Rick Weiland doubled down on his opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline Friday in a live Argus Leaderi nterview.
Weiland, the Democratic candidate for Senate, called claims about the jobs the controversial pipeline would bring to South Dakota "a bunch of crap" and bashed the project as an "export pipeline" that would carry oil from Canada to Gulf ports without benefiting U.S. gas prices.
"No jobs, no energy," Weiland said on the Argus Leader's "100 Eyes" web show. "There's all the risk and no reward."
It's an issue that puts Weiland at odds with the Republican frontrunner, Mike Rounds — a strong proponent of the Keystone XL pipeline.
"This is a great example of the difference between Rick and I," Rounds said at an August debate. "I am in favor of the Keystone pipeline, and I think it's got to be the first of several pipelines coming out of not only Canada but North Dakota as well."
Rounds said pipelines are safer than other methods of transporting oil — train or truck — and will free up railways for grain shippers.
Independent Gordon Howie also supports the pipeline, saying — like Rounds — that it would help make America less dependent on Middle Eastern oil.
"We should not be dependent for our energy on people who want to take our heads," Howie said in August.
Independent Larry Pressler says he's for more oil pipelines — but not the Keystone XL. Pressler says more pipelines should be built from North Dakota's oil fields to get that oil to refineries.
"What we need is a domestic pipeline in North Dakota ... that would relieve the pressure on our grain shippers," Pressler said at the August debate. "The XL pipeline doesn't do anything ... to get more rail cars and more big engines."
Rounds and the Republican Party have run television ads criticizing Weiland and Pressler for their opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline.
Weiland cast his position as an unpopular idealistic stand.
"It would have been a lot easier for me ... to just roll over and not take this one on," Weiland said Friday. "But the more research I did, I said, 'You know what? If I lose this election over Keystone, I know I'm not going to lose a night of sleep.' Because I'm going to speak the truth.
Rick sounds like a straight shooter to me. And being a neighbor to the east of South Dakota the pipeline concerns me, look at all the oil spills North Dakota has, and rail derailments too. Even though South Dakota is assbackwards in it's thinking, it is a beautiful state (Black Hills and Badlands) and the thought of the pipeline tearing through the state scares the hell out of me.
Also from what I have heard Mike Rounds the front runner is a crook.
As your neighbor South Dakotans do the right thing and vote for Rick Weiland!
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