Politics: Pipe, Baby, Pipe

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Politics Pipe, Baby, Pipe Why Republican voters are so angry about Obama's rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline. By David Weigel Posted Monday, Jan 30, 2012, at 07:46 PM ET THE VILLAGES, Fla.—Newt Gingrich's schedule, 72 hours before the Florida primary, goes like this: church, parking lot of a retirement mega-city, church. His only speech of the day is here, in a grove of tidy homes and souped-up golf carts. As the Villagers stand, or sit in their chairs, or stay in their carts to sip Arizona Iced Tea or frappes, Gingrich explains why Barack Obama is failing them. "He recently vetoed the Keystone pipeline," says Gingrich. Boo! Boo! Boo! "Now, think about it! He did it to appease left-wing environmental extremists in San Francisco." Ugh, mutters a retiree near the press riser. Gingrich laid on the scares with a trowel; an ugh was the least he could do. "Think about what would come of this," Gingrich continues. "Here was an opportunity to have oil come from Canada through the United States, to the largest petrochemical complex in the world, in Houston. It would have provided jobs for the next 50 years, processing the oil, sending some of it to the ports overseas, so you'd got jobs for the ports, jobs for the refineries, jobs from building the pipeline. He canceled all that. Right now the Canadians are looking seriously at a partnership with China." From what I could gather, Gingrich's audience knew about the Keystone XL pipeline before he started talking. They felt the same way he did. "For Obama not to do it is a disgrace to this country," said Bob Levens, a retiree ... To continue reading, click here. Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum What did you think of this article? POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES Also In Slate The RNC and DNC Are Getting Into Data Mining. Will They Sell Their Secrets for a Bundle? Gingrich's Plan To Build a Base on the Moon in Eight Years Is Sheer Lunacy The Publishing Industry Thinks Barnes & Noble Is Its Last Hope. Is It?	Advertisement
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