David Winston, a Republican pollster who advises the Senate Republican
leadership, called the rebate an intuitive way to show voters that
Republicans were on their side.


From The New York Times, 5/1/06:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/01/us/01gas.html?hp&ex=1146456000&en=955f00e0facbf1e6&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Sharp Reaction to G.O.P. Plan on Gas Rebate

By CARL HULSE and DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK

WASHINGTON --

The Senate Republican plan to mail $100 checks to voters to ease the
burden of high gasoline prices is eliciting more scorn than gratitude
from the very people it was intended to help.

Aides for several Republican senators reported a surge of calls and
e-mail messages from constituents ridiculing the rebate as a paltry
and transparent effort to pander to voters before the midterm
elections in November.

"The conservatives think it is socialist bunk, and the liberals think
it is conservative trickery," said Don Stewart, a spokesman for
Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, pointing out that the
criticism was coming from across the ideological spectrum.

Angry constituents have asked, "Do you think we are prostitutes? Do
you think you can buy us?" said another Republican senator's aide, who
was granted anonymity to openly discuss the feedback because the
senator had supported the plan.

Conservative talk radio hosts have been particularly vocal.

"What kind of insult is this?" Rush Limbaugh asked on his radio
program on Friday.

"Instead of buying us off and treating us like we're a bunch of
whores, just solve the problem."

In commentary on Fox News Sunday, Brit Hume called the idea "silly."

The reaction comes as the rising price of gasoline has put the public
in a volatile mood and as polls show that cynicism about Congress is
at its highest level since 1994.

__________________________________________________________

Stupid is as stupid does.

Harry