In the News

By JR Hoeft
January 19, 2012
Full story available here

In a move that can only be described as pandering to the far left, President Barack Obama has decided to ignore U.S. energy needs and the prospects of creating tens of thousands of jobs by choosing to deny the creation of the Keystone XL pipeline.

The pipeline would have created 20,000 direct jobs, had the prospects of creating more than 100,000 supporting jobs, and would have brought 830,000 barrels of crude oil a day from the oil sands of Canada to American oil refineries, further strengthening our North American partnership. Instead, Canada may have no choice now but to send this oil to China.

“As our energy needs grow, we need access to affordable oil from friendly and stable sources, like Canada, now more than ever,” said Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-9). “Our friends, the Canadians, now have no choice but to sell their oil to China and other countries.”

In his refusal of the pipeline, the president stated, “this announcement is not a judgment on the merits of the pipeline, but the arbitrary nature of a deadline that prevented the State Department from gathering the information necessary to approve the project and protect the American people. I’m disappointed that Republicans in Congress forced this decision, but it does not change my Administration’s commitment to American-made energy that creates jobs and reduces our dependence on oil.”

Seriously? The president rejected the pipeline because of a tiff with the GOP, not on the merits of bring jobs and energy to America?

Because of the very partisan tone of the president’s statement, it’s not surprising to see that his decision has brought swift condemnation from conservatives across the country and the commonwealth.

“If Americans want to understand why unemployment in the United States has been stuck above 8 percent for the longest stretch since the Great Depression, decisions like this one are the place to begin,” said Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. “By declaring that the Keystone pipeline is not in the ‘national interest,’ the President demonstrates a lack of seriousness about bringing down unemployment, restoring economic growth, and achieving energy independence. He seems to have confused the national interest with his own interest in pleasing the environmentalists in his political base.”

Romney certainly isn’t the only one to see it that way. Governor Bob McDonnell said the president was putting ideology ahead of job creation and Scott Rigell, congressman from Virginia Beach, summed it up quite succinctly, “This is further evidence that this administration does not appreciate the links among energy independence, national security and job creation.”

Of course, Tim Kaine, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate agrees with the administration’s decision to halt the pipeline’s production – saying that its development now would be “hasty” and calls Congress’ desire to take action “artificial” and “politically-motivated” as well. Kaine says there has not been enough time to review the project thoroughly.

“We need every single job our businesses can create and the Keystone Pipeline may help increase energy supplies, but by itself, it is not a solution to either our economic crisis or our energy crisis. We shouldn’t let the Washington hype over this project allow us to lose sight of our larger economic and energy challenges,” said Kaine.

The amazing thing is that both the president and Kaine admit that the pipeline will create jobs and support increasing energy supplies – at a time we desperately need it – but they continue to vacillate in favor of the far left.

Obviously, Kaine’s opponent, George Allen, sees that further delays and obfuscation by the president and his allies like Tim Kaine are harmful for the U.S. economy, energy and job creation.

“These harmful approaches, which Tim Kaine supports, are causing higher costs for farmers, high food and gasoline costs for struggling families and fewer job opportunities for Americans,” said Allen. “It’s time for America to take control of our own destiny by unleashing our plentiful energy resources to help create millions of jobs, increase our supply of affordable energy, allow Americans to access secure sources of energy, and keep our money here in the U.S.A. while generating trillions in revenues to the government – without raising taxes.”

Unfortunately for America, we can’t take control until decisions like these are no longer being made.