McCain Adviser Says McCain Is The One To ‘Stand Up’ To Big Oil
McCain Adviser Says McCain Is The One To ‘Stand Up’ To Big Oil
In a Washington Post discussion yesterday, Eric Burgeson, environmental and energy adviser to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), was asked if McCain will “stand up” and support the elimination of “subsidies” to oil companies. Burgeson responded that McCain isn’t afraid to “stand up” to big business:
Q: While I support ethanol and believe that it is a valuable first step, I do not believe that the criticism of subsidies for ethanol is fair. I gladly would support no subsidies or tax breaks for ethanol if the same were done for the oil industry. I cannot believe anyone is strong enough to stand up to the oil industry. Does Sen. McCain believe that this is possible?
BURGESON: You are right, powerful interests in Washington, DC are difficult to stand up to. But if there is anyone in Washington who can do it, it is Senator McCain who has built his career and reputation standing up to special interests. As for subsidies, Senator McCain has a clear position that he opposes subsidies, not just ethanol subsidies, but all subsidies.
McCain has long delivered empty rhetoric about oil companies. In 2007, he said he would end “rifle-shot tax breaks for big oil.” But his proposals are giveaways for Big Oil and big businesses. McCain’s signature tax cut plan would deliver $3.8 billion to the five largest American oil companies, according to a Center for American Progress Action Fund analysis:
Since first running for the Senate in 1986, McCain has received at least $549,712 from the oil and gas industry, with over half coming in the last two years alone. His senior adviser, Charlie Black, is a registered lobbyist for two Russian oil companies and his former lobbying firm was hired in 2005 by the China National Off-Shore Oil Corporation.
Burgeson claimed McCain opposes “all subsidies,” but as the Wonk Room’s Brad Johnson explained on Monday, this conveniently leaves out McCain’s long support of the nuclear power industry.
By Burgeson’s definition, the definition of “standing up” to the “special interests” is giving them money.
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By Burgeson’s definition, the definition of “standing up” to the “special interests” is giving them money.
Feel free to stand up for me, ya old coot.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:35 amYes, stand up….first.
Then…turn around, drop drawers, bend over, spread cheeks, my friends….
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:42 amCaption contest
“BREAKING: McCain caught with Bush’s spunk on his face”
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:43 amI just noticed, could be my sick, twisted mind, but….
if you look at the picture of Grampa Munster McCain above, is he wearing a “pearl necklace”?
Check that DNA out - GOTTA be Lieberman’s - or has Lindsey Graham lured McCain over to HIS “team”?
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:46 amWell, I don’t know . . is he able to stand up ?
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:46 amRocking chairs can be a little tricky at his age.
McWars - yep, guess I’m not the only twisted one here…LOL
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:47 amIf by “standing up” you mean rolling on his back to expose his unprotected white belly, then yeah, it makes perfect sense.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:49 amMcLamebrain’s head has been stitched onto Ken Lay’s body in the pic. Kennyboy had a foot long slong and cindy sez waste not want not.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:50 amYeah lokidog, who says only great minds think alike?
LOL!
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:50 amBy Burgeson’s definition, the definition of “standing up” to the “special interests” is giving them money.
________________________________________________
That was my first thought — but Satyam got to it first.
The thought of McCain being the the best person to “stand up” to big oil is a little like Hugh Hefner being the best person to “stand up” against the objectification of women.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 am“McCain Adviser Says McCain Is The One To ‘Stand Up’ For Big Oil”
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:54 amNow that is the damnedest funniest thing I’ve heard all month.
-AF
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:27 amAndrew Sullivan Is A Fraud
Treehugger passes on some figures on Big Oil 2008 campaign contributions, derived from the very nifty calculator operated by Oil Change International.
Of candidates still left in the race, Hillary Clinton ($267,150) edges out John McCain ($229,685) for first place.
Actually, I’m surprised the numbers are so small. Big Oil really doesn’t have that much to worry about. Americans have proved that they are going to keep wasting fossil-fuels. We have people that keep buying SUV’s, Cadillacs & my all time favorite HUMMERS. (Why anyone would buy a vehicle that only gets 9 miles to a gallon is beyond me.)
