President Obama is now promising to focus on job creation and says that what he wants to do is create high-paying employment opportunities for Americans.
But Obama has already proven to be a job creator–overseas. Because of his continued anti-oil policies, he is pushing American producers away from expanding exploration and production here in the United States. By blocking offshore oil drilling and issuing fewer permits in those areas where drilling is already allowed, oil companies increasingly look overseas for production opportunities. And countries like Iran, Venezuela, and Russia, couldn’t be happier. Why not? Oil prices are pushed higher and they are energy exporters. For energy importers like the United States, this is like an extra tax on consumers. Obama’s approach to energy is tantamount to rationing our petroleum resources.
Oil production creates high-paying jobs, both entry-level and those with experience. At the same time, greater domestic production would mean that we are sending fewer dollar overseas. As WikiLeaks revealed, many of the oil producing gulf states that we buy our oil from are heavily funding terrorism. So President Obama’s misguided energy policies are a trifecta: they damage our economy, enrich our adversaries, and indirectly fund terrorists.
So why is Obama clinging to this dangerous policy? One can only conclude that for him, ideology trumps realty. It is really more important for him to be “green” and punish oil companies than to create jobs for ordinary Americans. So the next time you hear that Obama has failed to create any jobs, please correct them. Just ask oil workers in Tehran or Caracas. They’ll tell you he’s created them there.