All five panelists in a “fair and balanced” Fox News discussion attacked President Obama’s decision to reject the Keystone Pipeline. For diversity, two of the guests were not disrespectful in their disagreement.
Host Neil Cavuto did provide some balance by saying, “The argument against it” was, “’Hey the whole rationale for [the pipeline] is gone. Jobs are up. Look at that employment report! Energy prices are already down. We don’t need it.’”
But that was drowned out by the chorus of attacks from others.
Panelist, and Fox Business host, Charles Payne called the move “frightening” and accused Obama of lying. Payne said, “The idea, though, that the Obama administration can say with a straight face they are now making policy where first and foremost climate change is the determining factor, they can apply this to anything and everything that he rules on, executive action or not. And this is really frightening, frightening, is they’re lying. They’ve cost fracking jobs already in New York State, but this is a major blow to a friendly country, to an industry where they create jobs, to unions… The only people that matter here are the environmentalists at the sake of great American jobs and energy security. It’s crazy, it’s nuts.”
Panelist Ben Stein applauded.
Panelist Gerri Willis said, “We’re ticking off our Canadian allies.” Then she changed gears somewhat by saying, “Americans, when they go to the polls, their first issue is not gas prices, OK? We’re at $2.22 a gallon, and, in fact, in 41 states, you can find gas prices below two dollars a gallon.”
But panelist Charles Gasparino went back to inflammatory attacks. “This just shows you about the Democratic party, why so many working class people have defected from the Democratic party. They will choose every time the environmentalists over the blue-collar, working-class man and woman every time. … President Obama throws ‘em under the bus under the bus every chance he gets.”
Adam Lashinsky, the panel’s only liberal said, “I disagree with the White House. I think this pipeline should have been built.” However, he argued that Obama’s decision was made out of “a sincere belief that there’s an environmental impact.”
“He doesn’t have any sincere beliefs about anything except pleasing yelling, screaming environmentalists,” Stein sneered.
“How about a sincere pandering to the environmentalists?” Gasparino said.
“We don’t even know what causes climate change, even if there is climate change,” Stein added.
Nobody uttered an objection.
What was not mentioned? Only 35 permanent jobs would be created by the pipeline.
Watch it below, from the November 7 Cavuto on Business.