Until people stop buying gas guzzling vehicles; Big Oil has a very bright future. The longer the USA puts off Mass Transportation even better.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:36 amAw, c’mon, you surely meant ‘bend over’ for big oil, now, didn’tcha?
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:41 amYou flag-burning, America-hating, God-hating, Islamofascistcommiestalinist liberal moonbats still haven’t figured out how it works.
John McCain will stand up to Big Oil when Big Oil stands down. Until then, it’s stay the course. Submission Accomplished. So, snark off.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:46 amHey, PLC, YOU SNARK OFF!
/snark on
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:01 pmLet’s see, Exxon/Mobil made $40.6 billion profit in 2007 and paid $4.3 billion in taxes. That is a tax rate of 10.6%.
According to 2007 Federal Tax Rate Schedule for personal income, the tax rate for individuals who make from $0-$7,825 is 10%, or approximately the same tax rate paid by Exxon/Mobil.
Meanwhile, the income tax for middle class Americans is $4,386.25 plus 25% of the amount over 31,850.
McCain’s tax cut would reduce Exxon/Mobil’s tax rate to 7.6%.
That sounds fair.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:08 pmToo ludicrous to even comment. Reminds me of Georgie’s 2000 “Two oil guys’ll know how to deal with OPEC” moment that the press ignored.
If one really wanted to address oil one would immediately propose petrol taxes increase incrementally, ethanol subsidies be abandoned, biodiesel be promoted, and a Manhattan Project for alternate energy be funded with the increased taxes.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:16 pmOh yes, McSame will “stand up” to big oil — just like Bush did.
He’ll take whatever their dishing out and say “Thank you, Sir, may I have another?”
For the last 7 years we’ve seen the results of having a President who’s in the tank for big oil. Now that gas costs $3.50/gal, the absolute LAST THING America needs is more of the same.
Only an idiot — or a “conservative” — would vote for that.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:17 pmYeah, right, McCain’s going to stand up to Big Oil. It’s easier to line the pockets when you’re standing up.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:20 pmAh, McWars, don’t bite off more than you can snark. I used to snark to and from school, uphill both ways. You’re probably just a young whippersnarker who couldn’t stay up with me in a snarkfest.
/snark off, LOL, that’s fun.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:49 pmStand up to big oil?
Only after a good deal of genuflecting and ring-kissing.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:19 pmWith these kind of stats, why is he still in the race? Are Americans the most stupid people on this earth? Shall we wait until oil is $200 a barrel before we wake up to this insanity.
This is going to show the character of the US. Will the people elect a black man or will they elect more pain and suffering at the hands of corporations fronted by idiots like McCain.
Well Penn, what do you think? A black man or more corporate pain? Let see where America stands on race.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:21 pmWaht do you excpect from the straight talk exspress,more tax cuts for the oil companies and the wealthy while the working class is reduced to serfdom and salvery with wages that will not allow us any upward movement.Just more of the Bushco crime antics with a new chimp in charge.This really shows how out of touch he is with America.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:22 pmAny snark sightings at the beach, PLC? Oh, that’s right, gas prices are too high for a snarkation.
PWNED!
Snark on/Snark off? You decide. We resnark.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:24 pmThe question is, who will McCain piss off more–the left or the right? I hope he pisses off both sides royally, which is what happens when you do the right things.
http://newsprism.wordpress.com
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:32 pmThese tax breaks are also on top of contract loopholes that protect oil companies from paying royalties for drilling in public waters. They routinely pay royalties for drilling on public land, but the public is shortchanged when Big Oil shirks more responsibilities.
How about if they get the tax breaks, we stop defending their oil lanes? Just a thought.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:43 pmdictatortot Says:
The question is, who will McCain piss off more–the left or the right? I hope he pisses off both sides royally, which is what happens when you do the right things.
What a tool! Do you really think the “right thing” is to cut Exxon/Mobil’s tax rate to 1/3 of what the average middle class American pays?
See folks, big oil companies get massive tax cuts while gouging us at the pump, because morons like this fool love to get raped from both ends. Unfortunately, these masochistic freaks are taking us down with them.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:50 pmMcCain and his lobbyist cronies WILL stand up to Big Oil with large canvas sacks yelling, “Trick or Treat!”
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:52 pm