Partisan Prosecution Of North Dakota Oil Companies Gets National Attention In Presidential Campaign

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Written By:
Rob Port

Feb 19, 2012
12:05pm

We here at Say Anything were among the first to note the absurdity of hyper-partisan, Obama-appointed US Attorney Tim Purdon (who had to step down from the Democrat National Committee to take his appointment) prosecuting a group of oil companies over a couple of dozen dead ducks.

Despite North Dakota’s media dismissing criticism of this obvious double standard (wind power companies aren’t facing federal charges for the migratory birds they kill), the absurdity has come to the attention of the national media. The Wall Street Journal called Purdon the “dodo of the year.”

Thankfully, Purdon’s case got thrown out of federal court (though he’s considering an appeal), but now the “bird brained” prosecution has drawn the attention of a presidential candidate.

Gingrich doesn’t get the facts right (it was more than eight birds), but I’m glad to see he’s shining some light on the subject (via Gateway Pundit):

“You can guarantee under the Obama plan there’s going to be less American production and higher prices. We already have the highest price on average in history. This president is anti-American energy. He is consistently opposing it. You know, his US attorney in North Dakota filed a lawsuit over 8 migratory birds. That’s how much they’re opposed to the oil industry… It was a $1.89 when Obama was sworn in. $2.50 is not some inconceivable number except in the Washington establishment.”

Again, it was more than eight ducks, but some of the oil companies were facing federal charges for just one dead duck found on their property after months of investigation by the Fish & Wildlife Service. That an oil company would face federal charges over one duck while wind companies seek federal sanction for killing endangered whooping cranes and eagles is a clear indication that the law isn’t being equitably applied.

The parts of the energy industry the Obama administration likes have a target on their backs. The parts of the energy industry the Obama administration likes get a pass.

This goes beyond mere environmental issues to the rule of law. Because justice is supposed to be blind, right? The law isn’t supposed to hinge upon the identity of the accused. But perhaps the saddest part of Purdon and the Obama administration’s attack on the oil companies is that the local media has refused to call this double standard out for what it is.