Poll Shows Few Agree With Dems’ Decision to Reject Keystone Jobs and Energy Independence

February 27, 2012

FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Tim Bishop (NY-01), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Kathy Castor (FL-11), Ben Chandler (KY-06), David Cicilline (RI-01), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), John Garamendi (CA-03), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Jim Himes (CT-04), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Kathy Hochul (NY-26), Tim Holden (PA-17), Rush Holt (NJ-12), Steve Israel (NY-02), Bill Keating (MA-09), Ron Kind (WI-03), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Mike McIntyre (NC-07), Jerry McNerney (CA-09), Michael Michaud (ME-02), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Gary Peters (MI-09), Collin Peterson (MN-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Nick Rahall (WV-03), Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Adam Smith (WA-09), John Tierney (MA-06), Paul Tonko (NY-21), Niki Tsongas (MA-03), Pete Visclosky (IN-01), John Yarmuth (KY-03)

Poll Shows Few Agree With Peterson’s Decision to Reject Keystone Jobs and Energy Independence
Minnesota Democrat’s Efforts to Help President Obama Block the Keystone Pipeline Particularly Out of Touch With Record High Gas Prices

WASHINGTON — As gas prices soar and American energy security is a top concern for working families, a new poll shows Collin Peterson’s decision to join President Obama in rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline is extremely unpopular. Peterson and Obama made their decision in reaction to Democrat donors and Washington political priorities, at the cost of jobs and energy independence for middle-class families in Minnesota.

“Collin Peterson’s decision to help President Obama reject the Keystone pipeline’s jobs and energy independence is only looking increasingly out of touch by the day,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “It seems the only ones pleased with Peterson and Obama’s anti-energy grand standing are wealthy Democrat donors who are unconcerned with skyrocketing gas prices and driven by a radical political agenda that is hurting any potential for economic recovery.”

A new Pew poll shows an overwhelming number of Americans support the Keystone pipeline, including nearly half of Democrat voters:

“The Pew Research Center poll released Thursday finds 66 percent who have heard about the issue say the proposed pipeline to bring oil sands from Alberta, Canada, to Gulf Coast refineries should be approved, while 23 percent say it shouldn’t.

“The data reveals a partisan split but substantial Democratic support as well. Among Republicans who have heard about the pipeline issue, 84 percent back it, compared to 49 percent of Democrats.” (Ben Geman, “Poll shows support for Keystone pipeline, environmental regulations,” The Hill‘s E2 Wire Blog, 2/23/12)

The decision to reject the Keystone pipeline’s jobs and energy independence was instead made to appease a small sliver of wealthy Democrat donors:

“Democrats outside the West Wing and Chicago-based campaign say the politics were clear: With the exceptions of the grousing unions (who will have no choice but to support him in 2012), the party’s donor base, environmental advocates down to their hybrid SUVs oppose the pipeline.” (Glenn Thrush and Darren Samuelsohn, “Keystone decision a political win-win,” Politico, 1/18/12)

Poll Shows Few Agree with Dems’ Decision to Reject Keystone Jobs and Energy Independence http://ow.ly/9jt3r #powerfailure

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