependence on foreign oil. This should appeal to the Hummer crowd. Why does this kind of squandering of our national wealth get called "conservative"?

Sent by Gary | 11:53 AM ET | 04-15-2008

How about ending federal subsidies which create artificially low gas prices? Although gas prices may go up as a result of that this would free up federal money which could be given back to working class people in the form of lower taxes. Also it would encourage more federal spending on mass transit and encourage the market to invest more in better fuel efficiency as well alternative fuel sources which currently cannot compete with federally subsidized oil. That would create a free market environment in which people could compete with big oil and encourage job growth and inovation.

Furthermore instead of cutting taxes for corporations how about cutting taxes for small business owners to help the american people not massive corporations.

Sent by Justin F | 11:57 AM ET | 04-15-2008

so who is that flexing the pointless pandering gesture now? could it be mr. mcmaverick himself ? i think i'm beginning to understand what he meant by needing to play catch up on the whole economics thing, if he really thinks this will have a ripple effect (any more than the congress-bush $600 check will jump start the economy).

an aside: could we have the campaign statements of the 3 candidates without commentary by opposing campaign surrogates? the out-of-the-box comment from the obama staffer contributes nothing to understanding (as many staffer comments from the other candiadates' staffers). i am all for candidates reacting to each other (if they can manage to maintain a level of honesty and substance sorely lacking over the weekend past), but the staffer spin is rather off-putting.

Sent by tim in exile | 12:00 PM ET | 04-15-2008

As much as I support Obama, I gotta say, I applaud McCain for this one. True, that to cause a significant change you'd have to do a major overhaul, but McCain's idea is going to give some temporary, realistic relief to the people NOW. Which is awesome because gas prices are BRUTAL over the summer, especially when you live on the New Jersey Shore (a summer vacation area).

Sent by Angela Vetri | 12:03 PM ET | 04-15-2008

If we would've imposed a $1.00 tax on a gallon of gas after the 9/11/01 attacks as Thomas Friedman recommended, gas would be about the same price today as it is now (maybe slightly more or less), but the U.S gov't would be getting a HUGE revenue stream that we could use to revamp healthcare and education.

Once again, why propose tax cuts during WAR??

Sent by Phil C | 12:05 PM ET | 04-15-2008

Meanwhile, the Federal budget cannot provide enough VA funding for veterans health, or a myriad of other things.
Tiny tax breaks such as this, or the current rebate, don't do a whole lot for the average citizen. But, add it all up, and it helps cut funding for good programs more whilst increasing our massive federal debt.

Sent by Michael W. May | 12:05 PM ET | 04-15-2008

It is great to cut tax for the middle class and the poor afterall thats the sector that spends the most domestically.How do you combine all your tax cuts with accelerated spending on a war you want to continue. Plus most of the cuts are for the rich who very often spend outside of the country's boundaries anyway. McCain please answer this? Again Mr McCain most of the goods are imported, do you want to continue fueling other economies. Why don't you look at areas like duty on imported goods which have risen through the roof (You could get two for one , protect some of the manufacturing here in the USA). Mr McCain are you also in bed with the Arabs, because more cuts on gas means more money for them via volume sales. Why don't you just stick to the reduction on the reserves and advice prudent leisure traveling by folks. As well us targeted cuts for commercial sectors.

Sent by Ty | 12:07 PM ET | 04-15-2008

The worst aspect of this proposal is that it's soft on terrorism. Lowering the cost of gas at the pump (by increasing the federal deficit) means more consumption of fuel - which is exactly what the regime running Iran wants. They stay in power by buying their people off with oil money, and McCain's plan will put more of that in their pockets!

Sent by BPJ | 12:08 PM ET | 04-15-2008

Is it just me or does NPR draw the most intelligent posts of blogs everywhere...

Anyway, I agree wholeheartedly with Justin. Federal subsidies to big oil corporations (who continue to post record profits) are a disgrace. Oil addiction is costing us (U.S.) everything: our security, our environment, our health, our economy. It's time to embrace a different way of doing things. My friend just rode a bullet train in France that did 500 miles in 2 1/2 hours. Awesome.

McCain is wrong. We should raise gas taxes by eighteen cents to invest in a cleaner future for all.

