So reports the Politico
President Barack Obama is intervening in a Senate fight over the Keystone XL oil pipeline and personally lobbying Democrats to reject an amendment calling for its construction, according to several sources familiar with the talks.
The White House lobbying effort, including phone calls from the president to Democrats, signals that the vote could be close when it heads to the floor Thursday. The president is trying to defeat an amendment that would give election-year fodder to his Republican critics who have accused him of blocking a job-creating energy project at a time of high gas prices.
The amendment, proposed by Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), states that Obama would have no role in such cross-border permitting decisions since, in this case, the pipeline would originate in Canada. The measure would need 60 votes to pass, and Obama has already lost two Democrats who back the proposal – Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Mary Landrieu – and is at risk of losing more moderates and vulnerable Democrats.
Which is kinda strange, because Obama publicly cheered the construction of the southern portion of the pipeline the other day. In fact, just yesterday
(NewsOK) President Obama touted the construction of an oil pipeline from Oklahoma to the Gulf of Mexico today as a sign of oil production under his leadership, even though his State Department originally killed that pipeline when it refused to permit the construction of the Keystone pipeline.
“We just announced that we’ll do whatever we can to speed up construction of a pipeline in Oklahoma that’s going to relieve a bottleneck and get more oil to the Gulf — to the refineries down there — and that’s going to help create jobs, encourage more production,” Obama said in North Carolina today. “So these are the facts on oil production. If somebody tells you we’re not producing enough oil, they just don’t know the facts.”
Interesting. You do have to love how this famed narcissist is trying to take some credit for the announced construction, which is being done despite his Administration. His “leadership” has nothing to do with it. We could say this is part of his “leading from behind” mode, which includes claiming credit for the work of others.
Meanwhile, he announced he’s pushing for $1 billion in tax credits and grants for alternative energy cars and trucks, as he said in that same speech in North Carolina at a Daimler truck plant, because “We can’t just keep on relying on the old ways of doing business. We can’t just rely on fossil fuels from the last century. We’ve got to continually develop new sources of energy.”
The tax credits – which must be voted on by Congress – would help up to 15 cities and towns to pay for charging stations for electric cars and biofuel pumps for alternative fuel vehicles to encourage people to switch to electric cars.
Well, that’s sure going to help a lot of people, eh! It’s almost like he doesn’t understand how the economy works. But, back to the Senate vote, it’s really no wonder why Republicans and some Democrats want Obama out of the picture: he fails to understand the pain American’s are feeling, and the pain some Democrats will feel in the voting booth. And, if Keystone XL is not approved soon, America can kiss that oil goodbye. It may already be too late, what with the Canadian deal with China.
Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.
Personally opposed to keystone.
None of the oil going to the US. To japan and china. The roadblock was, Nebraska. Where the legislature refused to okay it, and the goveneor said he needed a federal review to okay it. Fed’s legislation said Nebraska had to review and okay it first before the bill would be considered. So who is supposed to know their state better, the locals or the fed’s?