I’m not sure how else to describe this statement from “the smartest man in the room” concerning the Keystone XL pipeline and unemployment benefits:

As Obama called for passage of those bills, he also responded to a recent Republican push to require him to approve the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada. "However many jobs might be generated by a Keystone pipeline," he said, "they’re going to be a lot fewer than the jobs that are created by extending the payroll tax cut and extending unemployment insurance."

It’s rather hard to even imagine someone thinking that’s true.  Yet here’s the guy who is supposed to be making jobs his focus and economic recovery his priority and he thinks he’s doing his job by trying to get unemployment insurance extended?  He believes that the extension of the payroll tax cut is job creator?   Note the word – create, as in what Obama said.  While it certainly can be argued that on some level it might save a few jobs, if there were any to be created from its extension, they’ve most likely already been created. 

The Keystone XL pipeline on the other hand, will create thousands and thousands of jobs.

TransCanada is poised to put 13,000 Americans to work to construct the pipeline – pipefitters, welders, mechanics, electricians, heavy equipment operators, among other jobs – in addition to 7,000 manufacturing jobs that would be created across the U.S.  Additionally, local businesses along the pipeline route will benefit from the 118,000 spin-off jobs Keystone XL will create through increased business for local goods and service providers.

Of course, besides the pure economic ignorance displayed by the statement, Mr. Obama offers nothing in terms of numbers to back his claim.  It’s another in a long line of claims made recently that just aren’t true.

~McQ

Twitter: @McQandO