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MN GOP PRESS RELEASE: “FRANKEN MISLEADS MINNESOTANS ON ENERGY DURING COMBATIVE MPR INTERVIEW”
By Michael B. Brodkorb | July 3, 2008
St. Paul – Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Ron Carey today released the following statement following Al Franken’s appearance on MPR’s Midmorning.
“Al Franken’s performance on MPR is another reminder that he lacks the judgment and maturity to be in the United States Senate. As the host pressed for direct responses, Franken became belligerent, angry and combative. He misled Minnesotans about his position on drilling, he struggled to describe his convoluted position on the federal gas tax, and he failed to explain why Minnesotans should pay higher gas taxes. If Al Franken can’t give Minnesotans straight answers on issues as important as energy policy, how can they trust that he will fight to reduce energy prices?â€
Franken Misleads on His Position On Domestic Drilling:
Franken Says He Supports Domestic Drilling – Just Not On New Areas. “Sure, I support more domestic drilling, but I support it on the leases the oil companies already have.â€Â  (Kerri Miller, Midmorning, MPR, July 3, 2008)
Franken Flashback On Domestic Drilling Shows He Doesn’t Think Drilling Is Going To Help:
Doubts More Drilling Would Lower Gas Prices. Shelby: “Do you think that there is anything in that policy that would bring the price of gasoline down below $4 if we allowed that?†Franken: “I very much doubt it.â€Â   (“Don Shelby Show,†WCCO Radio, June 18, 2008)
Franken Stumbles on His Gas Tax Position
Franken Says He Doesn’t Like Gas Taxes. “Franken: Again, I really, kinda don’t like gas taxes in this sense: that they are regressive. Everybody has to drive, er, everybody has to use, practically everybody has to. And in certain places everybody simply has to. I don’t like gas taxes and I also don’t like bridges collapsing. And I don’t want to have to make a choice between them so I want to find another way to pay for infrastructure.†(Kerri Miller, Midmorning, MPR, July 3, 2008)
Franken Denies Supporting Federal Gas Tax, Says He Now Opposes It. “First of all, what I said then was, I don’t like particularly like gas taxes, in certain ways because they are somewhat, they are somewhat regressive. They are paid by people who drive and use the roads. Um, and that I would like to keep it on the table as a last resort. But what is happened since is that, gas prices have gone up to four dollars. And I see everyday when I go around the state, how this affecting people.†(Kerri Miller, Midmorning, MPR, July 3, 2008)
FLASHBACK: Franken Says Federal Gas Tax Increase “Has Potential, Sure, Absolutely.†“OK, so, you would, Al, leave the gas tax on the table—“ Ciresi: “What does on the table mean? Does that mean that we’re not going to do it or it’s a potential?†Hauser: “Is it a potential?†Franken: “There’s different ways to pay for infrastructure—it has potential, sure, absolutely, and I think we should do it in this state too.†Ciresi: “We’ve got to say what we’re going to do. We can’t just go out to people and say, ‘we may do this, we may do that.’ We’ve got to have a program, otherwise it’s Washington as usual.â€Â   (“At Issue†KSTP-TV, February 10, 2008)
But Franken Says He Still Supports Raising State Gas Tax – Can’t Explain Why One Increase Is OK And The Other Isn’t:
Host: So when you say, “Now is not the time to increase the gas tax†you disagree then, with what House and Senate DFLers pushed through over the objections of Governor Pawlently.
Franken: Well, that was a bi-partisan.
Host: But are you saying that you disagree with that…when you say now is it the…
Franken: No, no.
Host: Well why is it OK for a…
Franken: Because, in this state we are in a particular crisis. At that time we weren’t at $4.00 a gallon. But look, that was bi-partisan, they over-rode the veto.
Host: Well, an increase in the federal gas tax could be bi-partisan as well, couldn’t it?
Franken: I don’t think that it’s going to be and right now you’re looking at $4.00 and growing and I think that, you know, maybe you and I will just disagree on this.
Host: But I just want to be clear. You support what state House and Senate DFLers did to increase the gas tax here but…
Franken: And it was bi-partisan.
Host: But, you do not support a federal gas tax increase.
Franken: That’s right.
Host: Because now is not the time to do that.
Franken: Absolutely. Again, I will repeat that was bi-partisan. (Kerri Miller, Midmorning, MPR, July 3, 2008)
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14 Responses to “MN GOP PRESS RELEASE: “FRANKEN MISLEADS MINNESOTANS ON ENERGY DURING COMBATIVE MPR INTERVIEW””
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July 3rd, 2008 at 7:49 PM
The American Petroleum Institute can hardly be called a “liberal/leftist/socialist FRENCH FRY eatin’ APPEASER organization” – unless, of course, you’re a bootlicker.
For those with open minds, take a look at the map API prepared, showing the gas tax rates of the good ol’ USofA.
Notice where – AFTER the gas tax increase – Minnesota is.
But, bootlickers will still claim the sky is falling…..
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:01 PM
Michael, why do you allow this Tommy guy to post? He contributes nothing, he does nothing but attempt to deflect, and he does nothing but call people names. He’s obviously an Angry Al bought and paid for poster since he’s almost always the first to post. Most people have jobs. His is to be here.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:05 AM
Umm…I’m confused. What does the API map have to do with the article?
