The Carroll Standard

Bill Hobbs | CNSNews.com:

Democrats know President Obama's decision to kill the KeystoneXL oil pipeline project has handed Republicans a powerful campaign weapon, since killing construction of the pipeline would have created 20,000 jobs in an economy that desperately needs them, and helped make the United States less dependent on oil imported from the politically volatile Middle East.

So they have deployed a new tactic to attack and cast aspersion on the pipeline: Mention the Koch Brothers and pretend the pipeline is just a Republican ploy to enrich the billionaire brothers who are generous donors to Republican and libertarian causes:

Democrats demanded Wednesday that Koch Industries officials testify before Congress about whether they have any financial stake in the Keystone XL pipeline, as President Obama's allies sought to limit political damage from his decision this month to reject the project.

Koch officials have repeatedly said they have no stake, but Rep. Henry A. Waxman of California said he wants them to testify to that fact, and he lodged an official request under House rules to demand that the Energy and Commerce Committee's subcommittee on energy and power hold another hearing on the subject.

The two billionaire brothers, David H. Koch and Charles G. Koch, who run the second-largest privately held company in the U.S. have become chief targets of Democrats, thanks in large part to their hefty support of libertarian and Republican causes.

Waxman's mention of the Koch brothers is meant as a diversion - but if he really wants the hearings to explore just who stands to benefit or lose if the pipeline is built or not built, I suggest he demand the subcommittee call one of Barack Obama's most famous wealthy backers to testify. ...  read more