Sent by Chris | 12:15 PM ET | 04-15-2008

In December 2000, Just as congress was preparing to recess for Christmas, Phil Graham introduced a 262 page bill called the 'Commodities Futures Modernization Act'. It was written by lawyers for investment banks on Wall Street. Graham attached it to an 11000 page omnibus appropriations bill. This act deregulated complex derivatives (ie securitized subprime mortages etc.). Today, as we try to determine if there will be a worldwide recession, we can thank Phil Graham an other like minded re-regulators. John McCain, who admits he doesn't know much about economics, has selected Phil Graham as his chief economics advisor.

Sent by Jim C | 12:29 PM ET | 04-15-2008

LOL, cutting taxes for every single person that uses gasoline is considered "fiscally irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans?"

What's with the kneejerk politics of envy by the left every single time any sort of tax cut is mentioned?

This class warfare garbage is getting quite tiresome.

Sent by deek | 12:49 PM ET | 04-15-2008

Oh sure, Senator McCain...try and distract the public from the real problems and their sources with your "holiday." What spin doctor dreamed up that plan? A holiday from sanity and progress is more like it. And I'm loving the corporate tax cuts too...great idea Senator McCain...tax the burdened middle class even more.

Sent by Karen | 12:57 PM ET | 04-15-2008

The USA has some of the highest corporate taxes in the world. Yes it would be a GOOD thing to lower those.

U.S. States Lead the World in High Corporate Tax Rates
http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2008/03/us-states-lead.html

Sent by deek | 1:21 PM ET | 04-15-2008

Remarkable. Although I wouldn't vote for the man, I did have a modicum of respect for some of his 'conservative' ideals. No doubt the self-absorbed cretins driving gas guzzlers will appreciate this. I think we all recognize the importance of appealing to a wider audiance, but this is absurd. How many more wars does he expect the young men and women of our country to fight so we as a nation can continue to live in a manner which even the ignorant must by now recognize is unsustainable?

Sent by Michael Banks | 1:44 PM ET | 04-15-2008

This is more of the Republican philosophy: DON'T Tax, but DO Spend, and spend and spend and spend......

Sent by Tim | 1:47 PM ET | 04-15-2008

And another thing, do the same people that complain about CEO pay complain about actor and athlete pay? When's the last time you heard anyone complain about George Clooneys paycheck?

Will there be "congressional hearings" about Matt Damon's lavish lifestyle and his "record breaking profits"?

Matt Damon.

Sent by deek | 1:57 PM ET | 04-15-2008

@deek: sorry to inject context into your sound bite moment (just more of my delusional attachment to reality, i suppose), but the comment (which i could have done without since it confusingly doesn't target the gas tax point)of mr. burton clearly refers to the speech as a whole. if you bother to read the article available on this very site, you will notice this:

McCain also called for permanent tax changes, including a cut in corporate tax rates, a doubling of the tax exemption for dependent children, and a simplification of the overall tax code.

it's the cementing of the bush tax cuts burton is referring to -- and starting a 3 trillion dollar war while simultaneously implementing such massive and massively skewed tax cuts is the hallmark of fiscal irresponsibility. mccain was against those before he was for them -- that is not news to you, surely. this kind of revenue and spending discussion has to do with ethics and long term vision and not class warfare (BTW take the time to read the whole speech -- you will find a lot of stuff in it that blowhards like limpbowwow and sean havenoidea would call "class warfare" if it came from a non-republican -- wall street criminals, inappropriate CEO pay, and so on)

Interestingly, he seems to miss the inherent contradiction in saying he "will send to Congress a reform to increase the exemption ??? with the goal of doubling it from 3,500 dollars to 7,000 dollars for every dependent, in every family in America" and a few minutes later "when we added
(kudos for "we" rather than passing the buck --me)
the prescription drug benefit to Medicare, a new and costly entitlement, we included many people who are more than capable of purchasing their own medicine without assistance from taxpayers who struggle to purchase their own. People like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet don't need their prescriptions underwritten by taxpayers. Those who can afford to buy their own prescription drugs should be expected to do so"

(though he is right on the point that the Medicare prescription progam was a bush campaign pandering project which allowed him -and Hillary - to take care of their peeps in the drug industry.)