How do you justify an increase in the gas tax when everyone is complaining the price of gas is already too high? Just because we pay less in gas taxes than say Wisconsin, does not mean we are not paying enough. Not everyone has the luxory of riding a motorcycle to work (as I do). This is one case where I enjoy being below average.
Further, just because you increase the gas tax does not mean the money collected will go for it’s supposed intended purpose.
Aside from all that….it appears that Mr. Franken has no clue what he is talking about. Which is th point of this blog post, not a screed about taxes.
July 4th, 2008 at 8:17 AM
I love listening to Al drop a big turd on his own shoes like that.
You can actually hear the little gears in his head spinning lie after lie, excuse after excuse….in fact that’s why he stumbles and mumbles; the BS piles up faster than he can spit it out.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:00 AM
aj posted: “…he does nothing but call people names. He’s obviously an Angry Al…”
Folks, you just can’t make stuff like that up.
The point of the gas tax map, is that the state tax had not been increased in 20 years, and even with the tax increase, Minnesota is in the bottom half of tax per gallon.
And according to the The Tax Foundation>/a>, federal gas taxes haven’t been increased since 1993.
So, when Franken said (paraphrased) a while ago that he’d consider raising the federal portion, or support it, or whatever he said a while ago, it’s an issue that should be looked at: is there enough dough to fix all the roads the feds are supposed to fund?
And if he changed his mind now, because circumstances changed, what’s the big deal?
Apparently, the big deal is only republiCons are allowed to change their minds and maintain (an illusionary) integrity; when anyone with a “D” after their name changes their minds, republiCons call ‘em “flip-floppers.”
Which, of course, is why reasonable people no longer believe the lies that republiCons spread, and whythe GOP is headed for Permanent Minority Status.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Aj posted: â€â€¦he does nothing but call people names. He’s obviously an Angry Al…â€
Folks, you just can’t make stuff like that up.
And according to The Tax Foundation, federal gas taxes haven’t been increased since 1993.
So when Franken said (paraphrased) a while ago that he’d consider raising the federal portion, or support it, or whatever he said a shile ago, it’s an issue that should be looked at: is there enough dough to fix all the roads the feds are supposed to fund?
And if he changed his mind now, because circumstances changed, what’s the big deal?
Apparently, the big deal is only republiCons are allowed to change their minds and maintain (an illusionary) integrity; when anyone with a “D†after their name changes their mind, republiCons call ‘em “flip-floppers.â€
Which, of course, is why reasonable people no longer believe the lies that republiCons spread, and why the GOP is headed for Permanent Minority Status.
July 5th, 2008 at 3:27 PM
Tommy 2 inch makes me laugh.
How can he type with his head up his butt?
July 5th, 2008 at 10:48 PM
Tommy,
First, gas tax revenues have increased nearly 300 percent since the early 90s.
Second, if it was good policy when gas was less expensive, why is it bad policy now? If we desperately need the money for roads, then how has high fuel costs changed that need? Tell me how high fuel costs “changed the circumstances.”
… or are they changed because Franken is an unpopular candidate seeking office, and the public probably won’t tolerate such a candidate preaching to make expensive gas more expensive.
This is a pretty textbook example of a change of policy based on political expediency.
July 5th, 2008 at 10:50 PM
That said, Tommy is right, we shouldn’t be surprised by a Democrat whose policy positions shift with the wind.
July 6th, 2008 at 12:36 AM
We should not be in a race to see who can raise taxes the fastest. If the gas tax has not been raised in 20 years…so what?
As for flip flopping…I have news for you. We on the right(I’m actually more north of right) do not blindly follow the party line. WE freely criticize our people for flip flopping and a host of other flaws. Hence the luke warm support for Mr. McCain.
The upshot is Mr. Franken sounds incoherent…probably because he makes up policy to fit the audience. My impression is he wants the office for the sake of having the office, not for any desire to actually serve the people.
July 6th, 2008 at 12:14 PM
“We on the right(I’m actually more north of right) do not blindly follow the party line. “
Yes, you do. The only reason you criticize McCain, is because he’s a RINO. For that matter, so is ol’ Smokescreen.
July 6th, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Say, Kyle? You want to see a GOPer with bigger flip-flops than a Parrothead at a Buffett concert?
Take a look at Lindsey Graham, R=”That was then; this is now.”
You shoulda seen him last week, tryin’ to defend his “well, I used to be against drillin’ off the South Carolina coast but now I’m not and BTW – Obama is a flip-flopper.”
And he was inconsistent this week, too.
But, of course, here’s the epitome of a flip-flopper….
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/668/sack20070311qt1.jpg
July 6th, 2008 at 1:42 PM
You and I can agree on that, Tommy. Lindsey Graham is a spineless toad. He’s kinda the GOP’s Joe Biden… both love the sounds of their own voices, and both fancy themselves as intelligent. Both are dead wrong on that later account.
July 6th, 2008 at 7:12 PM
Kyle, the difference between you and Founder is that you will actually criticize someone from the GOP, but Flounder doesn’t, no matter what the issue or how outrageous.
Who’s the real bootlicker Flounder? Idiots like Franken can say anything and you’ll defend the indefensible. Bootlicker should be changed to a**licker in your case.