Sen. John McCain today discussed new tax plans, including a suspension of gas taxes, in a speech strategically delivered on the deadline date for filing tax returns.

He called for Congress to suspend the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.4 cent diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day, when summer travelers feel the pain of high gas prices the most. This move would cause the government to lose an estimated $10 billion in revenue, but McCain said the “gas-tax holiday” would “help to spread relief across the American economy.”

In an attempt to appear stronger on the economy, McCain presented some long-term plans as well. He said these would help the middle class and halt irresponsible spending.

And he didn’t stop there. McCain slammed both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama - but especially Obama - by saying they would significantly raise taxes:

McCain also sought to draw a contrast with Democratic rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, saying they would impose the single largest tax increase since World War II by allowing tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 — and that McCain, himself, opposed — to expire.

“All these tax increases are the fine print under the slogan of ‘hope:’ They’re going to raise your taxes by thousands of dollars per year — and they have the audacity to hope you don’t mind,” McCain said, playing on the title of an Obama book.
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Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said McCain’s proposals offer “no change from George Bush’s failed policies by going full speed ahead with fiscally irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.” Clinton policy director Neera Tanden called it “a George Bush-redux of corporate windfalls and tax cuts for the wealthy that will bankrupt our government and leave working families with the bill.”

It’s smart of McCain to present tax plans that seem like they would ease the financial burden on recession-weary Americans, but he did not discuss how much those plans would cost. He also left out any mention of the federal deficit and climbing war costs.

Speaking of smart, it’s clear that both the Clinton and Obama campaigns are determined to associate McCain with fellow Republican George W. Bush at any opportunity. According to the latest ABC/Post poll, President Bush’s approval rating stands at 33 percent - just one point away from his recent all-time low of 32 percent. Bush hasn’t had a majority approval rating since Jan. 16, 2005.

In a time when many Americans are yearning for change and McCain is earning Bush-related nicknames like “McSame” on Daily Kos, my advice to him would be this: George W. may be the President, but don’t walk - run away from him.