Sent by tim in exile | 2:35 PM ET | 04-15-2008

re: targets du jour

a lot of people seem to perceive added value to tom hanks' or george clooney's performances (i'm afraid i don't know who matt damon is -- i presume he is in your radar cuz he said some commie stuff)as opposed to the performance of say, ken lay or james e cayne. the very rich folks who pay them seem to think so, too.

i leave you with this thought:

Americans are also right to be offended when the extravagant salaries and severance deals of CEO's ??? in some cases, the very same CEO's who helped to bring on these market troubles ??? bear no relation to the success of the company or the wishes of shareholders. Something is seriously wrong when the American people are left to bear the consequences of reckless corporate conduct, while Mr. Cayne of Bear Stearns, Mr. Mozilo of Countrywide, and others are packed off with another forty- or fifty million for the road.

john mccain, april 15th, 2008

Sent by tim in exile | 3:08 PM ET | 04-15-2008

If McCain is that concerned about the economy let alone national security issues. He should kindly explain why the Airforce contract is gone to an european company and not Boeing (we need the jobs)?. Mr McCain step up to the plate....

Sent by Ty | 3:10 PM ET | 04-15-2008

...full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing

Sent by deek | 3:14 PM ET | 04-15-2008

I depend on my brains a whole lot to navigate my way in life. Unfortunately my brain would not allow me to vote for McCain.

Sent by Ty | 3:23 PM ET | 04-15-2008

McCain's short term solution...put another band aid on the gushing wound. His longer term comments sounded like they were made by Dubya. He better start talking substance or else this truly will signify nothing.

Sent by Roger | 3:45 PM ET | 04-15-2008

For a man like McCain who insulted his wife in public in front of the press, and also got into fist fights with Rick Renzi a fellow republican due to a disagreement. My oh my, God help us all with him in the white house.

Sent by Christy | 3:57 PM ET | 04-15-2008

@ deek... haha i actually agree with you about the celebrity thing. It really bothers me that any jerk with a nice face and can convincingly read lines from a script makes millions, which teachers who shape childrens' education and police/fire officers who save lives dont even break out of five figures... but their gossip keeps us entertained so it's worth it, right?

Sent by Angela Vetri | 4:59 PM ET | 04-15-2008

OK tim, my last comment was unecessary, i apologize. Yes it looks like McCain has some valid things to say about CEO's and corporate BS. I agree to some extent but it's not for the government to decide someone's salary at a private company and the only thing those stupid hearings on CEO pay did was to throw a bone to the rabid marxist element of the party.

If you don't like what a CEO is paid, then don't patronize the company or better yet, become a majority shareholder and kick them out, or become a shareholder and convince other shareholders to kick them out, or...

"Something is seriously wrong when the American people are left to bear the consequences of reckless corporate conduct"

I agree with McCain, corporations should mostly be allowed to fail if that is there fate.

Sent by deek | 9:29 PM ET | 04-15-2008

I think McCain is once again showing he is the Agent of Change and giving Hope...why not? McCain isn't a pure Republican (yeah!), he being purely human and unless he's landed in outerspace, somebody here on earth should understand where he's coming from...McCain...just one thing regarding the Tax Holiday, make sure they don't unduly increase the cost of gas to offset that lack of tax revenue...I'm getting so confused...November seems so far away!

Sent by ard | 9:54 PM ET | 04-15-2008

i'm astounded that McCain believes what he's doing is right... inspiring consumption, rewarding the release of greenhouse gasses, providing no incentive for carpool and mass transit users, and at the same time reducing the revenue base for the us gov while empowering opec. maverick my AZ.

Sent by scott | 11:07 PM ET | 04-15-2008

"signifying nothing"
aw c'mon deek, mccain's first economic policy speech wasn't THAT bad an effort

Sent by tim in exile | 1:42 AM ET | 04-16-2008

specificly the one thing people are failing to realize with this particular cut is that it would fo for more damage than good.

think about it by the time something like this could be implemented gas wil more than like be 18 or 20 cent's higher than it is now right?

if that is trrue then the holiday will only bring the tax down to what it is now. which most American probably would agree that is wa out of hand 50 cent ago let alone now so we would still hav gas that we couldnt afford plys you cut the funds to the federal highway pragram that provide decent jobs to so many workers with basically no benefit to us. does'n take much thought to see this as a bad idea not about the party bickering.

Sent by J.A.WILSON | 11:19 PM ET | 04-16-2008