Don't Let Obama Take a Koch Check

Tens of thousands of Americans and citizens around the world have rightfully spoken out about the Keystone XL oil pipeline, a roughly 2,000-mile-long development that would carve up six states and enrich the 1 percent even more.

Few personify the wealthiest 1 percent more than Charles and David Koch, who're among the largest financial beneficiaries of dirty tar sands oil. The Keystone XL pipeline would hurt America and make the Koch brothers richer. In other words, it would give the Koch brothers more billions of dollars to buy American democracy and bend it to their whims.

This doesn't have to be the case. The State Department and White House can veto the pipeline's permits because it crosses an international border with Canada.

The pressure's on. The State Department was rightfully exposed for shoddy oversight. Leaders in Congress continue fighting to further investigate the Koch brothers' involvement, and just recently, President Obama said he would personally approve or deny the Keystone XL pipeline.



It's the biggest environmental issue from now until next year. Will President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton chose American safety, or will they hand the Koch brothers billions more in profit that they'll politically use against them?

The world's top scientists agree that the tar sands is virtually game-over for the climate. More than that, why would this administration lend a lifeline to its wealthiest adversaries?

As Jamie Henn, one of the partners for today's rally outside the White House, wrote:

President Obama can deny the permit, right now, and shut down this flow of cash to the Kochs. In doing so, he'll show that our national interest isn't always determined by the 1%, in this case a few big oil companies and the Koch Brothers, but by the 99% of us who have to pay the price for their greed.

Let' s not forget that the pipeline would raise the price of gasoline in the Midwest and jeopardize one of our nation's most strategic and vital aquifers.

The Keystone XL oil pipeline is emblematic of a lot that we've learned about the Koch brothers since our Koch Brothers Exposed campaign began earlier this year. Whenever possible, the brothers try operating in the shadows and attacking the truth so that they can get richer in secret.

We must continue holding them accountable. And we must pressure our leaders to make sure they don't enrich two of the biggest threats to American democracy.

I invite you to take action at our Koch Brothers Exposed page on Facebook.

 

 

 

Follow Robert Greenwald on Twitter: www.twitter.com/robertgreenwald

Comments

[glock19]

04:33 PM on 11/07/2011

Obama doesn't control Canada. If the Keystone pipeline is not built, a pipeline will be built to the west coast of Canada and the oil will be sold to China. It is a much bigger environmental hazard to transport via ship than any small spill a pipleine may ever have. You can turn off a pipeline, but you can't turn off an oil leak from a ship.

[clearasmud]

07:11 PM on 11/07/2011

The oil will be sold on the international market anyway. This pipeline will do nothing for the price of gas in the US.

[glock19]

04:27 PM on 11/07/2011

What you all fail to understand is that is benefits Koch if they do NOT build the pipeline. Koch's refinery in Minnesota is the first in line to get Canadian crude off the existing pipeline...and as such give Koch a huge refining advantage. If the pipeline is built, the competition (moving the Candian Crude) further south to Texas....would cut into the advantage they currently have. By not building the pipeline...you are guaranteeing Koch's huge refining advantage into perpetuity.

[TurnToTheLeft]

02:15 PM on 11/07/2011

Please draft Hillary for VP in 2012. We Progressives would sweep in most states. Women and Independents would jump aboard and this would also set Hillary in a great position for 2016 should she want it. I like Joe Biden but he has become irrelevant and is a weight to an already hard sell. President Obama do the right thing for the party and draft Hillary. Hillary - please accept - we are depending on you; because you can help make change a real and permanent thing. Hilary makes all the GOP woman look as light weight, vain and lacking in the necessary skills as they are.

[mjvoter]

06:44 PM on 11/06/2011

If the Kochs are involved I don't support the project and here is why. The Koch brothers have done everything in their power to try to convince the public that environmental regulations don't matter, that the environment doesn't matter and that we should get rid of the EPA. They have spent money to do research to try to prove that our scientists are wrong and don't know what they are taking about. And with all the money they have spent they still can't disprove the climate scientists. I grew up in an area surrounded by oil refineries, steel mills and chemical plants. And they created jobs but it was a disgusting place to live because of the environment. It was dirty and the kids were regularly tested for lead poisoning. The factory owners didn't care if the people got cancer. And that is why we do need the EPA. So with the Koch's track record I don't have faith that this project is safe. I think it has potential to totally ruin our clean water supply for our midwestern crops and I am against it.

[usersuz]

04:55 PM on 11/06/2011

...the Keystone Kochs!

[mozartmaid2]

03:53 PM on 11/06/2011

The Kochs need to LEAVE OUR COUNTRY ALONE!! All of their endeavors are selfish and harmful to people and to the earth. We do NOT need their influence in our politics ANY LONGER! Say NO to Koch!!

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Koch_Industries

[David William Fox]

02:23 PM on 11/06/2011

whats the matter with me! its early "they are not adversaries"

[David William Fox]

02:21 PM on 11/06/2011

*their :)

[David William Fox]

02:20 PM on 11/06/2011

"why would this administration lend a lifeline to its wealthiest adversaries?" I can tell you why. Because they're adversaries as much as you might think. The Dems have sold the 99%down the river for 30 years. The democratic party is where real populist movements go to die.

[clearasmud]

07:14 PM on 11/07/2011

wow