Sen. Joe Manchin (center) and Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (right)
Democratic Sen. Ed Markey had a good idea: Supporters of the Keystone XL pipeline keep talking about how it'll improve America's energy security, so why not set that claim in stone? Markey proposed an amendment to the current Keystone legislation pending in the Senate that would require oil transported through the pipeline
to remain in the United States. It only makes sense, right?
Indeed, pro-Keystone Democrats have long argued the pipeline will promote American energy independence, including folks like North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp:
Today, we are one step closer toward approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. ... We have the opportunity to make sure it comes to the U.S., where it would boost domestic energy production by bringing in oil from our greatest trading partner and friend, and continue to move us toward North American energy security and independence—a goal we all want to achieve.
Virginia Sen. Mark Warner:
I support construction of the Keystone pipeline. ... [I]t will allow the U.S. to increase its energy security.
And
West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin:
The Keystone XL pipeline would also allow us to move away from dependence on foreign oil produced by countries who are not our friends, and to move closer to our goal of achieving North American energy independence.
Based on remarks like these, it's clear that lawmakers like these would be eager to make sure that any oil that flows across our country would stay
in our country. Heitkamp even said we "have the opportunity to make sure" that Keystone oil comes right here. After all, if we're just a conduit so that Canadian oil can be exported around the world, how would Keystone help bolster American energy independence one whit?
That of course explains why this trio of Democrats all voted with the Republicans to defeat Markey's amendment on Tuesday.
Oh, wait, no it doesn't.
Conservative or "moderate" Democrats are gonna take some votes we don't like some of the time. That's a fact of life. But Markey's amendment is good, populist politics, which is why senators from red states like Jon Tester (Montana), Joe Donnelly (Indiana), and Claire McCaskill (Missouri) all supported it. If anything, it's the kind of legislation you'd be happy to see your opponent oppose, since you can easily frame a vote against the amendment as a vote against U.S. interests.
But now Manchin, Warner, and Heitkamp are not only on the wrong side of this issue, they also look like phonies. And no voter likes a phony.
Click here to send an email to your senator: Stop selling out to Big Oil.