Susan Rice Has Stake In Keystone Pipeline- Liberals Not Too Happy

Well, well, well, it seems that liberals are now not too keen on Susan Rice as a potential Secretary of State either, but for very different reasons than conservatives. While Republicans have problems with U.N. Ambassador Rice's Benghazi fiasco (and rightfully so), the lefties have major problems with the fact that Rice has millions invested in- gasp - Canadian oil companies and banks (about 12 or so) that stand to benefit from the Keystone XL Pipeline. Rice who is worth anywhere from $23.5 million to $43.5 million has about one third of her net worth invested in those banks and companies. According to Scott Dodd in an article written for OnEarth (Natural Resources Defense Council's magazine) she also has invested from $300,000 to $600,000 in the company that is petitioning the U.S. government for permission to build portions of the pipeline across the heartland from Oklahoma to the Alberta Canada border.

Progressives and environmentalists, of course, want nothing to do with the Keystone Pipeline- which would run from Texas to Canada. Her liberal detractors believe that with so much of her personal assets tied up in the Pipeline, and as head of the State Department she could unduly influence the end game, since the ultimate decision would be hers, it constitutes a major conflict of interest.

Bill McKibben founder of several environmental activist groups (350.org and Tar Sand Action) said

"It's really amazing that they're considering someone for Secretary of State who has millions invested in these companies."

Ooops.

They would, however, be fine if she divested, or had no say in the ultimate decision making process.

That would mean John Kerry as Secretary of State? His name has also been bandied about, if Rice doesn't make the cut.

God help us.

Read the whole OnEarth article.

H/T: Mother Jones, Care2