HE IS WITH HE:

Obama allies' interests collide over Keystone pipeline (Juliet Eilperin and Steven Mufson, 10/16/11, Washington Post)

The Keystone permit decision has landed literally and figuratively on the White House's doorstep. Several key union allies and the Canadian government are pitted against environmental and youth activists who are threatening to turn Keystone into a campaign issue for President Obama.

The question of whether to allow construction of the pipeline has spawned football-themed ads in Nebraska, protests across the country and Canadian-led strategy sessions for members of Congress in the offices of a D.C. law firm. And the State Department, which is charged with making the permit decision because the pipeline crosses an international border, is on the spot for its handling of the review process.

"This project represents a collision of multiple national interests and multiple political interests," said P.J. Crowley, who served as spokesman for the State Department during part of the review process. "Energy security and environment normally go together, but in this case they are somewhat at odds. All have come together to make this a bigger deal than it might have appeared at first blush."

Charles K. Ebinger, a senior fellow for energy at the Brookings Institution, said the issue has "become a test case for the Democrats," with two factions within the Obama camp asking the same question: "Is he with us or against us?"

Even as we speak, the staff scurries to figure out how he can just vote "present"....



Posted by oj at October 17, 2011 8:48 PM
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